Ayrton Senna needs no introduction. Considered by many to be the best Formula 1 driver ever, the three-time champion of the sport got all his titles aboard a McLaren. 1993 would be the last year Senna and McLaren would be together.
For McLaren it was also a year of change, as the agreement with Honda to supply engines had ended the previous year. For the 1993 championship, McLaren would turn to Ford's services — a Cosworth-built V8 HB engine.
The McLaren-Ford MP4/8A, despite Senna's own doubts about the V8's competitiveness compared to Renault's powerful V10s, was still a mechanical and technological tour de force, revealing itself as one of the more competitive machines.
The McLaren-Ford unit which will be auctioned on May 11 in Monaco, by Bonhams, is the chassis “6”, which participated in eight races of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1993. Its debut, at the Spanish GP, in Barcelona, guaranteed a second place — the victory would go to Alain Prost's Williams-Renault.
Monaco GP troubled
The next race, on the legendary Monaco circuit, did not start in the best way. Ayrton Senna crashed violently in free practice, apparently due to a problem with the sophisticated active suspension — it happened so quickly that Senna couldn't let go of the steering wheel before the car crashed, injuring his thumb.The “6” chassis was quickly repaired in time to take part in Saturday's qualifying, setting third fastest time behind Alain Prost, who won pole-positon, and Michael Schumacher at the wheel of the Benetton-Ford.
In the race, Prost was penalized — a 10-second pit stop — for starting too early, which allowed Schumacher to lead the race until lap 33, when he had to retire due to hydraulic failure. Senna would take the lead and never let go, leaving Damon Hill, in the other Williams-Renault, 15 seconds away.
It would be Ayrton Senna's sixth victory in Monaco, surpassing Graham Hill's five victories, a record set in 1969.
end of career
The McLaren-Ford MP4/8A, chassis “6”, returned to race in the GPs of Canada, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Italy, without, however, having reached the podium. The “6” chassis would end its career as a reserve car at the Japanese and Australian GPs.
The MP4/8A would also be the car that would give McLaren the title of team with the most victories in Grand Prix racing, dethroning Ferrari — a record it would maintain until 1995.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the MP4/8A, with the auction of chassis “6”, in Monaco, coinciding with the month in which Ayrton Senna achieved his record of victories at the legendary circuit. A unique opportunity…