The Best Car I've Ever Driven: McLaren W1
In a Nutshell
The McLaren W1 is a 1,250-horsepower hybrid successor to the F1 and P1 that weighs just 1,399 kg dry and uses extreme aerodynamics, a radial-flux electric motor, and hydraulic steering to deliver near-F1 performance on both road and track. It reaches 190 mph at Mugello with downforce keeping it planted, while still offering usable street manners, storage, and a ride compliant enough for mountain roads. Only 399 units will be built at over $2 million each, positioning it as the new ultimate lightweight driver's hypercar.
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Cars have changed significantly, becoming smoother and more aerodynamically efficient. The question arises about what happened to the super inspiring, crazy supercar designs that people used to hang up on bedroom walls as posters. The McLaren W1 represents the continuation of those groundbreaking designs.
The video discusses hybrids and electrification in supercars. The holy trinity from 2015 was just the beginning. In 2026, the McLaren W1 arrives as the successor to the F1 and P1. The W1 carries all of the groundbreaking driving performance, technology, and experience that comes with every one car. The presenter gets to be one of the first people outside McLaren to drive it.
The greatest supercar of all time is considered by many to be the McLaren F1, still the fastest naturally aspirated car ever made at 240 mph. Its successor, the McLaren P1, is described as the presenter's favorite car of all time and a member of the holy trinity of the first three hybrid supercars. Most owners with 20 or 30 other cars still say the P1 is their favorite one to drive.
The W1 is closer than ever to a literal Formula 1 car with a license plate on it, from the powertrain to the aerodynamics to the track performance. A hypercar like this is built around being the most track capable machine possible, but on the street it still has to be a car.
Comparison to the Rimac Nevera: The Rimac is the world's fastest production car, all electric, all-wheel drive with instant torque. The Rimac is still faster in a straight line and beats everything, but that's not the whole story. McLaren appears to be following the trend of another brand new 1,000+ horsepower hybrid, but the W1 maintains McLaren's distinctive approach with extreme lightweight construction, rear wheel drive, hydraulic steering, and 3D printed aerodynamic double wishbone suspension. It remains a lightweight purist's driver's machine.
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