Ayrton Senna is arguably one of McLaren’s greatest drivers of all time, and when Fernando Alonso got the chance of driving his championship-winning car, he was speechless. Senna won his first title with McLaren in 1988, driving the MP4/4, one of the strongest F1 cars ever.
Alonso, who was driving for McLaren back in 2015 got a chance to take the MP4/4 belonging to Ayrton Senna out for a spin around the Circuit de Catalunya Barcelona along with his then-teammate Jenson Button. After his run, Alonso admitted to having an amazing experience with the car.
In a video uploaded by McLaren on YouTube, the two drivers could be heard talking about how light the car is. This came as a surprise to both of them, as they pointed out how they didn’t feel any movement on the rear of the car. Alonso was in awe of how the car felt, and could only think about how amazing it would be to take part in an actual Grand Prix with the MP4/4.
“Imagine racing with these cars in Monaco, or something,” Alonso says. Button agreed with Alonso, and wondered how Senna was able to glide past everyone and finish half a second ahead of the rest of the field on a track like Monaco.
Fernando Alonso wanted to race with Ayrton Senna
Despite being one of the best F1 drivers o his generation, Alonso wanted to make his mark in the 1980s. Like many drivers, he too, cites Ayrton Senna as his hero and would have preferred making his mark in the era that defined the Brazilian as one of F1’s legends.
In McLaren’s ‘Don’t Crack Under Pressure‘ film, Alonso talks about why he prefers the older days of F1. He feels that the cars were much more fun to race on, and the rules weren’t as strict as they are today.
“Now everything is much more strict,” the Oviedo-born driver said. “There is no testing. There are only simulations. So there was probably a little more time to enjoy it before.” On the other hand, Alonso acknowledges that the sport is a lot safer today, which is the only thing that he feels has improved.
“So it’s difficult to choose any era,” he added. “But as long as you compete against the others and you beat them, you enjoy.”
Alonso ecstatic about returning to front of the grid in 2023
Alonso took a hiatus from F1 at the end of the 2018 season and spent two years competing in other racing ventures. When he returned in 2021, he made it clear that he wanted to win races and fight for the title again, but Alpine (the team he joined) didn’t have the car to do so.
As a result, Alonso joined Aston Martin in 2023, and so far, the jump they have made is incredible. In four races so far, Alonso has three podium finishes and the Spaniard is sure about even more glory awaiting the Silverstone-based outfit.
Many people, including two-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen feel that Alonso will get his 33rd race win this season, which will be his first since 2013 when he was driving for Ferrari.
