A thousand grids, one legacy: McLaren’s legends reclaim Monaco

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A bridge across generations stood on the iconic Monaco grid this Thursday as McLaren’s past and present converged to celebrate a historic milestone: the team’s upcoming 1,000th Grand Prix.

Bringing together eleven legendary race winners and several world champions, the atmosphere seamlessly blended retro nostalgia with modern racing excellence.

Standing alongside current stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were icons of previous eras, including David Coulthard, Fernando Alonso, Emerson Fittipaldi, Gerhard Berger, Juan Pablo Montoya, Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen, John Watson, and two-time world champion Mika Häkkinen.

Joined by McLaren racing boss Zak Brown and team boss Andrea Stella, as well as Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, this extraordinary assembly at the finish line captured decades of speed, triumph, and racing heritage.

The celebrations took a poetic turn down memory lane when Häkkinen climbed into the cockpit of the M2B – McLaren’s very first Formula 1 car – for a special, and gloriously noisy, demo lap.

Seeing the vintage machinery share the tarmac with the modern outfit served as a beautiful reminder of the enduring legacy that carries McLaren forward into its next millennium of racing.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.