Monaco is Formula 1’s most prestigious and historic circuit. It’s no coincidence that the driver holding the record for the most wins here is Ayrton Senna, hailed as the greatest driver of all time by his own peers—a sentiment reinforced at this year’s Monte Carlo GP.

Senna’s brilliance at Monaco began dramatically in 1984, when he debuted impressively with the modest Toleman team, securing a second-place finish in torrential rain—a race that might have yielded victory had it not been prematurely halted. Subsequently, his victories in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993 established a record still unmatched in Formula 1.

Such exceptional performance at Monaco continues to inspire today’s drivers, many of whom were not yet born when Senna competed. Last year’s winner, Charles Leclerc, exemplifies this enduring admiration. When asked about Senna’s legendary performances on Monaco’s streets, Leclerc explained:

“Definitely, he was a great inspiration. Everything he achieved—especially here in Monaco—has deeply influenced me. My father watched Ayrton racing here and used to describe how incredible he was, especially in wet conditions. That’s part of Ayrton’s magic. Monaco is undoubtedly one of the most special laps he ever completed,” said Leclerc, who in 2023 visited the Senna Brands and Instituto Ayrton Senna headquarters in São Paulo, expressing his admiration to Viviane and Lalalli Senna.

Tributes to Senna are also a major highlight of the 2025 Monaco GP. French driver Isack Hadjar notably honored Senna with a special helmet dedicated to the three-time Brazilian world champion.

“I initially considered making this special design for Brazil, but doing it here felt even more meaningful because there’s a king in Monte Carlo, and that king is Ayrton. As a kid, I watched numerous YouTube videos of him absolutely dominating here. I thought, if I become an F1 driver and race here, I want to pay tribute. My helmet features statistics about his pole positions, victories, and the years he won. I think it was a great idea,” Hadjar stated.

Pierre Gasly of Alpine, another French driver, also expressed his admiration during the Monaco weekend. Gasly, who previously paid homage through special helmet designs, shared his thoughts:

“Footage online, documentaries, especially his performances against Alain Prost on a wet Monaco track, deeply impacted me. Being French, when you hear about Prost, you immediately hear about Senna. Both have been idols since my childhood. Ayrton’s way of articulating what he felt driving through these streets created a unique connection. That’s a huge reason I’ve admired him from an early age,” Gasly noted.

Brazilian drivers in Monaco

Brazilian drivers competing this weekend are also paying homage. In Formula 3, Rafael Câmara is racing with a special design in his debut at Monte Carlo. “He’s my greatest idol, and it’s an honor to race in these colors, paying tribute to the greatest,” said Câmara, currently leading the F3 championship and part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto brings Brazil back to the F1 grid in Monaco, using a helmet inspired by Senna’s iconic design, initially adopted during his tribute at last year’s Imola GP in Formula 2.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to carry Ayrton’s and Brazil’s colors into my races, representing my country as he did throughout his career. This design brought me significant luck in my F2 season and will be even more special in my Monaco debut,” said Bortoleto.

Various tributes to Senna are visible throughout the circuit, including the press room, trackside advertisements (such as those from Tag Heuer, Senna’s sponsor during his McLaren years and a Senna Brand partner), and at the Fairmont Hotel, where a metal statue was inaugurated by Prince Albert I and Viviane Senna in 2007, marking the 20th anniversary of Senna’s first Monaco victory.

Besides his unmatched record of six victories, Ayrton remains the only Brazilian ever to win at Monaco in Formula 1. Even his crash in 1988, while leading Prost by over 50 seconds, became a legendary moment. Following that incident, Senna never again lost at Monaco, securing five consecutive victories from 1989 to 1993.

Article written by Rodrigo França, from Monte Carlo (Mônaco).