McLaren MCL39 - 2025 British Grand Prix

• Limited to just 99 pieces per driver
• As raced to a 1-2 victory by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix on the 6th of July 2025
• Each model hand-built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen
• 1:8 scale model, over 70cm/27 inches long
• Made using the finest quality materials
• Over 2500 hours to develop the model
• Over 250 hours to build each model
• Thousands of precisely engineered parts: castings, photo-etchings and CNC machined metal components
• Built using original CAD designs and paint codes supplied by McLaren Racing

The first McLaren to win both the World Drivers' Championship and World Constructors' Championship in the same season since the Adrian Newey-designed MP4/13 of 1998, the MCL39 sought to build on the successful foundation of the previous year’s Constructors’ Championship winning MCL38. In the hands of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, in their seventh and third seasons with the team respectively, the MCL39 secured the Constructors’ title in joint-record time at the Singapore Grand Prix, with six races remaining in the season. Lando Norris secured his maiden Drivers' Championship at the final race of the season, becoming the first McLaren driver since 2008 to earn the honour.

An Evolution of a Champion

While the MCL39 was an evolution of the MCL38, which had been consistently among the quickest cars of the 2024 season, it incorporated substantial technical advancements to maintain McLaren’s competitive edge. Radiators were repositioned further up and backwards, and the car retained the front pull-rod and rear push-rod suspension layout, now enhanced with increased anti-dive measures to improve ride-height control. Other notable changes included redesigned sidepod inlets, revised engine cover bodywork, and a new, wider airbox inlet. Every component was optimised for maximum performance, and McLaren continued to introduce upgrades throughout the season, reinforcing the car’s adaptability and speed across all circuits.

2025 Season Summary

The MCL39 proved immensely reliable and consistently competitive in the hands of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri throughout a full calendar of challenging circuits. Norris claimed the season-opening win in Australia to seize the early initiative in the title battle, but Piastri responded with four victories across the next five rounds - in China, where he led home a McLaren 1-2, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Miami, securing a second 1-2 finish - to take the lead in the standings himself. Norris then returned to winning form in Monaco, while Piastri triumphed in Spain, as the duo continued to tussle closely for the championship advantage.

Canada proved a flashpoint, as the pair collided on the main straight. Piastri managed to continue, while Norris, taking full responsibility for the incident, retired with terminal damage - McLaren’s first retirement of the season. The team bounced back with four consecutive 1-2 finishes: Norris led home in Austria, Britain, and Hungary, while Piastri claimed victory in Belgium. The Australian added another win in the Netherlands, though Norris suffered the team’s only mechanical retirement of the season.

In the latter part of the year, title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull hit top form, winning six of the remaining nine races. Piastri’s own performances dipped slightly, starting with a crash in Azerbaijan - where Norris finished seventh - followed by four races without a podium. Despite this, McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore with six races remaining. Norris and Verstappen closed the gap on Piastri in the Drivers’ standings, with Norris overtaking his teammate in Mexico and extending his advantage in Brazil. A setup error led to both McLarens being disqualified in Las Vegas due to a technical regulations breach, leaving Verstappen level on points with Piastri and just two races behind Norris. In the closing rounds, Verstappen won in Qatar ahead of Piastri, while Norris finished fourth, setting up a three-driver showdown at Abu Dhabi. Verstappen won again in the finale, beating Piastri, but Norris claimed the final podium position and secured his maiden Drivers’ Championship by just two points.

Overall, the McLaren MCL39 earned fourteen wins, twenty further podiums, thirteen pole positions and twelve fastest laps, scoring 833 points and securing McLaren a second successive World Constructors’ Championship and a first World Drivers’ Championship since 2008. Both Norris and Piastri enjoyed their best seasons in Formula 1 to date, the former winning the Drivers’ title with 423 points, whilst Piastri claimed third in the standings with 410 points respectively.

Back at Home, Back in Chrome

Revealed ahead of McLaren’s home race at a McLaren Racing Live event in London’s Trafalgar Square, the MCL39 ran a special chrome livery for the 2025 British Grand Prix. The design paid tribute to one of the most recognisable colour schemes in the team’s modern history, recalling the chrome-finished McLarens campaigned during the mid-2000s and early 2010s. Applied as a livery enhancement to both cars, the chrome elements were integrated alongside McLaren’s contemporary papaya identity, creating a striking visual link between past and present. The Silverstone appearance also marked a continuation of McLaren’s recent tradition of bespoke liveries for landmark events, celebrating the team’s heritage and sponsors while reinforcing its connection with fans at its home Grand Prix.

2025 British Grand Prix Race Report

These fine 1:8 scale models of the McLaren MCL39 replicate the cars raced to a 1-2 victory by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix at Silverstone on the 6th of July 2025. Lining up second and third on the grid behind polesitter Max Verstappen, the McLaren duo faced typically changeable British conditions, with intermittent rain leaving the circuit damp and gusty at the start. Verstappen initially led away, holding off Piastri through Abbey, but the Australian applied sustained pressure and seized the lead at Stowe on lap eight. As the rainfall intensified, Norris followed through when Verstappen ran wide, before the leading group pitted for fresh intermediate tyres. McLaren double-stacked their drivers, with Norris delayed fractionally, allowing Verstappen to regain second place.

Worsening conditions triggered a Safety Car intervention on lap 14, neutralising Piastri’s advantage. Although the race briefly returned to green flag running on lap 17, the Safety Car was deployed again just one lap later following Isack Hadjar’s heavy crash. At the subsequent restart on lap 21, Verstappen spun dramatically while attempting to keep pace, dropping him down the order. Piastri retained the lead but was later handed a ten-second time penalty for slowing excessively while preparing to lead the field away behind the Safety Car. Despite the setback, he continued to deliver strong pace at the front, with Norris running close behind as the circuit gradually transitioned from wet to drying conditions.

The decisive phase came as slick tyres became viable. Piastri pitted first on lap 44, serving his penalty during the stop, before Norris followed one lap later and rejoined comfortably ahead, inheriting the race lead. From there, Norris controlled the closing stages with composure, managing the crossover conditions to maintain a clear advantage. He crossed the line to claim his first victory on home soil, sparking celebrations among the Silverstone crowd and sealing the eighth win of his Formula One career. Piastri followed 6.812 seconds later to complete McLaren’s first British Grand Prix 1-2 finish since 2000.

The McLaren MCL39 is limited to just 99 pieces per driver at 1:8 scale.