The LEGO Group and McLaren Automotive have embarked on the toughest LEGO Technic challenge to date, recreating a one-of-a-kind, fully drivable McLaren P1 made from LEGO Technic elements. And if that wasn’t enough, McLaren F1 driver, Lando Norris has been enlisted for the ultimate challenge, to complete a lap of the iconic British racetrack, Silverstone, in the 1:1 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1.
This life-size replica of the McLaren P1 is made from 342,817 LEGO Technic elements, weighing approximately 1220kg, with some truly remarkable displays of engineering. The car has fully functional steering, making it the first LEGO big build ever capable of steering and taking on tricky racetrack corners. The build features an electric motor consisting of LEGO Technic Function batteries and an electric car battery, allowing it to travel further than any other LEGO model before it.
The big build process came to life with 23 specialists from design, engineering, and building from the LEGO Group and McLaren Automotive, with 8,344 hours of development and construction and requiring 393 different types of LEGO Technic elements.
With the car assembled, all that was left to do was to embark on the ultimate challenge, and with it being a McLaren supercar replica, who better to get behind the wheel than McLaren F1 Driver, Lando Norris. The British driver was more than up to the task, taking on the twist and turns of the 5.891km (3.66 miles) track and completing the lap around the Silverstone Circuit. With the enormity of this challenge, Silverstone was the perfect setting given McLaren’s rich history with the home of British racing.
Fans can see the full video of Lando Norris completing the Ultimate Challenge in the life-size LEGO Technic McLaren P1 by visiting the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop, and I also included it below for your viewing pleasure.
“Having worked on the original P1 program for McLaren, it’s amazing to see so many of the elements from the original McLaren P1 brought to life so realistically by the LEGO Technic team for the full-scale model. The car was an icon of its time. I hope that through this collaboration with the LEGO Group, we are able to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers to push the boundaries of automotive innovation.” Ben Gulliver, Test & Development Director, McLaren Automotive.
“This project marks the latest in a long list of collaborations between the LEGO Group and McLaren, bringing together McLaren engineers and the LEGO Model Production team from conception all the way to the final build. McLaren’s automotive and engineering expertise has been invaluable in helping us produce a model as authentic to the original McLaren P1 as possible, allowing us to turn a dream into a reality. It was incredibly cool to see McLaren F1 driver, Lando Norris driving the car we created.” Lukáš Horák, Senior Project Manager in Model Production, LEGO Group.
Following the unveiling of the newest addition to the LEGO Technic Ultimate Car Concept Series; the 1:8 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1 at the McLaren Technology Center in July, this latest challenge looks to take the mantra ‘Build for Real’ to a whole new level, bringing to life fans’ dream supercar in a unique way.
The recently released #42172 LEGO Technic McLaren P1 1:8 set comes with a 7-speed gearbox with a dual-clutch transmission, suspension, V8 piston engine, adjustable rear wing, and opening dihedral doors with advanced mechanisms – offering detail that makes it a ‘must-have’ for all supercar enthusiasts and McLaren fans. Priced at £389.99 / €449.99 / $449.99, the set is available at the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The LEGO Technic Ultimate Car Concept Series launched in 2016 and every other year the concept brings a special vehicle to life, where both the set itself as well as packaging have been meticulously designed. Going on the design journey of creating the next Ultimate car challenges the team to design spectacular 1:8 scale sports car models and push the limits of what’s possible. The team aims to continuously prove that with LEGO Technic it’s possible to ‘Build for Real’ So far, five sets have been released in the series; the #42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS (2016), the #42083 LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron (2018), the #42115 LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 (2020), the #42143 LEGO Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 (2022), and the #42172 LEGO Technic McLaren P1. You can find them at the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the life-size LEGO McLaren supercar? And what about the LEGO set version? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below!
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It’s fascinating that they can do this with Technic. Incredible build!
Not the first time they’ve done this (the previous time was the Bugatti Chiron in 2018) but still cool.
I saw the Bugatti in person when it visited Florida. It was really impressive. Even more so than on pictures. It was so cool to recognize all the Technic elements in such a huge build. 🙂
So Cool! Are we going to be able to see this in person?
Yes, it will be on tour both in Europe and North America. 🙂
Woah. Would love to know what was the top speed they achieved on the track. Pretty crazy.