Lifestyle

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 – March 02, 2026

F1 Star Charles Leclerc Drives $40 Million Ferrari on Wedding Day

As the 2026 Formula One season gears up, teams and drivers are pushing every limit—fine-tuning cars, strategies, and every detail to chase victory on the world’s fastest circuits. And while the main objective is to secure the number one spot and celebrate with champagne showers, Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc is already doing some pre-season celebrating after announcing his marriage to Alexandra Saint Mleux. Set in the picturesque city of Monaco, where the two call home, Charles and Alexandra Leclerc revealed their most special day with the world through Instagram posts captioned, “28/02/2026 - Civil Wedding 🤍” and “A day we’ll forever remember. 🤍 Part one is done and part 2 will be next year with all of our close ones.” In perfect fashion, it’s the send-off that took the automotive world by storm, as the happy newlyweds drove off along the French Riviera in one of the rarest and most expensive Ferraris ever. The car in question was a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, an icon not just for its timeless design and astronomical value but also for its racing pedigree. With its sleek, curvaceous body and distinctive pontoon fenders, the 250 Testa Rossa is a symbol of Ferrari’s dominance in endurance racing during the late 1950s, securing multiple victories at Le Mans and Sebring. Beyond its track record, the 250 Testa Rossa remains one of the most collectible Ferraris in existence, with examples fetching between $12.4 million (2009) and $16.39 million (2011) at auction and nearly $40 million in a private sale (2014). For Leclerc, piloting this legendary car on such a personal milestone connected motorsport heritage with life’s celebrations, turning a ceremonial drive through Monaco into a rolling tribute to Ferrari’s history and the thrill that has defined the Maranello marque for decades. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charles Leclerc (@charles_leclerc)

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 02, 2026

Shop Montblanc's Meisterstück Great Masters Ferrari Tail...

Montblanc and Ferrari celebrate shared craftsmanship with the new Meisterstück. This isn't the first time Montblanc and Ferrari have crossed paths. Over the years, both ultra-luxury worlds have intersected through a shared passion for design, precision, and craftsmanship that outlives trends. Each understands the beauty of control, whether it be the steady hand that guides a pen or the one that keeps a V12 balanced at full throttle. Their latest collaboration, the Montblanc Meisterstück Great Masters Ferrari Tailor Made Classica, feels like another chapter in a story built on mutual respect for each other's craft. It's about two artisans, from different industries, recognizing something familiar in each other's pursuit of perfection. The Classica collection looks to Ferrari's Grand Touring cars of the 1950s and 1960s for inspiration, when long stretches of road met hand-shaped metal and wood. Those details, like the feeling of lacquered steering wheels and the refinement of understated design, come through beautifully into the Meisterstück's lineup. The body, finished in lacquered wood, shows off the tactile satisfaction of vintage craftsmanship, while the Montblanc emblem in giallo Modena pays homage to Ferrari's roots. The Prancing Horse, discreetly placed, ties it all together without overwhelming the iconic design. The fountain pen requires patience, each stroke deliberate, mirroring the rhythm of an open road drive. The ballpoint, though more suited for daily use, maintains the same sense of luxury. In a time when most collaborations chase trends, this one leans into legacy. It reminds us that craftsmanship, whether expressed through steel and pistons or ink and lacquer, is timeless, and that some partnerships, like this one between Montblanc and Ferrari, don't need to be reinvented. They just need to continue. Shop Montblanc x Ferrari Our Top Picks Ferrari Tailor Made Fountain Pen Classica Special Edition Shop Now Ferrari Tailor Made Classic Special Edition Ballpoint Pen Shop Now Source: Ferrari Store/Montblanc

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By Jordan Aquistapace – January 09, 2024

Bespoke Amalgam Model Celebrates A Ferrari Client's Speci...

The 1:8 scale model matches a real-life Ferrari 812 GTS that honors a historic Testarossa. Alongside offering an extensive collection of hand-crafted automotive scale models to its community of collectors, the skilled team of professionals at Amalgam Collection takes things a step further with its Bespoke Model Service. Adding personal touches to each of its custom builds, the program allows clients to work hand-in-hand with Amalgam to recreate a small-scale version of the supercar and hypercar specs sitting in their garage. Amalgam is proud to showcase this incredible 1:8 scale Ferrari 812 GTS model specially commissioned for a client in Monte Carlo. The personalized model of the Ferrari 812 GTS, tailored in a distinctive livery, made its way to Ferrari Scuderia Monte Carlo as part of the delivery of its real-world counterpart. The Ferrari 812 GTS sports an Argento Nurburgring exterior with a striking Azzurro Testa Rossa accent on the windscreen, door panels, and lower sections, mirroring the exact colors of Gianni Agnelli's iconic Testarossa spider (chassis #062897) from the 1980s. Inside, the minature cabin is decorated in Blu Sterling, covering the rear wall, seat backrests, and dashboard, complemented by matte black Nero DS painted aluminum. Depicting the most accurate version of itself, the 1:8 scale Ferrari 812 GTS is just one example of the endless possibilities when choosing to pursue Amalgam Collection's Bespoke Model Service. Shop and discover all that Amalgam has to offer by clicking the link below. Discover Amalgam Collection Source: Amalgam Collection

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 14, 2023

Amalgam Celebrates Ferrari's 'Big Five' With Its All-New ...

