LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna review

Will LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna earn top spot on the podium, or is this one F1 set that’s best left in the pits?

The word iconic doesn’t do justice to the formidable McLaren MP4/4 Formula 1 race car. During the thrilling 1988 F1 championship, Alain Prost and Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna drove the McLaren MP4 to victory in all but one race, gaining pole position in all but one qualifying session. It remained the most dominant racing car ever seen, holding the record for the highest win rate, all the way from 1988 until 2023 (when the record was beaten by the Red Bull Racing RB19) and the car still holds the record for most laps led in a season – a staggering 1,003 out of 1,031 laps.

Ayrton Senna famously drove the car to the first of his three world titles, cementing both his and the McLaren MP4’s legacy as all time greats of F1 racing. There is no doubt that Senna and the MP4 are icons of their sport, so it only feels apt that this model should fall under the LEGO Icons umbrella.

However, this is a set that bucks the trend of modern LEGO Icons vehicles. It’s smaller for starters, with significantly fewer pieces than usual, but comes with a brick-built display stand and an exclusive minifigure (the first time a LEGO Icons vehicle has bundled a minifigure inside the box).

It’s a departure from the norm, and coming in at 693 pieces, 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna feels like the middle ground between Speed Champions and LEGO Icons. This version of the McLaren MP4/4 features all the authentic details of a Speed Champions set but on a much larger build, while still being smaller than a traditional LEGO Icons model. The danger behind that approach is that a set somewhere in the middle might not appease anyone.

So, will the reduced piece count make this set feel like a dumbed-down Icons model, or will the build feel more like a turbo-charged Speed Champions set?

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna set details —

Theme:  LEGO Icons Set name: 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna Release: March 1, 2024

Price: £69.99 / $79.99 / €79.99 Pieces: 693 Minifigures: 1

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna —

10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna can be pre-ordered from LEGO.com right now, ahead of its wide release date of March 1, 2024.

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna build —

Glancing at the box art this model looks sleek, beautifully and authentically replicated and appears to be a fitting tribute to one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. Looks can be deceptive though, and after all it’s what’s inside the box that counts.

Six numbered bags contain the 693 pieces required to build the McLaren MP4/4 Formula 1 race car, its display stand and the smaller podium display for the Ayrton Senna minifigure. There’s a sticker sheet and a handful of printed parts featuring authentic Shell and McLaren logos, and four brand new and exclusive sleek tyres.

The tyres look absolutely fantastic, adding a layer of accuracy to the model that is crucial for the overall authenticity of the set. However, if you thought regular LEGO pieces were dust magnets then you ain’t seen nothing yet. Taking the tyres out of the box for just five minutes was enough to have dust particles being attracted to them from all corners of the room. Best keep them inside the box until the very last moment (and invest in a decent dust-buster if you don’t already own one).

The tyres have been designed with more than just the model’s aesthetics in mind. The McLaren MP4 was incredibly low to the ground and recreating this was one of the biggest challenges the design team faced when designing this model. The new slick tyres are just one practical solution to this problem, the other being brand new suspension elements. Using these two newly-designed pieces the designers successfully managed to get this model so low that it sits just two LEGO plates off the ground.

The build itself, while not quite as involved as a larger Icons set, is still a very enjoyable experience. Because of the smaller size, the model starts to take shape fairly quickly and from certain angles (especially viewed from above) the curves, lines and angles look very accurate. It does feel more like an oversized Speed Champions build rather than a traditional LEGO Icons model though. No Technic elements are used for the framework or chassis, which instead takes advantage of traditional LEGO System pieces to construct the model (Technic pins are used, but these are only present to help strengthen the connections, rather than being fundamental to the design).

Clever parts usage is employed to replicate interior details; macaroni pieces and horns, flat silver chalices and a number of drum-lacquered silver parts are all used creatively to recreate the V6 engine, while the rest of the interior also includes a brick-built seat, gear stick and working steering wheel. Several new elements have also been produced exclusively for this set (along with the aforementioned tyres and suspension elements) such as a brand new printed nose cone. As well as adding aesthetic detail, it’s also been designed to help secure the steering column down and provides extra strength to the front half of the model.

