“I think you have to keep it on the calendar,” he says. “Just look how popular it is for this historic race. It feels like the grand prix. It’s got such a rich history, and F1 is not only about the on-track competition, it’s about the entire event. From that standpoint it’s still one of the best.”
Brown was speaking to Motor Sport an hour or so before his qualifying session, in which he only managed the 18th best time out of 26, buzzing the engine which meant an overnight change. The race didn’t go much better. It was the messiest of the day, featuring four starts, three red flags and very little racing. No wonder Brown withdrew mid-craziness.
Beyond his own racing indulgence, McLaren duties also called in the shape of the 1990 Honda V10-powered MP4/5 Bruno Senna drove as part of a tribute to his uncle Ayrton, in this 30th anniversary year of the great Brazilian’s death. Thierry Boutsen, Senna’s close friend, admitted he shed a tear or two in the 1985 Lotus 97T he drove in formation with the McLaren, although there was disappointment for Stefan Johansson. Reunited with the Toleman TG184 in which Senna almost famously won at Monaco in his debut season – and in which Johansson replaced him for Monza when the team benched the Brazilian for signing for Lotus! – the Swede only got as far as the tunnel when the car died on him.
Still, the sight of Eddie Irvine in Senna’s Theodore Racing Ralt F3, in the Marlboro colours in which he won the 1983 Macau GP, and McLaren Extreme E driver Cristina Gutiérrez in Ayrton’s Dennis Rushen Racing Van Diemen FF2000 was an extra treat. The display was completed by McLaren Academy driver Gabriel Bortoleto joining the display in Senna’s 1977 kart (owned by Brown). All at Monaco where Senna remains the record holder for most F1 grand prix wins, with six. Special stuff.