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

Ferrari News

Ferrari news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, auction results and current market prices. Our coverage runs across the whole line-up, from the 296 and 296 Speciale to the SF90 XX, the 12Cilindri and the F80. We also follow the earlier cars that built the reputation of the Prancing Horse over seven decades. Reporting comes from the Monterey and Pebble Beach auction floors, and from first drives of new models as they arrive. One thing separates this from other supercar news: many of the Ferraris covered here are listed for sale on the duPont REGISTRY marketplace. Read the story, then see what an example is genuinely worth. For Ferrari news today, and the exotic car news around it, start here.

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 30, 2024

How To Buy: PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari HP's New Limited Edit...

Discover the iconic Miami Limited Edition Collection, celebrating Scuderia Ferrari HP's racing heritage with classic blue tones. In a celebration of racing heritage and iconic moments, PUMA and Scuderia Ferrari HP proudly announce the Miami Limited Edition Collection. Inspired by pivotal moments in Formula 1 history, the new collection pays homage to the Italian Prancing Horse's legendary victories from the '60s to the '70s. From John Surtees' triumphant victory in 1964 to Niki Lauda's iconic 1973 win, each piece in the collection draws inspiration from historic races and the transition of race suit colors, representing the evolution of a legacy embedded in passion and perseverance. Featuring classic blue tones reminiscent of the team's iconic race suits, the Miami Limited Edition Collection includes standout pieces like the varsity jacket, team shirt, and Speedcat Pro racing boot. With exclusive accessories available as part of the head-to-toe lineup, the collection reflects the collaborative partnership between PUMA and Scuderia Ferrari HP. Join Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and the entire team as they embrace the azzurro heritage, carrying forward a legacy of passion for racing. Mark your calendars for April 29th when the PUMA for Scuderia Ferrari Miami Limited Edition Collection launches at select PUMA and Ferrari stores, as well as on PUMA's website. Shop all the current PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari HP styles by clicking the link below. Shop All PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari HP Source: PUMA

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 04, 2024

DJ Khaled Shows Off Charles Leclerc's Scuderia Ferrari F1...

Some serious strings had to be pulled to make this happen. Whether it's hitting the links at a private golf course or attending F1's Miami Grand Prix, DJ Khaled's newfound hobbies offer the world an entertaining look inside the ultra-luxury lifestyle of him and his family. With a growing luxury car collection that currently features exotics like the Mercedes-Maybach S680 Virgil Abloh Edition, Maybach 62 Landaulet, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Rolls-Royce Phantom, and many others, it was surprising to see DJ Khaled post an Instagram reel of a Scuderia Ferrari F1 race car sitting in his South Florida driveway. Miles away from any racetrack in site, Charles Leclerc's #16 Ferrari racecar sits in position as Khaled's sons, Ashad and Aalam take pictures next to the car wearing PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari F1 racing gear. The four-wheel, special guest appearance, which is still almost unheard of, could only be organized for an A-list celebrity like DJ Khaled. It reminds us of an event that took place last year during the holidays when a California homeowner organized having Lando Norris' McLaren F1 car as a centerpiece of their front lawn Christmas decorations. Sporting Rosso Corsa in style with a newfound love for Ferrari, you can bet that DJ Khaled and his family will be rooting for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. during the next F1 race. View all Ferrari supercars and hypercars for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) Source: @djkhaled Instagram

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 25, 2024

Ferrari Secures Incredible One-Two Finish At 2024 Austral...

Ferrari adds another incredible F1 victory to its portfolio. There’s no doubt that Ferrari is one of the most preeminent names in the F1 universe. With decades of history in the exclusive sport and an unmistakable presence, Ferrari certainly has the propensity for placing high and winning big on the circuit. However, Formula 1 is a notoriously contentious, intense, and nail-biting racing challenge, and often, a Grand Prix can be anyone’s race. That’s why Ferrari’s victory is more than impressive at this year’s Australian Grand Prix, with a one-two finish seeing both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc taking the top two positions. On top of the amazement of the one-two finish, Sainz’s win is amazing as the race marked his return to the Formula 1 championship after unfortunately leaving the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix the day before the race due to an appendicitis diagnosis that required an appendectomy operation. He came back with a vengeance, not only winning the race but also the fan vote for “Driver of the Day.” Finishing in second, Leclerc also delivered an incredible performance, setting the fastest lap time in the race, as well. The incredible finish that Ferrari delivered in Australia resulted in Scuderia Ferrari’s 86th one-two finish, and 244th victory, picking up the maximum possible 44 points thanks to Leclerc also setting the fastest lap. Looking forward, Scuderia Ferrari and the F1 championship move on to Japan, where the teams will duke it out again at Suzuka. View All Ferraris For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 08, 2024

