What it was like to be on the grid as McLaren legends past and present united to celebrate our 1000th Grand Prix

Zak Brown is doing the rounds on the grid in Monaco when he arrives at Lewis Hamilton and Juan Pablo Montoya. “It’s so good to be around everyone,” Lewis tells him, “We were just talking about the good old days.” Zak pauses for a moment, smiling as he takes in his surroundings, before delivering a typically Zak Brown response, “It’s cool, isn’t it?”

It is Zak who has organised this epic gathering of McLaren greats, past and present. Everywhere you look, iconic drivers are deep in conversation. It is every McLaren fan’s dream. Mika Häkkinen is talking with John Watson, Emerson Fittipaldi is chatting with Gerhard Berger, and David Coulthard is catching up with Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen.

And then there is Lewis speaking with Juan Pablo Montoya. Although their McLaren careers feel like they belong to different eras of the team, their tenures were actually separated by just nine races. The Colombian’s final start came at the 2006 United States Grand Prix - McLaren’s 606th race - while Lewis made his debut at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix, the team’s 615^th.

We joined them on the grid to capture every moment and to take you behind the scenes of a special day in McLaren history. Here’s how it played out…

No race on the F1 calendar evokes nostalgia quite like Monaco, and no team has a deeper connection to the circuit than McLaren. It is the track on which we made our F1 debut. We hold the record for wins as a team (16), and Ayrton Senna, while racing for McLaren, holds the records for most wins (six) and most Pole positions (five) as a driver. And this weekend, it will, fittingly, become the circuit at which we make our 1,000th Grand Prix start.

To commemorate the milestone, Zak and the team invited McLaren’s Grand Prix winners to gather on the grid on Thursday for a photograph. Very few teams in Formula 1 can boast such an array of talent among their alumni, with those present spanning 52 years of McLaren heritage - from Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974 to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the modern era.

“I am very fortunate to be among McLaren’s former drivers, and to be invited to celebrate this amazing 1000^th race for the team,” David tells us. “I don’t remember exactly how many races I did for the team, but it was nine seasons.”

David may not recall the exact number, but we do: the Scot held the record for McLaren Grand Prix starts until 2025, when Lando Norris surpassed his tally of 150 starts, which included 12 wins.

“A lot of history, and a lot of heritage,” he continues. “I had pictures of McLaren drivers on my wall as a kid – Prost, Senna, Lauda – so to have the opportunity to make it to Formula 1 and race for this team was a real honour and privilege. When Zak sent through the invitation, I told him I was honoured to be invited.”

Also present was McLaren’s oldest living Grand Prix winner, John Watson. Wattie won four Grands Prix for McLaren across 73 starts, but is perhaps best known for two in particular: the 1981 British Grand Prix - the first win for an F1 car with a carbon fibre chassis - and his remarkable 1983 United States Grand Prix victory from 22nd on the grid, which remains the lowest starting position from which a driver has won a race.

“What an amazing get-together of World Champions and great Formula 1 race winners to celebrate McLaren’s 1,000th Grand Prix,” says Wattie. “It is also the 60th anniversary of the team’s first race, right here in Monaco, so there are two great milestones to celebrate. What a fantastic legacy to be part of.”

Emerson Fittipaldi, a year Wattie’s junior, delivered McLaren’s first World Championship in 1974, several years before the Northern Irishman had joined the team. Speaking with Juan Pablo Montoya, Emmo smiles as he reminds JPM that his title came “before you were born!” Montoya, born in 1975, would join McLaren 30 years later, going on to score three wins in 26 Grands Prix.

Both drivers have remained closely connected to the team over the years, with Emmo a regular guest in our garage and at heritage events, while Montoya competed for McLaren at the Indy 500 as recently as 2022.

Another driver still closely connected to McLaren is two-time World Champion Mika Häkkinen, who piloted a special demonstration run in McLaren’s first Formula 1 car, the M2B, around the streets of Monaco.

“I tell you, it’s going to sound crazy,” he says to Alonso from the cockpit, while Lando is asked whether he fancies a turn. “Nah, I’ll let him have a go… Looks a bit snug, doesn’t it?” The moment Mika fires up the M2B and heads out to the track, the group fall silent.

“Oh my God. Jesus, that was scary. And so difficult,” Mika reveals to Zak, Oscar and Lando shortly after climbing out of the car.

“That was cool,” Oscar later reflects. “The noise is unbelievable. It really shows how much technology has advanced in the last 60-odd years.”

Ayrton Senna, arguably McLaren’s most revered driver, is among those we have lost over the past 60 years, but his presence was very much felt, and his influence unmistakable. His former teammate and close friend, Gerhard Berger, was among those who attended, and Ayrton would not have been far from his thoughts.

“McLaren is one of the very few teams with such a huge history that are still winning in Formula 1,” says Gerhard. “To bring everyone together like this, reflect on that history, and share a moment together makes you proud to be part of it.”

The gathering also included more recent McLaren drivers, including Lewis and his 2008 teammate, Heikki Kovalainen. The suggestion that his career now feels like a distant memory was a timely reminder of how quickly the years pass.

“For me, it was really cool to get a call from Zak inviting me,” the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix winner tells us. “Even though my career feels like a distant memory now, this brings everything back. When you see the list of McLaren Grand Prix winners, it is incredible to be part of that history.”

Finally, there are our current drivers, Lando and Oscar, will take McLaren into its 1,000th Grand Prix this weekend.

“It is pretty special to be part of this team,” said Norris. “A thousand is a big milestone, but there are many more to come. To share the grid with so many legends – many of whom were my heroes growing up – makes it even more special.”

Oscar adds: “A lot of cool people and a really cool car - a very special celebration.”