How we recreated Ayrton Senna's iconic McLaren F1® racing car

For millions of F1® fans, there is one iconic collaboration that stands head and shoulders above the rest. We are of course talking about three-time world champion Ayrton Senna and his unbeatable McLaren MP4/4 F1 racing car, a duo that still stands the test of time.

Our ^LEGO® designers have created a set that lets you relive the thrills and spills of this iconic racing duo: the all-new LEGO® Icons McLaren MP4/4 and Ayrton Senna racing car building set

A POLE POSITION FOR AUTHENTICITY

“We wanted to create the most recognizable F1 car ever. One of the most famous cars of all time that fans would love,” said senior model designer Ann Healy.

That was quite a challenge. But like the McLaren engineers responsible for the original 1988 car, Ann was determined not to neglect any detail of this revolutionary model. “It was really cool to have conversations with the McLaren team in England as they dug into their archives to unearth information about a car from the past.”

How she managed to transform a life-size car into a perfect miniature replica? "I took photos of the top, sides, front and rear and printed them to the exact scale I needed. I had to be sure I was using the 1988 car for this because even though later versions look very similar , yet there are many subtle differences, such as the nose and the wings."

IDEAL CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS

The close collaboration with McLaren was crucial to capture the look and feel of this legendary racing car. This car was a brand new, streamlined model in 1988 and would immediately dominate the season. The car won every race but one as teammates Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost took their fierce rivalry to new heights.

For experienced designer Ann, it was very important to get the details right. "I've designed quite a few LEGO vehicles in the past, but this was the first time I had to create an already existing vehicle. I was aware that fans are well aware of what the car looks like, so I wanted to work as faithfully as possible."

That's why Ann decided not to make any compromises when recreating the car: "The 1988 MP4/4 was known as a revolutionary model because the driver leans far back and therefore sits very close to the ground. The driver could manually adjust the stiffness of the front suspension in a bend. So it was important to also include this in the LEGO set."

“We've created quite a few new elements for this car,” Ann continues, “such as more authentic F1-style slick tires and a new rod suspension to better reflect the styling of F1 cars.”

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

The finished set is packed with other authentic details, including working steering, an adjustable rear wing, mirrors, a gear lever and a 1.5 liter V6 turbo engine. "It was a lot of fun figuring out how to recreate the car's steering and details such as the fuel line connection points on the six-cylinder engine."

"It made me realize how much the sport has changed since 1988 and how much the cars have evolved. Compared to today's Formula 1® cars, a lot more had to be done manually. Nowadays the steering wheel is reminiscent of a game controller, but back in the day it was comparable to a normal car steering wheel."

TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND

The faithfulness doesn't stop there. Because the McLaren MP4/4 is synonymous with one of F1's most legendary drivers, we've also included a minifigure of Senna himself. “He obviously plays a crucial role in this story and was also the champion that season, so we thought it would be a nice tribute to make a minifigure of him.”

Ayrton's McLaren was named 'Best racing car of the ^20th century' by readers of the magazine Motorsport and named 'Best Formula 1 Car of All Time' by a panel of Formula 1 engineers and designers. The McLaren MP4/4 remains one of the most impressive, recognizable and popular F1 cars in history. And from now on you can simply bring it into your own home!

"I can already see people building the LEGO set while watching an exciting F1 race. I am convinced that if you build this car, you will get to know the sport better."

This set not only pays tribute to Ayrton's life, but also clearly demonstrates the skill and dedication of the McLaren team. "I hope this set makes the fans proud and gives them the opportunity to relive the exciting races of the 80s. I felt I owed them that. I'm a little nervous, but also very excited."

Ann's perseverance and skill took the car from the test phase to the pits and onto the track. Now it's your turn.

© ASE2024 – Licensed by Senna Brands

Manufactured under license from McLaren Racing Limited. 'McLaren' is a trademark of McLaren Services Limited.