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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

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

By Sponsored Article – August 31, 2026

Vesta: The Return of a Founding Idea

In 1982, Riccardo Zannetti created his first unique watch, expressing a vision of watchmaking in which mechanical precision and decorative art could become one. Today, that original gesture returns through Vesta. This is not a nostalgic revival, but a declaration of continuity. Vesta reinterprets the creative origins of Zannetti through a contemporary watch distinguished by its architectural form, rich surfaces and unmistakable Roman identity. GALLERY-EMBED Its titanium case is engraved with motifs inspired by ancient Rome and enriched with polychrome enamels. Every line, relief and colour is created to interact with light, transforming the case into a sculptural surface. The mother-of-pearl dial, completed by an enamelled inner section, Zannetti indexes and distinctive hands, introduces a luminous contrast between classical references and contemporary design. Inside, a Swiss automatic movement makes Vesta suitable for everyday wear while remaining deeply connected to traditional watchmaking. The name evokes the Temple of Vesta and the sacred flame: a symbol of continuity, identity and values preserved through time. Zannetti is Rome’s only independent Haute Horlogerie atelier and one of the very few in Italy. Every creation includes a tangible element of hand-craftsmanship and is produced in very small limited series or as a unique piece. Vesta does not look back to repeat the past. It looks back to recognize its origins and to transform memory into matter, colour and time. Follow On Instagram

By Sponsored Article – August 11, 2026

Zannetti Discobolo Race Edition: Italian Craftsmanship in Motion

Born from a passion for speed, design, and traditional craftsmanship, the Zannetti Discobolo Race Edition transforms the visual language of classic motorsport into an expressive piece of contemporary watchmaking. Its most distinctive feature is the case profile, hand-engraved with a tread pattern inspired by historic Dunlop racing tires. More than a decorative detail, it gives the watch a powerful three-dimensional identity and reveals new textures from every angle.The Discobolo Race Edition is available in different artisanal interpretations. One combines a warm bronze case with an intricate dial created through enamel miniature painting. Another pairs stainless steel with a dial made from corozo, a natural material individually engraved and painted by hand. Because every dial is completed manually, subtle variations make each watch genuinely personal. The engraved Discobolo figure on the caseback connects the collection to classical Roman culture, while the bold radial composition of the dial evokes wheels, movement and mechanical energy.Zannetti is an independent Haute Horlogerie atelier, the only one in Rome and one of the few in Italy. Every creation incorporates genuine handcraftsmanship and is produced exclusively in small limited series or as a unique piece. Learn More GALLERY-EMBEDPhotography by Ty Alexander Photography.

A TAG Heuer Carrera watch with a dark face, three subdials, visible mechanics at the bottom, and a black leather strap set against a purple gradient background, capturing the essence of LVMH Watch Week's celebration of exquisite watches.

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 22, 2025

TAG Heuer Reveals All-New Watches At LVMH Watch Week 2025

Every year at LVMH Watch Week, the top brands in the luxury watch space come together to unveil new model lineups and some serious show-stopping pieces that showcase innovation and craftsmanship. TAG Heuer is joining in on the occasion by revealing a handful of new additions that span across its diverse lineup of sports models and dress watches. TAG Heuer is starting 2025 with a bang, marking its return as the Official Timekeeper for Formula 1 during the sport’s 75th anniversary. The new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph collection is a vibrant nod to racing culture, with lightweight titanium cases, bold tachymeter bezels, and eye-catching colors like red, lime green, and blue. There’s also a special Oracle Red Bull Racing edition featuring a checkered flag pattern, carbon details, and a strap that mirrors the team’s colors. The Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye honors the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally with design touches inspired by the classic Porsche 911, down to the unique movement that mimics acceleration. For those watch enthusiasts who love bold colors, the new purple Carrera Chronograph and Tourbillon models are hard to miss, with their gradient dials and intricate detailing. TAG Heuer also adds a softer side with pastel Carrera Date models and diamond accents for a refined everyday look. Whether you’re into high-adrenaline motorsport vibes or timeless style, this collection offers a little something for everyone without feeling over-the-top. Shop All TAG Heuer Watches View this post on Instagram A post shared by duPont REGISTRY Discovery (@dupontregistry_discovery) Source: TAG Heuer