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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

A classic red Ferrari sports car is parked on grass in front of a stone wall with TAG Heuer Drivers Club signage and a large racing driver poster at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where TAG Heuer is the Official Timing Partner.

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 10, 2025

TAG Heuer Returns to The Goodwood Festival of Speed as Th...

TAG Heuer heads to The Goodwood House with an exclusive new watch. For the past 32 years, automotive manufacturers, car collectors, and motorsport fanatics have flocked to The Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, for the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed. Held on the prestigious grounds of Charles Gordon-Lennox (11th Duke of Richmond), around 200,000 spectators gather for a three-day celebration that welcomes some of the world's most influential and historic automotive and motorsport examples. The main attraction of the fuel-driven weekend is the coveted hillclimb, where modern and historic cars compete in a timed sprint up the 1.16-mile road course that is typically used as a driveway for the residence. TAG Heuer is officially back at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, making its return as the event's Official Timing Partner just in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. TAG's legacy is deeply rooted in motorsport history, from the first dashboard chronograph in 1911 to its partnerships with names like Red Bull Racing, Porsche, and the Indianapolis 500. Goodwood's 2025 theme, "The Winning Formula – Champions and Challengers," sets the perfect stage for the Swiss watchmaker to shine. To celebrate the occasion, TAG Heuer is releasing a limited-edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Festival of Speed models. It features a 42mm case, TH20-00 in-house movement, classic British Racing Green dial, red accents, and a comfortable brown leather rally strap. Designed as a nod to vintage motorsport style, only 100 pieces will be produced and first offered exclusively to Goodwood Road Racing Club members. From hillclimb competitions to new vehicle debuts and interactive paddocks, Goodwood remains one of the most exciting car events of the year. Shop All TAG Heuer Watches Source: TAG Heuer

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 21, 2024

Rolex Celebrates All Things Automotive At Monterey Car We...

Monterey Car Week honored automotive history with Rolex's support. Monterey Car Week 2024 was a dream come true for car collectors and enthusiasts, with the Monterey Peninsula buzzing with events celebrating the beauty and history of motoring. Rolex has been a key supporter of these events for over 25 years, kicking off its involvement with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® back in 1997. This year's lineup included historic racing, luxury car displays, and the debut of some truly remarkable automotive creations, making it a week filled with excitement for all things on wheels. Rolex/Stephan Cooper The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion marked 50 years of historic racing at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. From August 14 to 17, the event brought together an incredible mix of classic cars and vintage Formula 1 race cars, each roaring back to life on the world-renowned track. The event was packed with performance highlights, including Jenson Button's lap in his 1952 Jaguar C-Type, adding an extra layer of nostalgia and thrill to the track day. Rolex/Tim O'Neal The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering, set in the picturesque Quail Lodge & Golf Club, delivered a unique combination of fine dining and an impressive array of rare and exotic cars. This year's event continued its tradition of celebrating the finest in automotive design. Attendees enjoyed a laid-back day surrounded by a mix of old-school charm and the latest in car innovation. Rolex/Tim O'Neal Wrapping up the week, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance® once again brought automotive elegance to the greens of Pebble Beach Golf Links. This year, the event made waves with the debut of Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Land Rover Classic vehicles, showcased outside the UK for the first time. The coveted Best of Show award went to the 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports, a car that captured the essence of classic motoring. To mark the occasion, Rolex presented the winner with a specially engraved Perpetual 1908, closing out another memorable Monterey Car Week. View All Luxury Watches For Sale Source: Rolex

