Formula 1 liveries are boring as all hell these days, but one team isn’t afraid to bring a little color to the grid. For this weekend’s 81st running of the Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren will swap out its traditional Papaya for a striking yellow, blue, and green Senna tribute livery. It has been thirty years since the death of the four-time F1 World Champion, and Monaco was the event at which the Brazilian icon shone above all else. He is, to this day, the only man to have won the race five seasons in a row. It is fitting, then, that the 2024 MCL38 chassis will wear colors of his own design.
And given how quick the newly upgraded McLaren is, there’s actually a chance (albeit a small one), that team drivers Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri could find their way to the top step of the podium in the principality.
Bianca Senna, of the Senna brand, said: “It’s an honour to recognise Ayrton through these liveries in collaboration with both McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate his life and legacy through his iconic colours on both cars. McLaren meant a lot to him, and together they achieved a lot of success, much of which he is still remembered for today by so many. It will be special to see it race the streets of Monaco, a circuit which gave him so much joy and many triumphs.”
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “The team is proud to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary life and racing legacy of Ayrton Senna through this McLaren livery. Senna remains revered and respected as Formula 1’s greatest icon, and McLaren’s most decorated driver. His impact on McLaren is enormous, not only through his racing record but also presence within the team, and now his legacy, so it’s an honour to race for him at his most successful circuit in his green, yellow and blue colours.
“…With it being the thirtieth anniversary of his passing, the team are choosing to recognize and celebrate his life at one of his favorite and most successful places to race, Monaco. We look forward to racing in this vibrant and beautiful livery this weekend.”
It’s touching to see all of these Senna tributes in honor of the anniversary of the man’s passing. And I hope McLaren does well this weekend wearing this livery. I think it would do a lot of good for the sport, and it would be a feel-good story we can talk about for ages. The spirit of Senna guiding a young Piastri to his first victory, perhaps? There is a chance of rain in the forecast for Saturday, perhaps we will see a modern Lap Of The Gods in qualifying.