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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 07, 2026

David Dobrik Takes Delivery of his 1-of-1 $1.2M Aston Martin Valhalla

With more than 70 million followers across his platforms, David Dobrik has become one of the internet’s biggest names, growing his YouTube channel to over 17 million subscribers since launching it back in 2015. While his content ranges from chaotic daily vlogs to celebrity cameos, he’s probably best known for his over-the-top car giveaways, surprising friends and fans with everything from Mercedes-Benzes and Teslas to a Lamborghini and even a Ford Bronco. After giving away more than 30 luxury cars over the years, many tied to partnerships with brands like SeatGeek, Dobrik is finally buying something for himself: a brand-new Aston Martin Valhalla, reportedly worth north of $1 million. This also isn’t David’s first time behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. Before this, he was most often seen driving a light blue Aston Martin DBX, though that garage recently expanded after friend and fellow YouTuber SteveWillDoIt surprised him with a new Ferrari Purosangue. Aston Martin approached him almost two years ago with an allocation and the opportunity to completely configure his own 1-of-1 spec, which he took full advantage of with an Iridescent Green exterior with metallic gold accents and a full Sage Green interior with tons of exposed gloss carbon fiber. The cabin even features a special plaque that reads “Hand-built in Great Britain for David Dobrik”. To fully experience the Aston Martin Valhalla and its monstrous 1,064-horsepower hybrid-assisted 4.0L V8, David Dobrik and his team worked with local police in Los Angeles to temporarily shut down a public road with a long straightaway. Alongside the Valhalla, the lineup for the impromptu drag race included a Ferrari F8 Spider gifted by Corinna Kopf, plus a Ferrari Purosangue and an Aston Martin DBX from Dobrik’s own collection. Now a few weeks into ownership, David Dobrik seems to be fully settling into life with the new Aston Martin Valhalla, even mentioning that despite its wild performance, it’s surprisingly easy to drive—comfortable enough, in his words, to daily. All Aston Martin Inventory Source: David Dobrik YouTube

By Khris Bharath – May 02, 2026

Jeremy Clarkson Reveals He’s Driving Aston Martin’s New $1M Valhalla

Jeremy Clarkson was recently spotted in central London, getting into a silver Aston Martin Valhalla. Earlier today, Jezza revealed in a post on his Instagram that he had two cars to review this week, showing a Fiat Panda Grande alongside the Valhalla finished in silver with green accents, the same one he was spotted in earlier. Tellingly, he noted that one of the two cars has been getting significantly more use than the other, and it's not hard to guess which one. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeremy Clarkson (@jeremyclarkson1) The Valhalla is very much one of the top exotic cars of the moment. Developed in collaboration with Red Bull Racing under the direction of Adrian Newey, it is Aston’s mid-engined road car with series-production plug-in hybrid tech, a first for the British marque. Power comes from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG, working in tandem with three electric motors to produce a combined 1,064 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. The Valhalla can hit 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 217 mph. Production is strictly limited to 999 examples. Customer deliveries only began recently, and high-profile sightings are already stacking up. Back in February this year, Gordon Ramsay, in his own Midnight Blue example, was photographed outside The Savoy in London, making it two of Britain’s most recognisable faces already behind the wheel of one of its most exciting new cars. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aaron Moniz (@aaronspotz) Clarkson, now 66 remains one of Britain’s most prominent motoring voices, and his automotive presence is as loud as ever. Despite spending much of the past few years fronting Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon, he has never truly stepped away from the car world. His weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun keep coming, and he recently appeared in a Harry’s Garage video riding shotgun in a Gordon Murray T.50. His former Top Gear and The Grand Tour co-presenters are similarly refusing to fade into the background. Richard Hammond and James May both remain active on DriveTribe, the automotive media platform the trio co-founded together, while May has also built out an unlikely second career with his own gin brand. With The Grand Tour having wrapped its main run in 2024, all three are now doing their own thing. A combined career spanning well over three decades, and to the relief of fans, they’re far from done. View All Aston Martins for Sale Images via Instagram: @jeremyclarkson1, @aaronsportz

By Khris Bharath – February 22, 2026

Gordon Ramsay Spotted Driving His New $1 Million Aston Martin Valhalla in Central London

Traffic in Central London rarely stops for anything, yet earlier this weekend, heads turned when celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay was seen in his new Aston Martin Valhalla, a $1 million hybrid mid-engine supercar limited to just 999 units worldwide. First showcased as a concept in 2019 as the AM-RB 003 concept, the production variant was revealed in 2021, with final testing wrapping up in March last year. deliveries only began recently. Ramsay appears to be among the earliest owners, with his windscreen carrying a registration that simply reads “Valhalla.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freddie Atkins (@tfjj) He was subsequently spotted arriving at ‘The Savoy,’ the iconic luxury hotel in the heart of the British capital, where Drivers entering the forecourt follow instructions to use the right-hand lane, an unusual move in a country that otherwise keeps left. Diving into the Valhalla configurator, Ramsay’s example appears to be a beautifully specified Midnight Blue example, with a 2x2 Twill satin carbon fiber package, an Elwood blue central stripe that runs the length of the car over the roof scoop, the top-mounted twin-exhaust all the way onto the fixed rear wing, along with blue accents (Theme 2). It sits over Forged Magnesium satin-black multi-spoke wheels and black brake callipers. A right-hand drive car, the blue/satin carbon theme continues on the inside with twill carbon finish accents on the dash, steering, seats, and carbon fiber seats contrasting against what appears to be a pale blue leather interior with blue stitching. Underneath the sculpted carbonfiber bodywork sits a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank Mercedes-AMG-derived V8 paired with hybrid assistance, which puts out a combined 1,064 horsepower and 812 pound-feet of torque. An F1-derived hybrid system features two electric motors on the front axle, with a third in the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission providing additional torque to the rear wheels, resulting in an all-wheel drive setup. The hybrid setup offers about nine miles of all-electric range. The aero package was designed by the great Adrian Newey, one of the greatest minds in Formula 1 and Aston Martin F1’s team principal, and is capable of 1,322 pounds of downforce at 150 mph. The Valhalla can hit 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 217 mph, figures that place it firmly in contemporary supercar territory, positioned below the more extreme V-12-powered Valkyrie. Ramsay’s garage already includes several limited-production Ferraris alongside Aston Martin models such as the DBS 770 Ultimate, DBR22, Valour, and the Valiant. The hybrid Valkyrie now joins a spectacular collection of other exotics. View All Aston Martins For Sale Images: @tfjj

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