By Roberta Naas – October 06, 2023

A. Lange & Söhne Sponsors Audrain Newport Concours d’ El...

Taking place in idyllic Newport, RI, this past weekend, the Audrain Concours d’ Elegance and events leading up to it were sponsored by German watch brand A. Lange & Sohne. It was the perfect blend of art and elegance with 180 of the most spectacular classic cars on the lawn of the famed Breakers overlooking the ocean, and a luxurious display of A. Lange & Söhne timepieces – including a huge Odysseus clock. The elegance was further underscored by the majestic Gilded-age mansions in the area. In fact, even the Gathering on one of the first days of the multi-day Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week event was held at Doris Duke’s mansion at Rough Point. There, as with the Breakers (the grandest Newport summer “cottage” built by the Vanderbilts between 1893 and 1895), a handful of members of the press got a private tour – enhancing our appreciation of the elegance and sophistication of the Newport region and the event. According to Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne (and an avid car and watch collector), the brand’s desire to join Audrain Newport Concours has as much to do with the setting as with the cars. “It is not even the fact that these are classic cars, it’s more about the elegance – the fact that the Concours is really a beauty contest for the cars. We can see the tie in with our watches. It is about craftsmanship and history. Each of these cars has a story, much like our watches. They are collector items, just like watches. We have to focus on those synergies in what we do. And It was time for us to sponsor such an event in America.” In fact, this event in Newport marked the first time A. Lange & Söhne has participated in an American Concours. However, it has a long relationship with other Concours around the world, including the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace and the Concorso D’ Eleganza Villa D’ Este (with which it has partnered for more than a decade). The partnership for the Newport Concours d’ Elegance, presented by A. Lange & Sohne, celebrates the worlds of meticulous craftsmanship, fine mechanics and the beauty of classic design. In terms of automobiles, the Duesenberg SJ (Supercharged) from The Nethercutt Collection, owned by Helen & Jack Nethercutt, won the timeless luxury award for its unparalleled elegance and performance. A Delage D8-120 'de Villars' owned by Fritz Burkard took home the trophy for this year's Concours d' Elegance's 'Best of Show'. For winners in certain categories of the Concours on October 1, A. Lange & Söhne awarded certificates decorated with a hand-engraved golden balance cock – a key watch component that sets this brand apart from others thanks to its meticulous finishings. Located in the Saxony region of Germany, A. Lange & Söhne is one of the most sought-after brands by collectors. From high complications such as repeaters and its famed Triple Split, to hand-made individual pieces like its Handwerkskunst, A. Lange & Söhne holds many a patent and deftly combines innovation with classic elegance. The brand hand crafts all of its watches in house in Germany in a state-of-the-art Manufacture. Every tiny component in each movement – whether visible or not – is meticulously finished to exacting standards and each movement is hand assembled twice. A walk through the hallowed halls of watchmaking at A. Lange & Söhne is a journey literally through time – with many signature elements in its watches that can be traced back to the brand’s roots. Among the watches on display at the luxe A. Lange & Söhne patio on the terrace of the Breakers: the recently unveiled platinum A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar, the much-coveted Odysseus Chronograph and a recently released Handwerskunst with magnificent dial motif.

By Roberta Naas – August 14, 2023

Rolex Has Limelight Spot During Monterey Classic Car Week

Swiss watch brand Rolex has a dynamic position at the major events taking place during Monterey Classic Car week this week.

By Edward Jones – February 06, 2019

Eberhard & Co. Announces the Winner of the 2019 Winter Ma...

Guido Barcella and Ombretta Ghidotti, in a 1963 Porsche 356 A Coupé, have won the 31st Winter Marathon, the regularity event exclusively for historic cars built before 1968 and rally cars manufactured prior to 1976. Divided into two loops, and gifted with magnificent weather featuring clear skies, no snow, but bitter cold throughout the two days, and some -14 degrees on the Pordoi pass. In total, competitors completed 420 km over some of the most beautiful roads of the Trentino Alto Adige, with stunning views of the Dolomites. Second place went to the crew of Franco Spagnoli and Giuseppe Parisi in a 1938 Fiat 508 C, while the final podium place was awarded to Gianmaria Aghem and Rossella Conti in a 1965 Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.2. 100 cars had entered, 94 were at the start. The bright sunshine allowed spectators to fully enjoy the spectacular Madonna di Campiglio Frozen Lake Eberhard Trophy (Trofeo Eberhard del Lago Ghiacciato), the exciting knockout challenge reserved to the top 32 crews, won this year by Alberto Riboldi and Paolo Sabbadini in a 1933 Fiat 508 S Balilla Sport, who prevailed, to be a ‘family-final’ over Riccardo and Federico Riboldi in a 1939 Fiat 508 C, Alberto's son and brother respectively. Third place went to Marco Gatta in his 1959 Porsche 356 A Coupé. Along with the organizers, Mario Peserico, Eberhard & Co. Managing Director, and the guest of honor and Brand Ambassador Miki Biasion, World Rally champion, presented the winners with the awards. view eberhard & co's website Sponsored by Everhard & Co. Eberhard & Co. watches boast over a century of research and passion. Since 1887 the Swiss brand has been synonymous with excellence and innovation, which are represented in precious timepieces with high technical content that have marked important stages: the pocket chronograph, the first wrist chronograph, right up to dual time watches. View Website

