Senna takes pole position once again after LEGO dropped its latest motorsport-themed set, paying homage to the Formula 1 Legend.
LEGO gives us the perfect opportunity to drop down a gear and reflect on the lasting legacy of the late great three time F1 World Champion: Ayrton Senna.
Licensed LEGO products are nothing new with its history stretching back to the 1930’s when LEGO made wooden toys.
Some of its most famous sets are from licensed franchises such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and DC Comics. With sets like the Millennium Falcon and The Batmobile come to mind as having legendary status within LEGO communities.
But what you might not know is that alongside its famous licensed products, LEGO has produced motorsport-inspired sets since 1975.
This lineage culminates in their latest addition to the ‘Icons’ range: The McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna set.
But first: Why is Senna an Icon?
There are many reasons why Senna is considered one of the best drivers of all time, earning his “Iconic” status. However, in the interest of time let’s break it down into three core reasons.
#1 He was an exceptional talent
Senna’s unparalleled skill behind the wheel, particularly in wet conditions, showcased his raw talent and set him apart from his competitors.
Senna went on to win 3 World Championships with the McLaren F1 team.
His first, driving Mclaren’s MP4/4 which won 15/16 races in 1988 alongside his teammate (a record only beaten in 2023).
#2 Senna had intense rivalries and a strong personality
Senna raced hard and was an “old school racer” with many fierce on-track battles.
His rivalry with Frenchman Alain Prost captivated audiences for years and those battles sometimes ended in tears.
Fans and experts considered Prost methodical, while they viewed Senna as driven more by passion and emotion. This made their rivalry all the more legendary and cemented its place in motorsport folklore.
“IF YOU NO LONGER GO FOR A GAP THAT EXISTS, YOU’RE NO LONGER A RACING DRIVER.”
Ayrton Senna – After crashing into Prost at the 1990 Japnese Grand Prix
#3 Senna’s Humanitarian legacy and advocacy for safety
Senna tragically died whilst racing in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He was a major advocate for improved safety standards in motorsport at the time.
After his death, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) underwent serious reforms to improve safety in motorsport.
Senna also donated millions of dollars towards supporting poor children in his home country of Brazil. These efforts would eventually culminate in the formation of the Instituto Ayrton Senna.
Now you should have a sense of just how influential and successful Ayrton Senna and the MP4/4 were. With that in mind let’s get into the build.
Now for the LEGO set
PricePoint & Details
The McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna Icons set features 693 pieces and comes in at a modest price point of only $100 on the LEGO website.
Once complete, the replica comes in at roughly a 1:13 scale that is fairly accurate (considering it is LEGO of course) to the proportions of the real race car.
Some noticeable inaccuracies include the wheel sizes and the omission of a major sponsor.
On the LEGO variant, both the front and rear wheels are the same size whereas, on the real MP4/4, the rear tyres were larger than the front.
The main sponsor thing is really no biggy considering it was a tobacco company from the ’90s. However, it is something worth noting as some more hardcore fans may get upset at this omission.
In more recent times LEGO has gone to both extremes regarding price points and size in their motorsport-themed replicas.
For example, the recent Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance model was priced at $299RRP. It also measured up to the behemoth scale of 1:8 featuring 1642 individual pieces.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Porsche 963 Le Mans Hypercar coming in at an approachable price of only $33 albeit with only 280 pieces.
This places the McLaren MP4/4 perfectly in the middle in terms of affordability, build time and size.
Having owned and put together a 1400-piece F1 LEGO set, I think it’s a nice middle-ground.
The whole build took me about 3-4 hours all up. This was admittedly slower than the internet’s prediction of 2-2.5 hours for an experienced LEGO builder.
In hindsight, I wish I had taken a little more time to fully appreciate what I was creating.
Personal Thoughts
The inclusion of a custom Senna figurine was a beautiful touch to this build. Our tiny Senna can be seen holding a replica of his famous yellow, blue, and green helmet. This helmet design is what Senna wore throughout the entirety of his career.
It’s a wonderful detail by the designer Ann Healy, who seems to have done her homework on this one.
The beginning of the instruction manual features pages dedicated to the story of Senna and the MP4/4.
To top it off, the set includes a plaque dedicated to the MP4/4’s record-breaking season. This addition further drives home just how impressive this man and machine were in their heyday.
The MP4/4’s plaque also serves as a stand to mount the finished car onto. This is probably my only personal negative thought towards the set as a whole.
I understand the idea of putting this car on a pedestal as it is an “Icon”, however, I feel the car displays much better as a freestanding model.
To combat this, I merely disassembled the stand and rebuilt the vehicle plaque as a stand-alone feature. This should be easy enough to do if you have experience with LEGO.
Checkered Flag Feelings
As an avid model collector, car enthusiast, motorsport fan, and former competitor, I felt a connection to this build in a way I hadn’t with other pieces in my collection.
That connection I believe comes down to a deep-rooted passion for the world of motorsport, a world which would not be what it is today without the contributions (both directly and indirectly) of Ayrton Senna.
Building a part of motorsport history via LEGO’s McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna Icon set is an experience I would encourage any motorsport fan to seek out.
It gives us the opportunity to reflect on where motorsport has come from and the impact our icons have had on making it a safer and more enjoyable sport.
Well worth the hundred bucks!