Three decades have passed since we lost the iconic Formula 1 driver, and after the celebrations that took place at the site of his tragic accident in Imola last week, McLaren is paying tribute to Senna at a circuit where he dominated and still holds the record for most wins in Monaco.
What makes this gesture from 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 improvements to their MCL38.
In recent years, the Formula 1 cars of Red Bull Racing, which rely on “ground effect” technology, have struggled on tracks like Monaco, which require high aerodynamic pressure and have slow corners. Given the difficulties of the current champions with their basic setup in Miami and Imola, perhaps McLaren can honor Senna by claiming the top spot on the podium on Sunday afternoon in the principality.
After finishing second in Imola last week, Norris is looking forward to the Monaco GP. He expressed: “Monaco is 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 exciting challenges in motorsport. It’s all about starting strong and building confidence from the first practice session. It was great to fight for the win in Imola, so we have tremendous potential for the future. Monaco will also be a special race for us, as we will be racing with a paint scheme in tribute to Senna. It looks amazing, I can’t wait to race on this unique track with 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 is important to pay tribute to such an influential figure in our sport. I have also designed a special helmet and will auction one of my helmets to raise funds for the Ayrton Senna Institute, which does remarkable work providing opportunities and transforming lives.”
“The last two race weekends in Miami and Imola were some of my best in Formula 1, and it’s exciting to go to Monaco with good momentum,” concluded the young Australian.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella is encouraged by his team’s recent and consistently impressive performances and aims to continue this trend in Monaco. Stella stated: “We approach the Monaco Grand Prix with another podium in mind. We are achieving consistent results and challenging for victories, which is a positive position. Monaco is a unique circuit, and we know it is challenging to gain positions during the race, so we need to qualify well again. However, it is not impossible. Monaco is also a special place for McLaren. We have won many races here in the past with Ayrton Senna, so it is only fitting that we pay tribute to him by racing with a livery inspired by his iconic helmet design.”
