CELEBRATING McLAREN’S ULTIMATE DRIVER

AYRTON SENNA

OVERVIEW

A Modern Legend

No one can match Ayrton Senna. His legendary performances continue to inspire our team at McLaren, his fellow racers and motorsport fans. On the 30-year anniversary of his passing, we pay tribute to the life and career of McLaren’s greatest driver. And celebrate everything that was exceptional about this racing great.

SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY

SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE

As part of our Senna30 celebrations, the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) team have created a beautiful, one-off McLaren Senna livery. Alive with bold energy that pays homage to Senna’s Brazilian roots, it features a host of poignant details plus several design elements never before seen on a McLaren. The theme incorporates vibrant colours inspired by Senna’s iconic racing helmet, alongside the subtle inclusion of symbolic numbers from his career. But perhaps the most significant detail is the quote inscribed within the cockpit – words from Senna himself that perfectly capture MSO’s approach to this remarkable livery…

SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY

THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE

As part of our celebrations of Ayrton Senna’s life, the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) team have created a beautiful, one-off McLaren Senna livery featuring several design elements never before seen on a McLaren. With a host of poignant details, it serves as a striking expression of Ayrton’s personality.

The theme includes vibrant colours inspired by Ayrton’s iconic racing helmet, alongside the subtle inclusion of symbolic numbers from his career. But perhaps the most significant detail is the quote inscribed within the cockpit – words from Ayrton himself that perfectly capture MSO’s approach to this remarkable livery.

Ayrton Senna
"I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence."

.

This Ayrton Senna quote – so typical of his focused and uncompromising philosophy – is embroidered on the door card along with his signature. Serving as stirring inspiration for the McLaren F1 team’s current drivers, Lando and Oscar, the same words also appear on the interior of our Senna-liveried F1 cars. 

The seat design, too, and its colour theme, mirror the Senna30 MCL38. While the painted numbers on the seat pads – 1, 8 and 27 for the McLaren cars in which Senna took his Monaco victories – forge deeper links still with our shared racing heritage. This complex application also marks a first for the MSO team. 

Beyond the cockpit, two more new MSO techniques make their debut – true to the spirit of Senna’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance. The stunning visual brushstroke effect has been designed to mimic the flow of air rushing around the car – creating a sense of speed and energy even while at rest. 

On the rear fenders, images of Senna himself appear. Applied using a new dot matrix paint process never before seen on a McLaren, the tonal variations imbue each representation with depth and dimension. 

The livery’s bright colour theme is, of course, its most striking element. As a passionate Brazilian, Senna’s love for his country was always on show through his iconic F1 helmet – honouring the national flag. In defining the paint palette for the Sempre livery, there could be no more fitting a combination of shades.

“The colours have been taken straight from Senna’s lid. That’s the yellow base, the blue and green stripes, and the white stripe in the middle. Senna’s helmet does actually have another separate stripe in the middle of those white lines, but that was too intricate to work on a race car." - Simon Dibley 

Stories

Senna Stories

Senna30 - Day Tripper

Senna30 - Day Tripper

Bruno Senna takes the incredible McLaren Senna Sempre Livery for a drive over the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.

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Experience Bruno Senna Attacking the Monaco Grand Prix Circuit in the McLaren Senna Supercar

Experience Bruno Senna Attacking the Monaco Grand Prix Circuit in the McLaren Senna Supercar

Join Bruno Senna as he celebrates his uncle Ayrton’s legacy with thrilling laps around the Monaco Grand Prix Circuit in the powerful McLaren Senna. Witness the remarkable performance of the 800PS supercar and feel the excitement of Ayrton Senna's six-time Monaco F1 victory.

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Senna30 - Creating an icon

Senna30 - Creating an icon

Seven years after it was first unveiled, we explore the legacy of the ground-breaking McLaren Senna hypercar with those who worked on the project.

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Senna30 - Remembering the 'Lap of the Gods'

Senna30 - Remembering the 'Lap of the Gods'

In an emotional tribute, Bruno Senna took to the historic Donington Park track in the McLaren Senna to honour his uncle’s unparalleled opening lap at the 1993 European Grand Prix – setting a new track record in the process.

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Senna30 - Streets Ahead

Senna30 - Streets Ahead

The Senna30 celebrations continued at this year’s Monaco Historic Grand Prix, on the streets where the Brazilian gave some of his greatest performances at the wheel of a McLaren.

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Senna 30 - True Colours

Senna 30 - True Colours

McLaren pays tribute to Ayrton Senna with two unique liveries at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.

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Senna 30 - From Track to Road

Senna 30 - From Track to Road

Chief Design Officer Tobias Sühlmann on why Senna and his greatest cars have such a powerful and enduring influence on McLaren design.

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Senna 30 - The Unbreakable Bond

Senna 30 - The Unbreakable Bond

Thirty years on, the legacy of Ayrton Senna is still felt at McLaren Automotive

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SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY

SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY: THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE

As part of our Senna30 celebrations, the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) team have created a beautiful, one-off McLaren Senna livery. With a host of poignant details, it serves as a striking expression of Senna’s personality – featuring several design elements never before seen on a McLaren. The theme includes vibrant colours inspired by Senna’s iconic racing helmet, alongside the subtle inclusion of symbolic numbers from his career. But perhaps the most significant detail is the quote inscribed within the cockpit – words from Ayrton Senna himself that perfectly capture MSO’s approach to this remarkable livery…

SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY:

THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE

“I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.”

