McLaren News

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 – April 03, 2026

Five Reasons Why To Buy The Electrified McLaren Artura

Sharing a passion for innovation, the performance professionals at McLaren quickly transitioned from a motorsport-driven team to a full-scale supercar manufacturer in no time. With legendary models like the F1 and P1 in its timeline, McLaren continues to evolve its regular production fleet to perform at the same competitive level using a truly visceral driving experience. The electrified Artura is pushing McLaren into the future with an all-new design that categorizes itself in a world of its own. Harnessing power from a state-of-the-art hybrid powertrain, McLaren has made sure that the ownership experience inspires you to explore the outer limits. Design The McLaren Artura features a low and minimal exterior design, managing airflow and heat to benefit its ultra-low center of gravity. With McLaren Carbon Fiber Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) at the core of its DNA, the Artura achieves the perfect power-to-weight ratio for nimbleness throughout corners. Advanced techniques like Superforming and cutting-edge carbon fibre expertise make it possible to achieve a seamless, sculpted feel. Configuration McLaren Automotive prides itself on presenting one of the most advanced configuration processes in the industry. The McLaren configurator gives each customer complete creative control to build the supercar of their dreams, choosing from a wide selection of colors, materials, and other options that best fit their lifestyle and expectations. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division is also advertised for those looking to enhance the styling of their Artura using bespoke services. Engagement Experience unparalleled driver engagement with the Artura. Its revolutionary cockpit design places powertrain and handling control switches within easy fingertip reach, allowing you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Also, the electro-hydraulic steering system delivers optimal feedback for an exceptional driving experience. Meanwhile, an advanced infotainment system and connectivity options, including state-of-the-art HD touchscreens and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, also enhance your driving pleasure. Aerodynamics The Artura has been specifically designed to optimize airflow by utilizing various features such as concealed door inlet ducts and rear buttresses, which effectively direct air over, under, and through the vehicle's body. Additionally, the vehicle's rear spoiler and diffuser collaborate to generate a whopping 110lbs of downforce, ensuring ultimate stability while driving. Performance The engine itself offers 577 horsepower and 431 lb-ft of torque, and it is supplemented by the latest in hybrid assistance. The compact battery is rated at 7.4 kWh, assisting the supercar to have a total output of 671 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor offers a range of 19 miles, and swapping the polarity allowed engineers to build a new dual-clutch transmission without a reverse gear. Cutting weight in every component makes this McLaren weigh in at 3,303 lbs. The Artura reaches 60 mph in 3 seconds, 124 mph in 8.3 seconds, and 186 mph in under 22 seconds. All McLaren Artura Inventory 2025 McLaren Artura View Price & Listing 2025 McLaren Artura Spider View Price & Listing 2023 McLaren Artura View Price & Listing 2026 McLaren Artura Spider View Price & Listing 2025 McLaren Artura View Price & Listing 2025 McLaren Artura Spider View Price & Listing 2023 McLaren Artura View Price & Listing 2025 McLaren Artura Spider View Price & Listing 2023 McLaren Artura View Price & Listing 2026 McLaren Artura Spider View Price & Listing

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 19, 2026

This 1-of-9 McLaren 750S Spider Celebrates a Championship Comeback

With roots in motorsport long before manufacturing supercars and hypercars, McLaren’s primary goal has always been the same: crossing the finish line first, no matter the series. That goal becomes immediately clear inside the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK, where a museum displays the team’s winning race cars and the trophies lifted at the finish line. Along with immortalizing historic race-winning cars, McLaren also celebrates its milestone victories with special-edition variants of its latest and greatest models. The team at Miller Motorcars is proud to showcase one of those special cars, recently delivering an exclusive 1-of-9 McLaren 750S Spider MCL38 Celebration Edition to a passionate client of the dealership.Produced to celebrate McLaren’s 9th Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship in 2024, ending a 26-year drought since its last title in 1998, the 750S Spider is inspired by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s MCL38 that clinched the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. McLaren Special Operations’ (MSO) livery features a striking two-tone finish that incorporates two of McLaren’s most iconic colors, Papaya Orange and Le Mans Grey. Other commemorative characteristics for the exterior include a center racing stripe with a ‘2024 Constructors’ Championship’ decal, as well as a nine-star decal on the door.Inside, McLaren kept things calm, cool, and collective while adding small, detailed touches that tie back to the championship victory. Black Alcantara layers the cabin with contrasting Papaya Orange stitching and tons of exposed carbon fiber. The headrest of each bucket seat is embroidered with the Constructors’ Championship graphic. The MCL38’s silhouette and both Norris and Piastri’s signatures are etched onto the door sill. The most interesting part of this exclusive series is that each of the nine examples features an actual piece of the MCL38 race cars, displayed on its own plaque. At the heart of the McLaren 750S Spider sits a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that feels less like an evolution and more like a sharpened version of everything McLaren already does well. It pushes out 740 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, delivered through a lightning-quick 7-speed dual-clutch, and the response is immediate. With all that performance wrapped up in a build fit only for the most passionate McLaren collector, the 750S Spider MCL38 Celebration Edition is a homage to victory. All Miller Motorcar Inventory

