MIAMI : McLaren celebrated its rich racing heritage with a spectacular street show ahead of Formula One’s upcoming milestone 1,000th race.
Current drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were joined by former champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi in a high-energy display on the streets of Miami, thrilling fans with iconic title-winning cars.
The team had planned to mark its 1,000th Grand Prix appearance in Miami, but cancellations of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia mean the milestone will now be officially celebrated at the Monaco Grand Prix in June—the same event where the team, founded by Bruce McLaren, made its debut in 1966.
“It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it,” Norris said after performing burnouts and demonstration runs in front of a packed crowd.
Fittipaldi, now 79 and McLaren’s first world champion in 1974, took to the wheel of the iconic M23, while Hakkinen drove the championship-winning MP4-14. Bruno Senna honoured his uncle Ayrton Senna by driving the historic MP4/6.
The event also featured Tony Kanaan, who drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar, adding to the celebration of the team’s cross-series legacy.
Despite the celebratory mood, attention now turns to the Miami Grand Prix, where McLaren will aim for a third consecutive win following recent victories.
However, Piastri played down expectations, noting increased competition and changing conditions.
“We had a big advantage here last year, but this time we’ll have to wait and see,” he said.
With evolving regulations and possible thunderstorms forecast, the Miami race promises fresh challenges despite McLaren’s strong recent record.
