There are instances in Formula 1 where the driver defines the team. Mercedes has Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari has Michael Schumacher and McLaren had Ayrton Senna. A historic time in the sport, Senna’s six glorious years with the team were nothing short of remarkable. Further, Senna took Bruce McLaren’s legacy to new heights. But having both legends across the table would make for some interesting dinner-time conversation.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Yet, such is the wish of Amanda McLaren, Bruce McLaren’s daughter. Recently, the team tweeted: “You can invite 2 McLaren drivers, past or present, to dinner. Who are you inviting and why?”
Dad and Ayrton.
— Amanda McLaren (@ALMcL65) January 14, 2022
Amanda’s reply was simple. “Dad and Ayrton.”
Read more: Stunning Numbers Proves Alpine’s Remarkable Rise as an Automobile Brand Since F1 Entry
The two icons of the sport have made their name in the sport. From the M2B’s debut in Monaco to Senna’s four championships to being the longest standing team in F1, second to Ferrari. McLaren’s legacy weighs heavily on the success of these two.
Looking back at Ayrton Senna and Bruce McLaren
The history of McLaren starts with its name. The multi-faceted Bruce McLaren’s abilities as an engineer, an analyst, manager, and most importantly, a racer birthed the team we know of today. McLaren’s futuristic aerodynamic thinking saw his origins as a constructor.
McLaren debuted his first chassis, the M2B, at the 1966 Monaco GP, a race that lasted only nine laps because of an oil leak. However, over two years, McLaren molded his car and in 1968, the Papaya was born. Switching to the iconic orange-tinted livery, the M7A, B and C were great aerodynamic experiments that resulted in a maiden win in the 1968 Belgian GP.
Thus, Bruce set the cornerstone for greatness. 20 years later, Ayrton Senna set foot on McLaren’s pedal, holding it down for six memorable seasons. A match made in heaven, Senna won eight races in his debut season for the team, winning the first of three driving titles.
Getty
A portrait of Ayrton Senna of Brazil, driver of the #1 Honda Marlboro McLaren McLaren MP4/7A Honda V12 during tyre testing for the British Grand Prix on 7 July 1992 at the Silverstone Circuit in Towcester, Great Britain. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Allsport/Getty Images)
Senna took his McLaren to absolute transcendence, with one of his best seasons shining through in his final campaign with the team. In putting his heart and soul into the car, Senna is synonymous with the McLaren name.
Two racers who drove with relentless ambition; seeing them on the racetrack, more than the dinner table, is an unfortunate parallel in our reality that we can never experience.
Watch this story: Love Is in the Paddock: F1 Fraternity Rings in Valentine’s Day