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 13, 2026

The Electrified Longtail: Best McLaren Speedtails For Sale Today

The McLaren Speedtail stands out as a beacon of innovation in the hypercar industry, an example of McLaren's relentless pursuit of automotive excellence. This hybrid hypercar is a piece of rolling art, crafted for the collector who appreciates the perfect blend of speed, luxury, and groundbreaking design. Let's talk numbers – the Speedtail is a symphony of power, showcasing a electrified powertrain that delivers a staggering 1,035 horsepower. Its top speed? An eye-watering 250 mph, making it one of the fastest production cars ever built. Exclusivity is another hallmark of the Speedtail. With only 106 units produced, it's a rare gem amongst prominent collectors prepared to spend the seven-figures to secure the thrill of a lifetime. Its scarcity, paired with its motorsport-inspired design and engineering, makes the Speedtail a prime candidate for investment-grade collector status. Its value isn't just in its performance but in its potential to appreciate over time. In the realm of the automotive industry, the McLaren Speedtail is a symbol of what happens when boundaries are pushed and dreams are turned into reality. We at duPont REGISTRY are proud to feature the largest selection of McLaren Speedtails for sale thanks to our extensive network of passionate and knowledgable dealerships. View all the McLaren Speedtails featured in this special by clicking the links below for more information. How expensive is a McLaren Speedtail? The McLaren Speedtail is definitely on the pricier side of the hypercar spectrum, as you might expect for such a sleek and high-performance machine. Brand new, it set buyers back around $2.25 million, depending on the customization options chosen at the time. It's a limited-production model, so its rarity can also drive up the price on the resale market. Is McLaren Speedtail legal in US? The McLaren Speedtail is an absolute stunner but, unfortunately, it's not street legal in the US straight out of the box. The reason lies in its design choices that don't quite meet specific U.S. safety standards, like its unique central driving position and lack of side-mounted airbags. However, owners can bring one stateside under the "Show or Display" exemption. This allows them to own and even drive the car legally, but with some limitations on mileage and use. So, while you can have a Speedtail in the US, it's a bit of a process and comes with a few strings attached! How fast can the McLaren Speedtail go? The McLaren Speedtail can sprint all the way up to a jaw-dropping top speed of 250 mph. Not only is it quick, but it's also McLaren’s fastest production car ever. So, if you’re looking to zip past pretty much anything on the road (or track), the Speedtail has got you covered. 2020 McLaren Speedtail View Listing 2020 McLaren Speedtail View Listing 2020 McLaren Speedtail View Listing 2020 McLaren Speedtail View Listing Buy Searching for a McLaren Speedtail to buy? duPont REGISTRY has hundreds of Porsches for sale right now, including some of the rarest McLaren Speedtails ever created. To view them all, click the button below to shop all McLaren Speedtails for sale. Shop Best McLaren Speedtails For Sale Sell Do you own a McLaren Speedtail and are interested in selling it? duPont REGISTRY is the number 1 source for private sellers to list and or sell their McLaren Speedtail. Click the button below to view listing options. Learn How To Sell Your McLaren Speedtail

