Ayrton Senna's F1-winning McLaren up for auction

By Marc McLaren
Auctions
 | 23 Jan 2018
Ayrton Senna's F1-winning McLaren up for auction

The McLaren F1 car in which Ayrton Senna won his final, record-breaking Monaco Grand Prix is to be auctioned later this year.

Senna drove the McLaren-Ford MP4/8A – specifically 'Chassis 6' – in eight of the 1993 season's Grands Prix, taking it to 2nd place in Spain and France, and fourth in Germany and Belgium.

But it was at Monaco that he enjoyed his best race in the car, winning for the sixth time at the most famous of all Formula 1 circuits and in doing so surpassing Graham Hill as the most successful driver ever there – a record which still stands today.

Ayrton Senna's F1-winning McLaren up for auction

Senna raced this specific car - chassis 6 – at eight Grands Prix in 1993

It was an eventful Monaco weekend for Senna: in Thursday practice he crashed the McLaren into the barriers at Sainte Devote, injuring his thumb in the process.

Despite that setback the car was repaired in time for Saturday running, and Senna qualified third fastest behind Alain Prost’s Williams-Renault on pole and Michael Schumacher’s Benetton-Ford in second.

When Prost jumped the start and was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty, Schumacher took the lead, but a hydraulic failure on lap 33 meant that it wasn't to be his day.

It was, however, to be Senna's, with the Brazilian promptly taking control of the race 15 seconds ahead of Damon Hill’s Williams-Renault and ultimately finishing nearly a full minute ahead of the British driver.

Ayrton Senna's F1-winning McLaren up for auction

Senna's six victories in Monaco make him the most successful F1 driver at the circuit

The well-preserved car is in full running order and will go on sale at Bonhams' Monaco auction on 11 May 2018 – almost exactly 25 years after Senna drove it to victory in the principality.

Prior to the auction itself it will be on view at another Bonhams sale, taking place at Le Grand Palais, Paris from 6-8 February.

Mark Osborne, Bonhams Global Head of Motorsport, said, "Ayrton Senna was the most charismatic Grand Prix car driver of the modern era, and the MP4/8A was the car with which his team, McLaren, surpassed Ferrari as the most successful team in Formula 1 World Championship history.

"This particular chassis, number 6, cemented Senna’s legend as The Master of Monaco. We at Bonhams are both honoured and thrilled to be presenting one of the most significant Grand Prix cars of all time. It is his Monaco winner, it is a runner, and now it could be yours."