By Roberta Naas – February 04, 2019

Rolex Takes The Lead At Rolex 24 At Daytona

With torrential downpours and wicked winds beating down at Daytona International Speedway during the second day of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, top drivers from around the world proved they could go the distance when it comes to endurance racing under extreme conditions. In fact, for several hours on Sunday morning, both red and yellow flags, and continuous wipeouts stymied drivers and left thousands of fans frustrated. In the end, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) called the race over just 10 minutes prior to the scheduled 24-hour checkered flag time. Still, the extreme weather conditions and track flooding didn’t dampen spirits, as the 50th season of the Rolex 24 at Daytona witnessed fantastic victories and the awarding of Rolex watches to the winners. Fernando Alonso, two-time FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion, took his first overall win at an IMSA event. His victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which is the kick-off event of the IMSA season, took the lead in Turn 1 just minutes before the red flag that ended the race came into play. The two red flags that went up on Sunday morning, stopping the race once and then ultimately ending the race early, mark the first two red flags were waved in one race in the event’s history. Alonso drove the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPI-V.R racecar along with teammates Jordan Taylor, Kamui Kobayashi and Renger van Der Zande. GTD Class Winner: #11 GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, GTD; Rolf Ineichen (CHE), Rik Breukers (NLD), Mirko Bortolotti (ITA), Christian Engelhart (DEU) At the Gatorade Victory Lane on Sunday, in the pouring rain, Rolex USA CEO and President, Luca Bernasconi presented the coveted Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona to Alonso, his teammates and all of the driver winners in all categories. While the winning trophy is an honor, drivers swear that the most important thing about winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona is the Rolex watch. In fact, Scott Pruett, five-time overall winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona (as well as a friend of the brand) and this year’s Grand Marshal of the event, solidified the fact that the watch carries significant appeal. “When you consider all the time, effort and energy that goes into trying to win the Rolex 24, it is completely consuming, and a watch is a symbol of this commitment. If you win a trophy, it sits in your trophy case.” says Pruett. “However, when you win a Daytona, with ’Winner’ engraved on the back, there’s nothing more special. There’s no current driver or past driver who wouldn’t say the most memorable thing you can take away from this race is the watch.” #8 Starworks Motorsport,Audi R8 LMS GT3, GTD; Parker Chase (USA), Ryan Dalziel (GBR), Ezequiel Perez Companc (ARG), Chris Haase (DEU) #25 BMW Team RLL, BMW M8 GTE, GTLM; Augusto Farfus (BRA), Connor De Phillippi (USA), Philipp Eng (AUT), Colton Herta (USA) #63 Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari 488 GT3, GTD; Cooper MacNeil (USA), Toni Vilander (FIN), Dominik Farnbacher (DEU), Jeff Westphal (USA) #47 Precision Performance Motorsports (PPM), Lamborghini Huracan GT3, GTD; Steve Dunn (USA), Linus Lundqvist (SWE), Milos Pavlovic (CHE), Don Yount (USA) Rolex’s affiliation with auto racing runs long and deep. As early as the 1930’s Rolex watches were seen on the wrists of drivers who identified the brand’s precision and exceptional excellence as akin to their sport. Sir Malcolm Campbell wore his Rolex when he set the fastest official time recorded at Daytona Beach in 1935 at the wheel of the famed Bluebird racing car. It wasn’t too long after that that Rolex rolled out the now famed and beloved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch. By 1968, the brand had established itself as the watch for racecar drivers and even struck up a relationship with thus-far 50-year brand ambassador Sir Jackie Stewart. It was 27 years ago in 1992 that Rolex formally partnered with Daytona International Speedway as the Title Sponsor and Official Timepiece of the 24-hour endurance races known today as Rolex 24 At Daytona. The fact that Rolex is all about precision and excellence makes it a great tie-in with auto racing, where precision and excellence also are the prevailing codes. Additionally, Rolex is a leader in utilizing high-tech materials and incredible in-house-made innovative engines for its watches. Other winners of the event include the No. 25 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE, that took the GTLM win driven by Augusto Farfu, Connor De Phillippi, Philipp Eng and Colton Herta; and the No. 11 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 took the GTD Class victory for a second year in the row. That four-man team consisted of Christian Engelhart, Rolf Ineichen, Mirko Bortolotti and Rik Breukers. The final win for the LMP2 class was Sebastian Saavedra in the No.18 DragonSpeed ORECA LMP2, co-driven by Roberto Gonzalez, Pedro Maldonado and Ryan Cullen. Oliver Jarvis in the No. 77 Mazda Team Joest Dpi officially set the IMSA lap record around the 3.56-mile closed circuit that is Daytona International Speedway. The record time was 1:33.685 seconds. Unfortunately, the car was hit with a mechanical failure – ending its ability to finish the race.

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