Whilst they might rarely be spoken of in the same sentence, the Ferrari F40 and McLaren Senna are both icons of their eras. Let’s compare their DNA.
Whilst they might rarely be spoken of in the same sentence, the Ferrari F40 and McLaren Senna are both icons of their eras. Both stripped-back, twin-turbocharged V8 supercars, the F40 and Senna share a singular obsession: uncompromising performance. That shared ethos had us wondering, is the Senna the ‘modern-day F40’? Let’s compare their DNA across heritage, design ethos, engineering, and on-track performance.
F40 (1987 – 1992): The last model personally approved by Enzo Ferrari, built to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary. Production ran from 1987 to 1992, with 1,311 units built.
Senna (2018 - 2019): The third car in McLaren’s Ultimate Series, named after Ayrton Senna as a tribute to his track prowess. Production was capped at 500 units, all handcrafted in Woking.
F40: Pininfarina-styled composite body panels on a tubular steel frame, no ABS or traction control, minimal comforts.
Senna: MonoCage III carbon-fibre monocoque, extensive aerodynamic appendages (double-element wing, multi-element diffuser), modern composites optimised for downforce over drag.
F40: Virtually zero electronic aids. No ABS, no traction or stability control, no power steering. Pure, mechanical feedback
Senna: ABS, traction control, ESC, launch control and optional wet-mode settings. Extreme track focus, but with modern safeguards.
Ferrari F40: Renowned for its ‘pure terror’ blend of massive turbo lag, razor-sharp chassis, and almost no concessions to comfort, the F40 is akin to a road-legal race car, and nothing keeps you on your toes like it.
McLaren Senna: Delivers supercar brutality and insane performance, softened only by its track-tuned electronics. The cockpit remains sparse, but the car instils confidence with incredible braking, immediate throttle response, and mechanical grip far beyond the F40’s era.
F40: A legend, forever cemented by Enzo’s final stamp of approval and its role as an ’80s icon. Values have soared, making it a must-own collector’s trophy.
Senna: Quickly achieved legendary status among track-day enthusiasts. Its lap-time focus has rewritten the rulebook for road-legal cars, though values haven’t yet climbed, and its full legacy is still to be seen.
The McLaren Senna mirrors the Ferrari F40’s ruthless focus on track performance — lightweight construction, turbocharged power, a stripped-out mindset — but it is a distinctly modern creation. It benefits from cutting-edge materials, active aerodynamics, and electronic aids unthinkable in the F40’s era. The Senna is the spiritual successor to the F40’s ethos — an uncompromising supercar built around the driving experience — but it is not a direct modern-day clone. Rather, it’s McLaren’s answer to the challenge of making the ultimate road-legal track car for the 21st century.
If you haven't yet seen our video where Jonty experiences the madness of the Senna and ponders whether it really is a modern-day F40 from behind the wheel, check it out now.