There are many positives about the parts usage, with a lot of pieces being used to great effect while creating the various curves and angles. However, the front windshield doesn’t quite work as well as the rest of the model. It looks bulky and blocky and doesn’t capture the real-life racing car’s look at all – perhaps one more newly-designed element would have solved this issue?

When the model does get it right, it looks incredibly effective. The front nose cone for example captures the lines and angles perfectly and the included stickers and printed parts add a high level of detail to the model’s chassis. The Shell logo and Ayrton Senna’s racing number feature prominently, while the Marlborough logo used throughout the ’88 season has been replaced by a McLaren logo (for obvious reasons).

A nice touch to Brazilian Senna’s heritage is also hidden within the set. The yellow, green and blue of the Brazilian flag is hidden underneath the bodywork. It’s ultimately covered up and will remain unseen, but it’s a lovely touch and a fitting tribute to Senna.

Because of the reduced parts count the build is over far too quickly. While there are a few small pockets of ingenuity spread throughout the model, it doesn’t quite feel as smart or clever as a larger Icons vehicle usually does. 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna is definitely a set that sways more into Speed Champions territory. However, overall the build is still a very enjoyable experience and the final model looks absolutely brilliant once completed.

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna characters —

Unlike other LEGO Icons sets, 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna comes complete with an exclusive minifigure representation of one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers to ever grace the sport, Ayrton Senna.

It’s a rather poignant minifigure as Ayrton tragically lost his life while racing. The included quote that makes up part of his display stand – “No matter what your dream is, you have to dedicate yourself entirely to it” – is at once both inspirational and tinged with sadness, knowing that Ayrton dedicated his life, and ultimately lost it, to the thing he loved most.

A brick-built podium is also included on which to display the minifigure, but it’s a very odd design. Compared to the sleekness of the McLaren it looks a little rudimentary and comes across as an afterthought, rather than a purposeful design choice. To really work, this podium needed to either be slicker in its design, or scrapped altogether in favour of a simple white 3×4 Collectible Minifigures display stand.

Thankfully the minifigure itself is a beautiful representation of the legendary racing driver and features printed racing overalls on both the torso and legs, and an absolutely exquisite printed helmet, authentically replicating his famous yellow and green racing helmet.

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna price —

The previous LEGO Icons vehicle 10321 Corvette contains nearly twice as many parts as 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna and costs nearly twice as much. Taking only that into account, the price of this model seems more than fair. 

However, when you also consider that the set includes a brick-built display stand (adding to the overall appeal of the set as a whole) and an exclusive minifigure, the price begins to look even more favourable. No qualms in paying full whack for this one.

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna pictures —

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna pros and cons —

A shorter build and a smaller model isn’t necessarily a bad thing (especially on the wallet). LEGO Speed Champions 76911 007 Aston Martin DB5 for example contains just under 300 pieces, but is an ingenious and enjoyable experience all round. However, when compared to previous LEGO Icons sets 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna falls just a little short. 

It’s still a great-looking model, and actually looks better on display than most thanks to the included stand. Fans who are accustomed to a more in depth and involved build experience may feel a little shortchanged by the build of this set though. The included Senna minifigure is certainly an attractive inclusion, and perhaps going forward this could become a regular mainstay of the Icons theme.

10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna still remains a very good set in its own right, and one that will no doubt get Speed Champions aficionados’ motors racing. As a first foray into a LEGO System Formula 1 car of this size, taking all things into account, 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna still gets the chequered flag. 

10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna pros	10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna cons
Looks excellent on display thanks to the stand	A shorter build than most
A highly authentic model	A few areas could be refined (the windscreen and podium in particular)
Comes with an exclusive minifigure

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna —

There have been surprisingly few Formula 1 sets over the years, but 2024 will finally allow fans of the motorsport to fill their LEGO garages with a fleet of F1 cars. The considerably larger LEGO Technic 42171 Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance, the smaller LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance Pull-Back and the LEGO Speed Champions 76919 2023 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car are all available to pre-order now, launching on the same day as 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna. If you can’t wait until then, LEGO Technic 42141 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car is out now. 

If you’re looking for a more involved LEGO Icons build, and aren’t fussed about Formula 1, then LEGO Icons 10321 Corvette will offer up a pleasing experience.

— LEGO Icons 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna FAQs —