McLaren Formula One team brought their racing legacy directly to Miami’s streets Wednesday, featuring championship-winning vehicles and both current and former racing champions in a spectacular public demonstration.
Current champion Lando Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri were joined by two-time champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi for the fan event, which was originally planned to commemorate what should have been the team’s 1,000th grand prix celebration. However, due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled, postponing this historic milestone.
The 1,000th race achievement, previously reached only by Ferrari, will now be officially recognized in Monaco this June – the same location where Bruce McLaren’s team from New Zealand made their debut in 1966.
“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it here,” Norris explained to Reuters before driving his 2025 vehicle – complete with dramatic spins – at Regatta Harbour in Miami’s historic Coconut Grove district. “It’s nice that I’ve played a small part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren. It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”
The 79-year-old Fittipaldi, who became McLaren’s inaugural champion in 1974, operated a V8-powered McLaren M23 that resembled the car which carried the late James Hunt to victory in 1976.
“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be here,” said Fittipaldi, whose initial championship came with Lotus in 1972.
Hakkinen, champion in both 1998 and 1999, created thunderous sounds with his V10-equipped MP4-14, while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s legendary three-time champion Ayrton, operated his uncle’s MP4/6 featuring its powerful V12 engine. Additionally, Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan, who won the 2013 Indianapolis 500, demonstrated an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.
“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” Piastri commented about the experience.
Both Norris and Piastri, with Piastri driving Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 championship car, performed together on the track, acknowledging the enthusiastic crowd before participating in stage interviews.
“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” Norris shared. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly… we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff. I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice day out.”
McLaren has claimed victory in the previous two Miami Grand Prix events – Piastri in the most recent race and Norris in 2024 – and Sunday’s competition could result in three consecutive wins, though Mercedes has shown dominance since the beginning of the current engine and regulations period.
Piastri remained cautious about making predictions for the upcoming weekend, which may include thunderstorms and will serve as the initial test following recent rule modifications.
“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so we’ll have to wait and see,” Piastri explained. “I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”
