THE MCLAREN SENNA SEMPRE - A PERFECT TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND.
It was around nine months back that McLaren revealed one of the coolest tribute cars we’ve seen in many years. Created to pay homage to a man who held the McLaren banner high in the glory days of Formula One - Ayrton Senna. Still widely regarded as one of the best drivers in Formula One, Senna’s career was cut short when he was 34 years old, but before that tragic day, he had won 41 Grand Prix races and three Driver’s Championships over a span of eleven seasons at the wheel of a McLaren. It makes sense that a career like that should be celebrated, and this one-off McLaren Senna is an amazing way to do just that. This homage included a striking one-off livery for the MCL38 Formula 1 cars, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, but the main star of the show was the creation of the Senna Sempre livery on a pre-production McLaren Senna taken from the brand’s heritage collection. "Ayrton Senna was born to race, and his passion for performance and perfection lives on at McLaren. The McLaren Senna bears his name and embodies his spirit – it is the ultimate road-going McLaren for focused track performance. This masterfully detailed inspiration captures Ayrton’s infectious energy. Our collaboration with McLaren Racing to honour the Senna racing legacy 30 years on is a shared celebration of Ayrton’s unique abilities, and the Monaco street circuit he made his own is the perfect place to reflect on his incredible achievements." comments Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive.
The Senna Sempre livery, hand-painted by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), highlights the artistry and craftsmanship McLaren is renowned for. Inspired by Senna’s philosophy, the McLaren Senna not only carries his name but also features the iconic “Double S” logo alongside McLaren's badge. This emblem is seamlessly integrated into the intricate Senna Sempre livery, which also mirrors the bespoke details of the MCL38 Formula 1 car. The Senna Sempre livery uses vibrant hues of yellow, green, and blue, representing the Brazilian flag. MSO developed a groundbreaking wash technique to blend these colours seamlessly, evoking the motion of a waving flag. This effect extends to the McLaren badge on the car’s nose and the Senna script on the bright green rear wing. Additional design elements pay homage to Senna’s iconic race helmet, with green and white border lines tracing the car’s glasshouse and windscreen vents. On the side panels, MSO technicians hand-painted two depictions of Senna, using a meticulous dot matrix technique to portray him both on and off the track. Contrasting the bold gloss finishes, exposed satin carbon fibre elements add a dynamic edge, while the interior features bespoke yellow Alcantara with green perforations. The steering wheel includes a white 12 o’clock marker, and the door sills bear Senna’s signature alongside his famous quote: “I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.”
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the amazing McLaren Senna Sempre - a car we've seen before but now with some better camera visuals - this thing in just amazing: The Senna Sempre | Honouring Ayrton Senna's Legacy | McLaren Automotive
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