This Ayrton Senna quote – so typical of his focused and uncompromising philosophy – is embroidered on the door card along with his signature. Serving as stirring inspiration for the McLaren F1 team’s current drivers, Lando and Oscar, the same words also appear on the interior of our Senna-liveried F1 cars.

 

The seat design, too, and its colour theme, mirror the Senna30 MCL38. While the painted numbers on the seat pads – 1, 8 and 27 for the McLaren cars in which Senna took his Monaco victories – forge deeper links still with our shared racing heritage. This complex application also marks a first for the MSO team.

 

Beyond the cockpit, two more new MSO techniques make their debut – true to the spirit of Senna’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance. The stunning visual brushstroke effect has been designed to mimic the flow of air rushing around the car – creating a sense of speed and energy even while at rest.

 

On the rear fenders, images of Senna himself appear. Applied using a new dot matrix paint process never before seen on a McLaren, the tonal variations imbue each representation with depth and dimension.

 

The livery’s bright colour theme is, of course, its most striking element. As a passionate Brazilian, Senna’s love for his country was always on show through his iconic F1 helmet – honouring the national flag. In defining the paint palette for the Sempre livery, there could be no more fitting a combination of shades.

Ayrton Senna
"I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence."

.

RELIVING THE LAP OF THE GODS

Bruno Senna recreates his uncle Ayrton Senna’s iconic opening lap of the 1993 European Grand Prix at Donington Park with a McLaren Senna

SENNA SEMPRE LIVERY:

THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE

“I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.”

This Ayrton Senna quote – so typical of his focused and uncompromising philosophy – is embroidered on the door card along with his signature. Serving as stirring inspiration for the McLaren F1 team’s current drivers, Lando and Oscar, the same words also appear on the interior of our Senna-liveried F1 cars.

 

The seat design, too, and its colour theme, mirror the Senna30 MCL38. While the painted numbers on the seat pads – 1, 8 and 27 for the McLaren cars in which Senna took his Monaco victories – forge deeper links still with our shared racing heritage. This complex application also marks a first for the MSO team.

 

Beyond the cockpit, two more new MSO techniques make their debut – true to the spirit of Senna’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance. The stunning visual brushstroke effect has been designed to mimic the flow of air rushing around the car – creating a sense of speed and energy even while at rest.

 

On the rear fenders, images of Senna himself appear. Applied using a new dot matrix paint process never before seen on a McLaren, the tonal variations imbue each representation with depth and dimension.

 

The livery’s bright colour theme is, of course, its most striking element. As a passionate Brazilian, Senna’s love for his country was always on show through his iconic F1 helmet – honouring the national flag. In defining the paint palette for the Sempre livery, there could be no more fitting a combination of shades.

Senna Inspired Cars

RACING INFLUENCE

Many of Ayrton's finest moments were behind the wheel of a McLaren F1 car – including his three World Championships. It is a connection that lives on today in every supercar and hypercar we produce.

Created in his honour, the McLaren Senna and the McLaren Senna GTR hypercars remain the only vehicles to bear the name of a McLaren driver.

Is the McLaren Senna named after Ayrton Senna?

Yes – the car was created to epitomise his drive, determination and unique talent.

He was a deeply committed, fearless racing driver – and every last element of the McLaren Senna was designed and engineered to make it a raw, uncompromised road-legal track car.

Why is the McLaren Senna named Senna?

Because it exemplifies his personality and his unflinching focus on pushing beyond the limits.

Is the McLaren Senna a hypercar?

The McLaren Senna is a hypercar – a vehicle that represents the very pinnacle of automotive design, engineering and performance.

It was shaped by a single-minded purpose to be the fastest track-focused road McLaren ever – and nothing was allowed to compromise this vision in any way.

The balance of extreme capability, no-compromise design and exclusivity make the McLaren Senna a thoroughbred hypercar.

Why is Ayrton Senna considered the greatest driver?

Ayrton Senna is considered by many as the greatest racing driver in F1 history, because he possessed a very rare combination of talents.

He had uncompromising natural ability behind the wheel – a peerless intuitive connection with his cars. He was also driven by an absolute single-minded determination to achieve victory.

During his six years with the McLaren team, these qualities aligned perfectly and he won three world championships, achieved 46 pole positions, and took victory in 35 races – including 5 consecutive wins at the fabled Monaco Grand Prix.

When did the McLaren Senna come out?

The McLaren Senna was unveiled online on 10 December 2017, production began in 2018.

The very first car to reach its owner was chassis number 008, delivered by McLaren Ascot in the UK on 9 May 2018.

Is the McLaren Senna road legal?

Yes, the McLaren Senna is a road legal vehicle. 

The car was engineered with one purpose in mind: to deliver the fastest possible lap times. It is shaped by an extreme and uncompromising track focus that engages its driver with raw intensity. 

What is Senna30?

Ayrton Senna’s final race was the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola on 1st May 1994. In 2024, McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing collaborated to mark this highly significant thirtieth Anniversary, and to celebrate the life and achievements of F1’s ultimate driver – a true McLaren icon.

Ayrton Senna Institute

A LEGACY BEYOND THE TRACK

A LEGACY BEYOND THE TRACK

The Senna Brands are proud to create a positive cycle. The products and the actions from Senna brand generate resources for educational programs at Ayrton Senna’s Institute. Over the course of 30 years, with the belief that only quality education can transform lives, the Instituto Ayrton Senna reached more than 36 million Brazilian students, creating opportunities for the new generation to be successful in their lives.

All images courtesy of Senna Brands

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