By the close of the 1992 season, Ayrton Senna was facing a growing sense of uncertainty over his future at McLaren. The team was set to lose its long-standing works partnership with Honda, and Senna had serious doubts about how competitive McLaren’s 1993 car would be in a rapidly shifting landscape.

In that context, Senna made a discreet but calculated move during the off-season, testing a Penske CART car in the United States, a run made possible through his friendship with Emerson Fittipaldi and Marlboro’s existing commercial ties.

The test was more than simple curiosity: it was a clear statement of intent. Senna was underlining that his talent extended well beyond Formula 1, while simultaneously applying pressure on McLaren at a moment when the team was losing ground.

With Honda departing and a switch to Ford power on the horizon, McLaren’s era of dominance was fading, as Williams surged back to the forefront of the sport. The balance of power had shifted decisively, leaving Ron Dennis’ team trailing a Williams outfit that now held a clear competitive edge.

In the end, Ayrton Senna chose to stay, going on to finish runner-up in the 1993 World Championship behind his long-time rival Alain Prost. He then secured the long-coveted move to Williams for 1994 — a chapter that promised so much, before the sport was tragically shaken by the events at Imola.

One of Ayrton Senna’s most celebrated McLaren-Honda cars is about to be offered at auction, with a sale price expected to climb into truly staggering territory.

The spotlight is on the legendary McLaren MP4/6, the car that carried the Brazilian to an emotional home victory in 1991 and ultimately to his third World Championship title, after a season-long battle with Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese in their dominant Williams machines.

Equipped with a naturally aspirated V12, the MP4/6 is expected to fetch between $12 and $15 million when it goes under the hammer, although it will not challenge the all-time auction benchmark for a F1 car. That distinction still belongs to the Mercedes W196 Streamliner, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, which was sold earlier this year for a record-breaking £42.75 million.