By Khris Bharath – March 13, 2026

Lanzante 95-59 XP Prototype Hits The Track for First Customer Drive

The first customer drive of Lanzante’s 95-59 XP prototype has taken place in the English countryside, marking a significant moment for the British engineering firm as development of its upcoming three-seat supercar that was revealed at Goodwood last year, moves forward. For those unaware, Lanzante Limited, based in Petersfield, Hampshire, has built a reputation for transforming some of the most extreme track-only cars into street-legal machines. More recently, the company welcomed two Bugatti Bolide hypercars to its facility to begin the complex process of adapting the $4 million track-only machine for public roads. The Bolide joins a long list of Lanzante conversion projects that already includes the McLaren P1 GTR, as well as road-legal versions of the Pagani Zonda R, McLaren Senna GTR, and Porsche 935. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lanzante (@lanzantelimited) The 95-59 project carries particular significance for the company. Lanzante first teased the car in March 2025 before unveiling it publicly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that July. Its name references one of the most famous moments in the company’s history. In 1995, a black and silver McLaren F1 GTR wearing chassis number 59 secured overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car, entered by Lanzante and driven by Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya, and JJ Lehto, shocked the motorsport world by defeating purpose-built prototypes. Three decades later, the 95-59 aims to celebrate that achievement while translating the spirit of the F1 GTR into a modern road car. Designed by former McLaren designer, Paul Howse, the same man behind the P1, 720S, and the limited-run Sabre, his work on the analog 95-59 carries clear motorsport influences, from its dramatic bodywork to the distinctive central driving position. That layout places the driver in the middle of the cabin with passenger seats on either side, echoing the iconic configuration of the McLaren F1. The big highlight is the carbon tub and a curb weight of just 2,755 pounds, which in itself is very close to the F1’s 2,513-pound curb weight. It will be powered by McLaren’s familiar 4.0-liter V8 with 850 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque on offer. Priced from £1.3 million ($1.77 million), only 59 examples will ever exist. The prototype undergoing testing also previews the car’s final appearance. The next public milestone arrives next month. The 95-59 will headline Lanzante’s presence at the Goodwood Road Racing Club Members’ Meeting, where the prototype is expected to make its first public track demonstration in front of enthusiasts and collectors. View All McLarens For Sale Images: @lanzantelimited

McLaren Reveals New 1-of-10 Artura Spider MCL39 Championship Edition

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 03, 2026

New McLaren Artura Spider MCL39 Championship Edition Unveiled

For over 60 years, McLaren has been one of the most celebrated and important names in the world of racing. Specifically in Formula 1, McLaren has been one of the ultra-prestigious series’ mainstays and one of its most formidable teams. As the 2026 Formula 1 season gears up to begin, McLaren is going in with wind in its sails, having earned back-to-back world championship wins, as well as its 10th Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship victory in the past season. To celebrate, McLaren, and specifically its McLaren Special Operations division, created a special edition of its open-top hybrid supercar: the McLaren Artura Spider, and it’s called the MCL39 Championship Edition. Featuring stunning MSO craftsmanship touches throughout, only 10 customer car examples of the new McLaren Artura Spider MCL39 Championship Edition will be made. Not only does the special edition pay homage to McLaren’s F1 car from the 2025 racing season, but it also commemorates McLaren’s long history of Formula 1 victory. Its hand-painted livery combines MSO Bespoke Myan Orange with Onyx Black, echoing the 2025 race car and featuring a motif that nods to the 10 championship wins. Black wheels are complemented by McLaren Myan Orange Brake Calipers with Black McLaren logos, and the exterior is finished with the Black Pack, the Stealth Badge Pack, and a Sports Exhaust with Stealth Exhaust Finisher. <- Gallery -> Inside, the new McLaren Artura Spider MCL39 Championship Edition features unique ‘10’ embroidery on the headrests in McLaren Orange, along with a Myan Orange painted steering wheel 12 o’clock marker with a ‘10’ detail, a commemorative plaque, and black leather and Alcantara upholstery with orange piping. The sills will be hand-signed by McLaren’s F1 drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with a special track record plaque in the luggage compartment, and each car will also come with a collectors’ keepsake. Celebrating an amazing milestone win in the world’s most prestigious racing series, McLaren’s new Artura Spider MCL39 Championship Edition is a nod to a noteworthy motorsport legacy. View All McLaren Artura Spider For Sale Image Source: McLaren

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 11, 2025

SecretLab Preps for the Launch of Its Limited-Edition, W1...

