In a groundbreaking collaboration, The LEGO Group and McLaren Automotive have taken on their most ambitious LEGO Technic project yet: a fully drivable, life-size replica of the iconic McLaren P1, made entirely from LEGO Technic elements. Adding to the excitement, McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris was tapped to take the LEGO-built P1 on a lap around the legendary Silverstone Circuit.
The 1:1 scale model of the McLaren P1 consists of an astounding 342,817 LEGO Technic pieces and weighs approximately 1,220 kg. Equipped with functional steering and powered by LEGO Technic Function batteries and an electric car battery, the vehicle can maneuver around a racetrack—making it the first LEGO build of its kind to tackle the complex corners of Silverstone.
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The extraordinary feat required the combined efforts of 23 specialists from LEGO and McLaren Automotive, spanning design, engineering, and construction. A total of 8,344 hours were dedicated to the project, which involved using 393 different types of LEGO Technic elements to create the car’s intricate details and mechanics.
Once the build was complete, McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris took on the “ultimate challenge” by piloting the LEGO McLaren P1 around the 5.891-kilometer Silverstone Circuit. Silverstone holds special significance for McLaren as one of the most famous racetracks in motorsport, making it the ideal venue to showcase this unique collaboration.
Fans eager to witness this incredible achievement can watch the full video of Norris completing the lap in the LEGO Technic McLaren P1 on the official LEGO website.
Reflecting on the project, Ben Gulliver, Test & Development Director at McLaren Automotive, said, “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. The car was an icon of its time, and through this collaboration, I hope we can inspire the next generation of designers and engineers.”
Lukáš Horák, Senior Project Manager of Installations at The LEGO Group, echoed the sentiment: “McLaren’s expertise has been invaluable in helping us produce a model as authentic as possible, allowing us to turn a dream into a reality.”
This project marks the latest in a long-running partnership between LEGO and McLaren, merging cutting-edge automotive engineering with the creativity and playfulness of LEGO Technic.