Carlos Sainz Exits Saudi Arabian GP For Appendicitis Surgery

Surgery will prevent Carlos Sainz from racing this weekend. As Scuderia Ferrari prepares for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, an unfortunate emergency has prevented its driver, Carlos Sainz, from participating in the race weekend. The Spanish F1 driver has been diagnosed with appendicitis, which requires surgery. Ferrari has announced that he will be unable to participate in the rest of the race weekend and will be replaced by Oliver Bearman. As Scuderia Ferrari’s reserve driver, 18-year-old Bearman, hailing from the United Kingdom, currently races in the FIA F2 championship. However, this weekend will mark Bearman’s Formula One debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He will not participate in this round of the F2 Championship, instead joining Charles Leclerc on the grid for Scuderia Ferrari. As Carlos Sainz steps away from the Saudi Arabian race weekend to undergo appendicitis surgery, Ferrari wishes him a speedy recovery as Oliver Bearman steps to the place to drive in the first Formula 1 race of his career. As the race weekend unfolds at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, anticipation builds for Bearman’s performance and fingers are crossed for Sainz’s speedy recovery and prompt return to the F1 Championship. Image Source: Ferrari

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 28, 2024

Amalgam Reveal 'Schumacher Collection,' Five 1:8 Scale Mo...

Michael Schumacher's impact on Formula 1, particularly with Scuderia Ferrari, is monumental. Winning five consecutive championships, he redefined excellence in motorsports. Schumacher wasn't only about speed, he brought strategy, precision, and an unmatched dedication to the race track. His era at Ferrari is remembered for not just victories but for elevating the team and the sport. Schumacher's legacy is a blend of record-breaking achievements and inspirational leadership, making him a historic figure in the Formula 1 world. Amalgam Collection is proud to honor the renowned German driver with its all-new Schumacher Collection. The five Scuderia Ferrari F1 models include the F1-2000, F2001, F2002, F2003-GA, and F2004, all of which represent the five consecutive championship wins from 2000 to 2004. The collection is available in three unique displays, each designed to showcase these high-scale models in their full glory. For collectors who prefer a traditional display, the Model Collection is perfect, featuring models on sleek carbon composite bases for $53,000. If you're looking for something more eye-catching, the Plinth Collection offers models on silk black pedestals at $70,000, ensuring each piece is the center of attention. But for those who want to make a statement, the Wall-Mounted Collection is unrivaled. Priced at $87,000, it includes models mounted on carbon composite panels, creating a breathtaking wall display limited to just five sets. It's an art installation that pays tribute to Schumacher's legacy. Each option comes with a Giclee printed image of Michael Schumacher, chosen from the Motorsport Images Archive, adding an extra layer of exclusivity. Plus, 10% of every Wall Display sale goes to the Keep Fighting Foundation, making this not just a purchase but a contribution to a cause close to Schumacher's heart. The craftsmanship behind these 1:8 scale models is nothing short of remarkable. Over 12,500 hours of development and 1,500 hours of build time went into creating these examples, each featuring thousands of precisely engineered parts. Built using original design data and paint codes supplied by Scuderia Ferrari, these models are as close as you can get to owning a piece of F1 history. Shop Amalgam Collection Source: Amalgam Collection

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 16, 2023

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By Edward Jones – October 06, 2022

Ferrari Announces Le Mans Hypercar Reveal Date

A great way to end the month. It's been a couple of months since we've had any substantial news regarding Ferrari's upcoming Le Mans Hypercar (LMH), but that's coming to an end. During an interview with Motorsport.com, Ferrari's Antonello Coletta divulged some juicy details regarding the new race car. Coletta noted that the LMH has already put in 6,213 miles of testing and that the team takes it to track every 10 days so that the fine-tuning will be in place for the 2023 WEC season opener in March. Regarding who will be driving the race car, that news will come later in the year after its debut, which brings up another point. According to Motorsport.com, the new Ferrari hypercar will be revealed on October 30 during the final day of the Ferrari World Finals at Imola. That means we only have a couple of weeks left of speculation and renders until we see the final design for the race car. "The car is very complicated because we have chosen the Hypercar , while the LMDh regulations call for a slightly simpler car," Coletta said during the interview. "This choice brings with it some non-trivial complications to solve. That's why I say that the more we drive, the better." Be sure to check back with us on that day to see the car for yourself and read all about its specifications. Source: Motorsport.com

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