A deep dive into the carbon-fiber Secretlab McLaren MonoCell Edition chair. There’s something pretty entertaining about seeing serious supercar engineering show up in day-to-day life, especially when it takes the shape of a desk chair. The Secretlab McLaren MonoCell Edition is exactly that kind of crossover, taking shape as a carbon-fiber, McLaren-inspired gaming chair limited to just 100 and priced a fraction of its supercar counterpart. It drops December 15th, and while it’s obviously aimed at the kind of enthusiast who can identify a McLaren by the sound alone, the whole thing is more like a design experiment than a piece of branded merch. What makes the MonoCell Edition interesting isn’t just the materials, though the carbon fiber shell is undeniably the star of the show. Secretlab took the idea of McLaren’s single-piece MonoCell chassis and translated it into a sculpted backrest with flowing contours that echo the teardrop cabin shape of the W1. It has an aerodynamic vibe to it, like it’s been smoothed over by wind rather than shaped in a factory. The layered carbon fiber construction feels intentionally overbuilt for a desk chair, but that’s kind of the charm. The soft Dinamica microsuede adds a subtle nod to McLaren interiors, and the serialized build numbers (1 through 100) give it a bit of that “garage-find provenance” energy collectors love, even if it’s meant for sitting at a laptop instead of hitting apexes. The rest of the McLaren-themed pieces, like the Secretlab TITAN Evo McLaren Edition and the Lumbar Pillow Pro, carry the same spirit but in a more laid-back way. The TITAN Evo borrows the aerodynamic silhouette of McLaren race cars and mixes in carbon fiber leatherette panels inspired by the old MP4/1 chassis, while the microsuede touches keep everything from being too cold or too technical. The Lumbar Pillow Pro riffs on the grille patterns from McLaren’s race cars, pairing them with cooling gel memory foam that’s more “long-haul comfort” than “track day hardness.” For enthusiasts searching keywords like carbon fiber gaming chair, McLaren desk setup, or luxury ergonomic seating, this is one of those rare releases that manages to tap into the vibe without slipping into full hype mode. Shop SecretLab x McLaren Source: SecretLab

By Charles Bradley – December 08, 2025

McLaren’s Double F1 Championship-Winning CEO Zak Brown Re...

McLaren Racing completed its clean sweep of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championships in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with Lando Norris adding the Drivers’ title to its already-claimed Constructors’ crown. And while the team basks in its glory, CEO Zak Brown is pulling back the curtain on his own rise to the pinnacle of global motorsports. His new autobiography, Seven Tenths of a Second, explores the high-pressure decision-making, commercial savvy, and relentless competitive drive that helped revive one of racing’s most storied teams. Brown’s career arc is as unconventional as it is impressive. Rather than reaching the top step as a driver, he ascended through the business ranks, leveraging his marketing instincts and unshakable love of racing. After joining McLaren as executive director of McLaren Technology Group in 2016, he was later appointed CEO of McLaren Racing, where he helped transform the team from a dormant powerhouse into a modern Formula 1 juggernaut. His leadership culminated in back-to-back Constructors’ Championships in 2024 and 2025, propelled by the balanced pairing of Norris and Piastri, one of the strongest driver duos in the sport. “The name of the book, Seven Tenths, comes back to Abu Dhabi in 2024,” Brown tells our duPont REGISTRY Talks podcast. “It took us all year, 1,400 people, lots of grands prix, you can do all this preparation, and yet it came down to our final pit stop. Had we been seven tenths of a second slower, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz would have come into our DRS range and probably passed us and cost us the championship. I'd like to think Lando would have passed him back, but I'm glad we didn't need to find out!” Moments like that pit stop – the razor-thin margins between triumph and defeat – form the spine of Brown’s story: “I’ve been born for 53 years, at McLaren for nine years, and it all came down to seven tenths of a second. And really, what that means is everything matters – in business and in life. And it could be a big decision, small decision, who would have thought after all these decisions, all these grands prix, all these pitstops, that seven tenths of a second was the difference between winning and losing the world championship.” That philosophy, he explains, is what guides his leadership: energy, focus, and urgency: “Fortunately, and I like to think that I’ve always been one that's been high energy, I tell people to do everything to the best of their ability – go, go, go! Because it might just come down to seven tenths of a second.”l Brown’s talent for deal-making began long before he joined McLaren. Early in his racing career, he hustled for sponsorship simply to stay on track. When his driving ambitions ended, he redirected that commercial creativity into building Just Marketing International, a groundbreaking motorsport-focused agency that transformed global sponsorship acquisition. That success set the foundation for his role in reshaping McLaren into a championship-winning force during Formula 1’s modern era. But for all the glamour of F1 – the global travel, the luxury marketplaces the sport touches, and the world’s most advanced high-performance machinery – Brown’s approach remains disarmingly grounded. Perfection, he insists, is an illusion. “You can demand perfection, but you never get perfection, right?” Brown states. “As soon as that new front wing's out, it might be better than the old one, but you can still make it better, right? So you're constantly chasing perfection. It's like that Wile E. Coyote cartoon, where he’s got a carrot in front of him and he just keeps chasing it, but you don't get any closer to it.” Instead, Brown attributes McLaren’s resurgence to culture, clarity, and collaboration – principles that translate beyond the paddock into any high-stakes business environment: “I think it's all teamwork. It's transparency. It's tough love, it's fairness, and recognizing we're not going to get it perfect.” For readers of duPont REGISTRY, Brown’s story resonates not only as a behind-the-scenes look at the luxury world’s most technologically advanced sport, but also as a study in leadership at the highest level. As Zak himself states, it’s a business book rather than just another racing tome. Seven Tenths of a Second offers rare insight from one of motorsport’s most influential figures, revealing how a blend of passion, precision, innovation, and relentless drive helped restore McLaren to its place among the elite. View All McLarens For Sale " width="680"> Images: McLaren Racing

