The Lego Technic McLaren P1 Is Every Car Lover’s Dream

As a kid, you may have enjoyed toy cars and building with LEGO bricks. How can you get the best of both worlds? LEGO recently introduced the McLaren Technic racecar set to bring Formula 1 into your home. Here’s why it’s worth a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix and a display case in your living room. 

The LEGO McLaren Redefines Toy Cars

Orange and blue on a racetrack is as recognizable to F1 fans as movies like “Grand Prix” or “Rush.” McLaren has been a staple in the worldwide racing league since its inception, with only Ferrari taking credit for being the oldest constructor. Recently, it teamed up with LEGO to unveil the McLaren Formula 1 Racecar you can build at home. 

The toy company and automaker have dedicated the set to the McLaren Artura, a hybrid supercar that costs a quarter-million dollars as the base price. However, fancy trim options elevate the price tag to $278,800. Don’t worry — the LEGO set is less expensive and complex than a ride like that. The 1:8 scale Technic McLaren P1 has 3,893 LEGO bricks, so it’ll take a few hours to assemble. 

Digging Into the Details

This LEGO McLaren is full of details and is what every car guy needs. Each set contains the seven-speed gearbox drivers shift during the race and the powerful piston engine teams work on in the shops. While F1 die-cast cars are great, they don’t live up to this beauty in complexity and embodying the competitive spirit. 

Your 1:8 diecast won’t get the typical 1,000 horsepower from an F1 machine, but it’ll get the job done when impressing guests. The LEGO version features a V6 engine with moving pistons, letting you feel like an authentic Formula 1 engineer. Are you a gearhead? The racecar also has a steering wheel, suspension and differential. 

Ensuring a Fun F1 and LEGO Experience

The details go beyond the engine specifications and gear ratios. Each set comes with sponsor stickers to make your model look as realistic as possible. Real-life drivers have advertisers like Bell Helmets, ADD Management, Pure Electric, and other worldwide brands paying for room in the car. Incorporating these elements just helps you go the extra mile. 

The LEGO bricks include high standards and thresholds you’d expect from the Danish business. This company’s manufacturing process analyzes each piece to meet safety policies worldwide, making it safe for your kids. If you want to bond with your children, it could be a worthwhile activity for bonding and learning about their interests. 

Getting the F1 Seal of Approval

The Technic McLaren P1 isn’t just for LEGO and toy enthusiasts. If you get the set, rest assured it has been approved by Lando Norris of McLaren-Mercedes. The British driver finished second to Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship and tested a real-life version of the car. In September 2024, Norris drove a racecar with over 342,000 LEGO Technic elements. 

The car weighed nearly 2,700 pounds, about 1,000 pounds heavier than a standard F1 car. It wasn’t just an afternoon project by some LEGO employees — it was a full-on project with 23 engineering, building and design professionals. Overall, they needed about 8,344 hours (or 347 days) to complete the machine and prepare it for the Silverstone Circuit. 

The Real-Life Success of McLaren

McLaren’s LEGO collaboration has terrific timing, considering the constructor’s return to F1 glory in the 2025 season. The British manufacturer has blown out the competition in the first half of the season, with Ferrari a distant second. Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri are in a tight battle for first place as they seek to dethrone the four-time reigning champion, Max Verstappen. 

The last person not named Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton to win the F1 Drivers’ Championship was 2016, which feels like an eternity ago. When did McLaren hoist the trophy? Hamilton brought glory to the British manufacturer in 2008 for his first title. Before that, you have to go back to 1999, when Mika Häkkinen polished off back-to-back Drivers’ Championships. 

The Future of the McLaren and LEGO Relationship

If you thought the Technic McLaren P1 was cool, just wait until you see the next partnership. Reportedly, the manufacturer is teaming up with Sonic the Hedgehog and LEGO for a legendary collaboration. What will the three entities bring to the table? Imagine a Sonic-themed McLaren sitting next to your F1 car on a display case. 

This partnership has numerous opportunities to work well, as long as they don’t use the notorious Sonic ‘06 as their primary inspiration. You could see Sonic’s blue represented on one half and Tails’s orange on the other. What about a car with Doctor Eggman and his cartoon-like mustache? From Knuckles to Shadow, LEGO fans can use their imagination to dream of what comes next. 

The Other Stunning LEGO McLaren Models 

The McLaren Formula 1 Racecar is the first of its kind, though the automaker’s LEGO partnership dates back a decade. In 2015, the first edition debuted as the McLaren P1, boasting butterfly doors and a spoiler. This yellow-and-black sports car stayed true to form by putting the engine in the back and boasting the world-famous sleekness of luxury vehicles.

Since the 2015 release, McLaren and LEGO have released the 720S, Technic Senna GTR and other famous models in brick form. The decade-long collaboration has also produced the Speed Champions Double Pack, featuring a Solus GT and an F1 LM. If you love building sports cars, you might have an expensive taste in hobbies. However, LEGO lets you do it on a much smaller scale. 

Other Sports Car Adventures With LEGO

Since 1949, LEGO has been in business in the heart of Europe. Therefore, it’s surrounded by nations with world-renowned automakers and luxury vehicles. The LEGO and McLaren partnership is the most recent venture in bringing sports cars to living rooms. Kids and adults can build Audis, Porsches and Ferraris to wow their friends. 

While European manufacturers lead to popular LEGO sets, American automakers are represented. You can find kits to build a Ford GT, Honda S2000 and a Dodge Challenger SRT. How would a Corvette Stingray look as a LEGO? You don’t have to imagine because it exists. You can live out your LEGO fantasies by parking your sports car by a Bavarian castle and appreciating the architecture. 

What’s Next for McLaren and LEGO?

The latest Technic McLaren P1 is an awesome LEGO and F1 crossover. Will there be more collaborations in the future? For now, McLaren is focused on winning a pair of F1 championships (and a 1-2 finish for the cherry on top). Other LEGO sets in 2025 will include Star Wars, Minecraft and Jurassic World toys.