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At a warehouse in Italy ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, a team of highly skilled engineers spent more than 700 hours putting together a McLaren Formula 1 car.

“The result is not just a car, but a testament to our teamwork and ingenuity,” says Riccardo Zangelmi.  

The car in question isn’t Lando and Oscar’s MCL38, but a 1:1 scale replica of the McLaren MP4/4, made almost entirely from LEGO bricks. The LEGO team recreated the McLaren MP4/4 as a tribute to Ayrton Senna, who tragically passed away at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola 30 years ago.

“This project is a tribute to honour his legend and celebrate his enduring legacy in the world of motorsport,” continues Ricardo. “Senna's influence extends far beyond his incredible racing achievements - he remains an inspiration for his dedication and skill. Through this build, we aim to pay homage to his memory and keep his spirit alive for fans around the globe.”

Widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 cars of all time, the McLaren MP4/4 was driven by Senna to his first F1 Drivers’ World Championship in 1988, with the Brazilian winning eight races. His teammate, Alain Prost, won a further seven times to help us clinch the Constructors’ Championship. 

“We're building the McLaren MP4/4 because it represents a true legend in the world of motorsport,” Ricardo says. “It’s a symbol of the golden age of Formula 1, embodying an era of unparalleled innovation and competition.

“By recreating this iconic vehicle, we aim to honour its historic significance and celebrate the incredible legacy of Senna and McLaren in Formula 1.”

As well as being a car of great significance, the project was a significant undertaking for the team. One hundred and twenty hours were dedicated to the design phase alone, with 700 spent physically building the car in Italy. It weighs 610 kg, 150 of which is the steel internal structure that ensures its stability and durability. The remainder of that 610 kg is made from more than 400,000 LEGO bricks.

Ricardo headed up a key team of four key members, which included his co-designer Ruozzi Matteo, who also oversaw the building process. Riccardo Filippini focused on the construction of the main body, Filippo Valcavi was responsible for the more detailed and intricate parts, such as the rear wing and transmission, and Matteo Monzali built the steel structure. They were also helped by the LEGO France Team, who, provided additional support and resources.

“Building a large model is vastly different from constructing a smaller one,” Ricardo continues. “It requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure flatness and stability throughout the construction process.”

Research makes up a key part of the early phases, with those on the project at the LEGO Group working closely with members of our heritage team to gather information on the colours and logos required and the size and weight of the car. Our team provided them with “invaluable” support, adding extensive knowledge and resource, ensuring that no stone was left unturned.

The team then began the process of working on the specific shapes required for the build, virtually dismantling the car, and breaking it down into its individual parts to form a detailed picture of the car to create a lifelike replica.

“Every element is meticulously planned,” he says. “Nothing is done at random, as each part must serve a specific purpose.”

This includes the logos, which are the responsibility of Matteo Monzali. They are created using a front picture as a reference and the method used is chosen based on the logo’s size.

“For larger logos, we typically use regular LEGO bricks and plates, for smaller logos, we rely on special LEGO parts that allow us to achieve a finer level of detail and precision,” explains Ricardo.

The steel structure – which is strong enough to support the weight of a person - is vital given the heavy load it’s carrying. As well as looking realistic, the model needs to be robust and transferable, with the car being shipped from the LEGO (LSM) Large Scale Model warehouse in Italy – where it was brought to life - to Monaco, where it was displayed.

The warehouse is every LEGO fan’s dream, equipped with an extensive collection of bricks, as well as the required tools, software and hardware.

“Like in many other projects, we are part of a bigger picture,” Ricardo continues. “We follow a comprehensive set of rules and guidelines we’ve developed over the years to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, maintaining the highest standards of quality and precision. The most challenging aspect of any large-scale build is thoroughly understanding the material and how to work with it.

“LEGO bricks are truly remarkable; they can withstand an incredible amount of weight and tension. However, they do have their limits. Knowing these limits is crucial when building because pushing them too far can compromise the integrity of the structure. It’s essential to have a deep knowledge of the capabilities and constraints of LEGO bricks to ensure that the final model is not only impressive but also stable and durable.”

The result was the magnificent LEGO® Icons McLaren MP4/4 build that fans saw in Monaco and across our social media channels. Approximately 14 times bigger than LEGO Icons McLaren MP4/4 model counterpart, the model is 32 cm long, whilst the big build is 439 cm long.

The life-size MP4/4 even features 19 removable parts, carefully hidden around the car by Ricardo and his team for fans to spot. Four of the 19 parts are wheels, but the rest are for fans to find.

This isn’t the first big build we’ve undertaken with the LEGO Group, who created a life-size version of our 2022 challenger for the Australian Grand Prix. The two builds are a part of our ongoing collaboration with the LEGO Group, which currently features seven models, including the MP4/4, the MCL60, and the NEOM McLaren Formula E and Extreme E cars. Fans can find the full list here.

“Big builds are always fascinating to watch because they seem so surreal,” Ricardo says. “When you look at a life-size car made of LEGO bricks, you're not just seeing a replica, you're witnessing a work of art and dedication. You see the culmination of hundreds of hours of meticulous work.

“Every piece you look at is carefully selected and placed exactly where it needs to be to bring the model to life. This level of detail and commitment transforms the build into something everyone can appreciate and enjoy, making it a truly remarkable and engaging experience.”