A race car emits smoke and flames as it spins on track; beside it, Lando Norris raises his fist in celebration on the podium after sealing his first F1 Championship, ending McLaren’s 13-year wait for a Drivers’ Title.

By Khris Bharath – December 08, 2025

Lando Norris Seals His First F1 Championship Title in Abu...

The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closed out a 24-race season that belonged to one man. While Max Verstappen won the race, the spotlight was on Lando Norris in what was a spectacular season finale. Third place under the lights at the Yas Marina circuit was all he needed, and a P3 finish at the chequered flag added 15 points to bring his season total to 423. Verstappen’s win gave him 25 points and brought him to 421, missing what could have been his fifth world title by only two points. Oscar Piastri crossed the line in second to collect 18 points, ending with 410. Lando is the 8th driver to win a world title for the team based in Woking, and with that, McLaren ended a 13-year wait for a driver’s title, the first since fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton’s emotional championship victory in Sao Paulo back in 2008. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) The constructor’s championship was already settled in Singapore, with McLaren locking it down early, and Abu Dhabi became the stage for a driver's title shootout. Verstappen defended hard into Turn 1 and controlled the race from the start. Behind him, Piastri delivered what many will remember as the pass of the season, sweeping around Norris on Hard tyres with full commitment. He lost second to his teammate at the start, kept calm, held pace, and built a race around one priority: finish on the podium, and it worked. McLaren deserves credit for what was a clean weekend. Strategy came together without confusion, and the pit wall made calls with confidence. Piastri rolled the dice by starting on Hard tyres, committing to a long first stint and a single stop. They expected a Safety Car, and it never came, but the plan still held. Verstappen controlled the lead early from Medium tyres and also ran a single stop to Hards. The race settled into a two-front fight, yet Verstappen was never under real threat. Piastri held second comfortably, which let Norris run his own tempo without defending heavily from behind. View this post on Instagram A post shared by McLaren (@mclaren) Ferrari looked close at times, and Charles Leclerc used DRS in the early laps, but he could not convert pressure into a pass. Fourth place for Ferrari is still commendable, as it shows improvement late in the season. The gap to George Russell in fifth was over 25 seconds, which highlights what the team could have done if this pace had arrived sooner. They trail 71 points in the Constructors standings. You can see room to improve before 2026 begins. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton gave fans something to follow from deeper in the field. He started 16th on the grid and climbed to eighth. Alonso finished sixth, Ocon seventh. Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll rounded out the points. McLaren's momentum over the weekend carried into the paddock and beyond in Abu Dhabi. RM Sotheby’s sale on Friday saw an ex-Brunei 1994 McLaren F1 sold for $25.3 million. For the very first time, McLaren Racing also offered three yet-to-be-raced competition cars as part of its Triple Crown offering. Ayrton Senna’s 1991 MP4/6/1 was also on display, awaiting a private sale in Dubai later this week. Abu Dhabi marked the final race for the current ground-effect Formula 1 grand prix cars. A massive reset arrives next season in 2026, with Audi and Cadillac joining the grid. Engine formats change, aero rules shift, and a new competitive landscape forms. Liveries drop in January, followed by pre-season testing in Barcelona. Watch this space. View All McLarens For Sale Images: Formula 1, McLaren Racing

A line of sports cars drives on a nighttime racetrack under a large illuminated Heineken sign, capturing the excitement of Las Vegas F1.