Ferrari's "Big Five" lineup, featuring the 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari, represents a lineage of groundbreaking supercars that have continuously influenced the Italian marque's approach to automotive excellence. Each model in this illustrious quintet marks a significant leap in technology, performance, and design, serving as milestones in Ferrari's storied history. From the turbocharged expertise of the 288 GTO to the hybrid innovation of LaFerrari, these iconic automobiles have been at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology with Ferrari's race-bred DNA. The passionate automotive professionals at Amalgam Collection are proud to forever encapsulate Ferrari's most legendary creations with a series of highly detailed models for any home or office. Amalgam Collection's Ferrari Dream Car Collection embodies the pinnacle of supercar aspiration, featuring limited-edition halo supercars that have captured the imaginations of enthusiasts worldwide. These iconic models represent Ferrari's most groundbreaking creations for the road since the 1980s, embodying the essence of speed, innovation, and Italian craftsmanship. In celebration of this illustrious collection, a special offer is now available for collectors and aficionados alike. Purchase the complete set of five 1:18 scale models from the 'Ferrari Dream Cars Collection' and receive one model at no additional cost. To take advantage of Amalgam's exclusive promotion, simply add all five models to your shopping cart. The discount for one model will be applied automatically, offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of Ferrari's legendary road car legacy at an exceptional value. This is a chance to bring home a tangible piece of Ferrari's celebrated history, perfect for display and admiration by all who appreciate the art of Ferrari. Shop the Ferrari Dream Car Collection, as well as Amalgam Collection's entire model line, by clicking the link below. Shop Amalgam's Ferrari Dream Car Collection Ferrari 288 GTO Shop Now Ferrari F40 Shop Now Ferrari F50 Shop Now Ferrari Enzo Shop Now Ferrari LaFerrari Shop Now Source: Amalgam Collection

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By Jordan Aquistapace – November 06, 2023

How To Buy: PUMA Motorsport x Scuderia Ferrari x Joshua V...

PUMA, Scuderia Ferrari, and artist Joshua Vides release a special collection celebrating F1's Vegas return. PUMA Motorsport, in an electrifying partnership with Scuderia Ferrari and the creative genius of Joshua Vides, has rolled out an exclusive apparel line commemorating Formula 1's much-awaited comeback to the legendary Las Vegas strip. The collection is a vibrant homage to F1's American "golden era," splashed with the classic 1970s Ferrari red and white, reigniting the race-day fervor for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Joshua Vides for Scuderia Ferrari: Back to Las Vegas series is a fusion of racetrack-ready attire and street styles, showcasing an array of apparel, footwear, and accessories. It's a throwback to the days when white accents were as much a part of Ferrari's racing livery as the pulsating Rosso Corsa red that defined it. What sets this collection apart is the artisanal essence Vides infuses into each item. With a hand-drawn, painted look, the range highlights authenticity, especially in pieces like the crew sweater, which displays a hand-brushed roundel, on the race jacket, hoodie, and pants streaked with white that seems dipped in racing history. The lineup includes statement items such as race-inspired jackets and pants, casual hoodies, crew sweaters, and themed tees, alongside PUMA’s iconic footwear styles like the Suede, TUFF, and RS-X, all revved up with Ferrari's exhilarating spirit. With this collection, PUMA, Scuderia Ferrari, and Joshua Vides invite fans and style connoisseurs to not only gear up for the race day in Las Vegas but to wear a piece of art that reflects the heart-pounding thrill of Formula 1. Shop all of the current collections from PUMA Motorsport x Scuderia Ferrari F1 by clicking the link below. Shop PUMA Motorsport x Scuderia Ferrari Source: PUMA

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 23, 2023

Amalgam Tailor Made Ferrari 812 Competizione Model Raises...

In light of Ferrari taking over New York City for an unforgettable evening, a one-of-a-kind scale model of a Tailor Made 812 Competizione took the stage as one of the highlighted auction items. Crafted by the Bristol UK-based Amalgam Collection, this unique piece was auctioned off for a jaw-dropping $90,000 at the recent Ferrari Gala Dinner and Auction held in The Shed at Hudson Yards. The gala, a high-profile event that celebrates the luxury and artistry of Ferrari cars, successfully raised $7 million in total, with funds reserved for education-centric projects managed by the New York-based Ferrari Foundation. Attending the star-studded event were Ferrari F1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who were spotted admiring the complexness of the model. Created from 651 handmade parts and using original CAD data from Ferrari Centro Stile, the 1:8 scale model is a spitting image of the Tailor Made 812 Competizione. It even showcases a matte Giallo Tristrato exterior, achieved using original automotive paints, and a meticulously designed interior featuring next-generation Alcantara and black Superfabric. Sandy Copeman, Director of Brand at Amalgam, highlighted the company's dedication to capturing the essence of the car, stating that the beauty of the model lies in its faithfulness to the real deal. Amalgam's attention to detail caught the eye of Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni, who gave it his final stamp of approval. The auctioned Tailor Made 812 Competizione is one of just 999 cars in this exclusive series, showcasing the collaborative strength and shared passion between Ferrari and Amalgam, a relationship that has thrived since 1998. The event serves as a celebration to honor the powerful synergy between luxury automotive craftsmanship and charitable giving, setting a high bar for future collaborations. View all Ferrari collectibles from Amalgam Collections by clicking the link below. Discover All Amalgam x Ferrari Collectibles Source: Amalgam Collection