It has been three decades since we lost the iconic F1 driver, and following the commemorations that took place at the site of his tragic accident in Imola last week, McLaren is now paying homage to Senna at a circuit where he dominated, and still holds the record for the most wins at Monaco.
What makes this gesture by McLaren even more significant is the fact that they have a strong chance of victory, considering their impressive form since the Miami race, where they made upgrades to their MCL38.
In recent years, Red Bull Racing’s F1 cars, which rely on “ground effect” technology, have struggled on tracks like Monaco that require high downforce and have slow corners. Given the reigning Champions’ difficulties with their baseline setup in Miami and Imola, perhaps McLaren can pay tribute to Senna by claiming the top spot on the podium on Sunday afternoon in the principality.
After finishing second in Imola last week, Norris is eagerly looking forward to Monaco. He expressed, “Monaco up next! It’s one of the most demanding weekends on the calendar. It’s not easy to overtake on this track, but qualifying here is one of the most thrilling challenges in motorsport. It’s all about hitting the ground running and building confidence right from the first practice session. It felt great to fight for the win in Imola, so we have tremendous potential moving forward. Monaco will also be a special race for us as we will be racing with a tribute livery honoring Senna. It looks incredible, and I can’t wait to race around this unique track in it.”
Oscar Piastri also expressed his excitement, stating, “It will be an honor to race through the streets of Monaco in our special Senna livery. He was a master of this track with six victories, and it’s important to pay tribute to such an influential figure in our sport. I have also designed a special helmet, and I will be auctioning off one of my helmets to raise funds for the Ayrton Senna Institute, which does remarkable work in providing opportunities and transforming lives.”
“The past two race weekends in Miami and Imola have been some of my strongest in F1, and it’s thrilling to head to Monaco with good momentum,” the young Australian concluded.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella is encouraged by his team’s recent consistent and impressive performances and aims to continue this trend in Monaco. Stella stated, “We approach the Monaco Grand Prix with another podium finish. We are achieving consistent results and challenging for victories, which is a positive position to be in. Monaco is a unique circuit, and we know it’s challenging to gain positions during the race, so we need to qualify strongly once again. However, it’s not impossible. Monaco is also a special place for McLaren. We have won many races here in the past with Ayrton Senna, so it’s only fitting that we pay tribute to him by racing in a livery inspired by his iconic helmet design.”