By Michael Van Runkle – November 30, 2025

Driving The Las Vegas F1 Track, Chasing McLaren’s IndyCar...

As raindrops began to fall on Thursday night of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, a group of two dozen McLaren supercars gathered surreptitiously outside the wall at Turn 12. Lucky owners on hand joked about participating in the so-called Million Dollar Drive, an opportunity to chase last year’s IndyCar Series runner-up, Pato O’Ward, around the amazing F1 street course after Free Practice 2 wound down. McLaren offered me a chance to join in on the action, so I happily pulled on a helmet and jumped into one of my favorite supercars, a 750S, for a quick stint of just two 3.853-mile laps. I pulled up to Turn 12, very curious to experience the top speed and cornering traction on the Vegas strip. The few other F1 circuits – current and former – I’d previously driven all typically boasted the most pristine tarmac surface of any tracks on earth. But Vegas only joined the F1 calendar in 2023, and the first year proved somewhat infamous after a manhole cover pulled loose from the racecars’ downforce and smashed up Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. Rumors of another manhole cover popping up even caused a brief delay in FP2 as I pitted with the McLarens. And as I pulled out, the rain only started to fall harder and harder. Negotiating the weather, the other McLaren drivers, trying to keep an eye on O’Ward in his full-on racecar-spec Artura – all as the brilliant neon lights flared up on my increasingly raindrop-splattered windshield – required extreme focus. But the actual road surface at Vegas proved extremely forgiving, surprisingly grippy despite the wet, and smoother than smooth. Until, that is, I popped over a curb or two and upset the suspension of my 750S a bit. Still, ripping through gears before a crowd of F1 fans, the casinos flying by, the Sphere illuminating the night sky. No doubt, one of the drives of my life. Meet McLaren’s IndyCar Superstar: Pato O’Ward Before heading out for such a memorable night, I caught up with O’Ward, hoping to glean some words of wisdom about what to expect from the evening’s festivities and the upcoming IndyCar season from one of the racing world’s last remaining old-fashioned wild men, famed for his ninja-fast hands on the wheel, and a true fan favorite. How does the street course for the Vegas F1 circuit compare to street courses for IndyCar like Long Beach, St. Petersburg and Toronto? Less bumpy for sure; it's smooth. I wouldn't say it's the smoothest, because the F1 cars are porpoising quite a bit. But compared to an IndyCar street course, the F1 car’s floor wouldn't survive at all. But it won't be bumpy for you in a road car. You might feel some undulations, especially when you're going super-fast in the back stretch, but you won't feel, like, harsh bumps. I think you're going to really appreciate what the car can do speed-wise, if they let us wring its neck a little bit in the back stretch. What about the transitions, with the curbs and the asphalt? (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) The curbs are aggressive. You'll definitely feel the curbs if you're riding on them. It's the same tarmac all the way around, so there really isn't a concrete-to-asphalt transition; everything is the same. But I would say the track itself isn't as rough as other typical street courses, at least out of what I'm used to. Have you ever driven Monaco? I have not driven Monaco! But I bet it feels like you're going like 300, 400 miles an hour in a Formula 1 car. Speaking of, I know you've done some free practice sessions with McLaren F1. What's your relationship with the F1 team like these days? My full-time job's in IndyCar, and then my side hustle is traveling for free in the Formula 1 world and occasionally jumping in the F1 car. It's not too shabby at all. I get to watch, entertain, and sometimes drive . What are some of the ways that you think IndyCar is more exciting than F1? There's a bit more chaos in the races, I would say. Weirdly, this year was dominated by one driver , but it usually never is. I mean, this hasn't been seen in 50 years. But, usually, you can never say who's gonna be on the podium. And I feel like in F1, you can get a good idea. So, I would say it's a bit more unpredictable and chaotic, and I feel like that draws attention. But what F1's got that no one else has is just the sex appeal. The sexy status, like the invisible wall, everyone wants to be there just to be there. No one else has been able to obtain that level. Obviously, they're global; you've got the biggest brands in the world with the most money. But it's turned into something like, ‘Hey, I was there.’ No matter how little you know about race cars. For sure, I'm seeing a lot of selfies being taken out here in Vegas. What are your hopes for IndyCar this coming season? I hope the series keeps getting bigger. I know FOX has been a big thing for the series, and they've got skin in the game. And, so, I think the trajectory it's taking is in the right way. But I think it's also pretty important for leadership to make the right calls on where we're racing, what we're going to do with the new car. We still want to be leading as a top series worldwide, even though it's mostly in America. The cars can't be all spec. We still got to have different engines; we still have to have something worth developing for teams. There's got to be some differences in creativity, you know, so I really hope they don't take that away. My personal goal is I want to finish every lap, which was my goal this year, but sadly, those dreams were crushed in Portland when I had an engine issue. And then I had the tire blowout in Nashville. That wasn't amazing. I just want to finish every lap, and I feel like in doing so, I'll be sitting pretty at the end of the year. All right, most important question: We’ve talked about your kickass car collection before. What are you driving most these days? I've got my head-turner, which is a 720S in Tokyo Cyan. It's like a baby blue. For my daily driver, I've got an M3 Comp. I really like it, it’s all-wheel drive, but you can do only rear, like drift mode, if you want. I've got the ultimate of luxury and in my opinion, it is the best in the garage: a Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost. I never thought I would enjoy such a car at such a young age, but it is the epitome of not being rushed in the morning. That's what it feels like. I drive that thing almost every day I'm home. And I've got the loudest car, my Shelby Cobra kit car. I wish it was an original, but it's got a 5.0-liter Coyote, 485-horse, fuel-injected, side pipes, super loud. Then I've got a Ferrari 458 Italia with a Novitec exhaust, Vorsteiner aero, the thing looks mean, looks badass. That's what I've got right now, I'm pretty happy, that's a good collection. But at some point, I'd love a W1. Oh, I know who you can talk to about that… Yeah, I'm going to make a bet with Zak . He doesn't know about it yet, but I'm going to make a bet. I win the Indy 500, he gets me a W1. I think that's totally fair! View All McLarens For Sale Images: Andrew Links, FIA, McLaren Retail

