Senna v Scooby: How F1 drivers voted for their Race Car of the Century

July 9th 2024

We asked the F1 grid to choose their favourite with some surprising results

Jayson Fong

In the end it came down to a two-car race between cult heroes. In the red corner was the car many regard as the ultimate expression of 1980s simplicity and grace. In the blue corner an exhaust-popping 1990s off-road bruiser – with gold wheels. And ultimately it was the McLaren MP4/4 that pipped the Subaru Impreza into second-place in our poll of F1 drivers, asking them to choose their favourite car from our shortlist.

You’ll find the breakdown of who went for what overleaf. But the fact that the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 in which Ayrton Senna won his first title claimed a majority (eight out of the 18 drivers who responded) proves that 30 years on from his death Senna’s deification resonates with Gen Z as much as it does with preceding millennials.

That the Subaru Impreza WRC came second with five of the votes initially seemed flabbergasting. Until you remember that it was the car that made Colin McRae a video-game hero among this most sim-savvy cohort of drivers. Although one had a very good reason of his own: his dad scored World Rally wins in a Scooby!

There was a surprising and refreshing lack of on-brand loyalty (although one Ferrari driver stuck to the script and opted for the 166). And as for the current world champion, surely he chose the Red Bull. Nope! Instead, he turned to the weapon in which his ally Dr Marko scorched to Le Mans glory in 1971.

As for the two outliers who chose the 1930s Merc and 1950s Jag, well, we’ve all known car nuts who are old before their time. But wait, was one currying favour with his engine supplier? Such a cynical thought!