By Charles Bradley – November 13, 2025

Project Viva Revealed: One-of-One McLaren 750S Spider Bri...

Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren Automotive has revealed Project Viva, a one-of-one McLaren 750S Spider designed and built by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). As McLaren’s bespoke division, MSO is synonymous with the pinnacle of personalization—transforming a client’s inspiration into automotive art. Inspired by the spectacle and energy of Las Vegas, Project Viva embodies the shared ambition and innovation that unite McLaren and the city itself. Every inch of this singular supercar reflects MSO’s mastery of craftsmanship and creativity, blending design, narrative, and artistry into a seamless luxury statement. Reimagining the City of Lights through a monochrome lens, Project Viva takes an unexpected approach in a destination defined by neon color and excess. Rather than recreating Vegas’ glow through vibrancy, MSO interprets the city’s pulse, architecture, and atmosphere through intricate, hand-painted linework. The ‘Sketch in Motion’ livery captures the movement and spirit of Las Vegas – from its iconic skyline and illuminated signage to its rhythm of music and performance – all tied together with McLaren’s own racing heritage. MSO’s bespoke palette for Project Viva includes Muriwai White, a tone inspired by the Muriwai House motif, and Vegas Nights, a new MSO-exclusive paint developed solely for this commission. The deep black finish features subtle cyan, magenta, and green metallic flecks designed to mimic the shimmer of Las Vegas after dark. Each stroke and shade carries intent—every line tells part of a larger story, illustrating MSO’s philosophy of building around emotion and inspiration rather than aesthetics alone. Adding a layer of authenticity and motorsport pedigree, McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri contributed hand-applied details, including the team’s tenth Constructors’ World Championship star on the rear bumper, alongside signature lines and sketches. Their involvement ties the bespoke project back to McLaren’s legendary track record and dedication to performance. “Project Viva captures what McLaren Special Operations is all about – pushing beyond convention to create something truly personal. It’s where craft meets character, and where any inspiration can become a story told through design. Every commission we create is a fusion of vision and skill, resulting in a car that authentically expresses the inspiration behind it. Whether born from brand storytelling or a client’s own passion, MSO exists to turn ideas into something unique and meaningful,” said Jonathan Simms, Director of McLaren Special Operations (MSO). The McLaren 750S Project Viva will be on display at the McLaren Experience Center within the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel from November 13–20, coinciding with the Las Vegas Grand Prix. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, it represents not just the most personal expression of the McLaren 750S, but also a new benchmark for luxury automotive artistry – where vision, craftsmanship, and performance meet under the bright lights of the world’s most dazzling city. View All Mclarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

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