McLaren MCL39 - 2025 Australian Grand Prix

• As raced to first and ninth by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix on the 16th of March 2025
• Each model hand-built and assembled by a small team of craftsmen
• 1:18 scale model, over 31cm/12in long
• Made using the finest quality materials
• Over 800 hours to develop the model
• 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.

Subtle Changes to a Winning Livery

Unveiled at the F1 75 launch event on 18 February 2025 at London’s O2 Arena, the MCL39’s livery remained largely consistent with 2024, preserving McLaren’s iconic papaya colour palette accented with anthracite and a hint of teal. Subtle updates included refreshed driver numbers and a new race seat, while elements from the geometric camouflage design shown on pre-season filming day were incorporated into the driver race suits. A diagonal cut-through integrated anthracite into the papaya aesthetic, maintaining visual continuity with the team’s Championship-winning heritage while giving the MCL39 a distinct 2025 identity.

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.

2025 Australian Grand Prix Race Report

These fine 1:18 scale models of the McLaren MCL39 replicate the cars raced to first and ninth by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit on the 16th of March 2025. The McLaren duo qualified first and second, with Norris narrowly pipping Piastri to pole by 0.084 seconds after comfortably taking the provisional top spot from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by three-tenths of a second. After an aborted start caused by Isack Hadjar spinning his Racing Bull into the barrier on the formation lap, polesitter Norris got away well to maintain the lead into Turn 1, fending off challenges from Piastri and Verstappen, though Verstappen passed the home favourite en route to Turn 2. Almost immediately, another Safety Car was called when Jack Doohan crashed his Alpine. At the race restart, Norris pulled away from Verstappen, who in turn opened a gap to Piastri, allowing the leaders to break from the chasing pack. Verstappen ran wide at Turn 10 going too deep into Turn 11, giving Piastri the chance to reclaim second. Within just two laps, Piastri had established a five-second advantage over third place. By Lap 25, Norris’ lead over Piastri stood at just under two seconds, while Verstappen was already around ten seconds back. After navigating backmarker traffic, the McLarens were free to race, though Piastri soon ran wide at Turn 6 and dropped three seconds. Further drama unfolded on lap 34 when Fernando Alonso crashed heavily, prompting another Safety Car and a flurry of pit stops. At the end of Lap 41, Norris managed the restart perfectly to retain his lead over Piastri and Verstappen.

As the race entered its closing stages, late rainfall on lap 44 caused both McLarens to briefly leave the track and over the grass at Turn 12. Norris remained unscathed and immediately pitted for intermediates, Piastri agonisingly ending up rearwards in the Turn 13 run-off. Verstappen stayed out for two more laps before also switching to inters, creating renewed pressure for the leader. The final Safety Car period, prompted by accidents for Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson, regrouped the field for a tense restart. Norris expertly held position through the restart, fending off Verstappen’s late charge, while Piastri recovered from his off-track excursion to continue his points fight. In the final laps, Norris maintained composure and crossed the line to claim his fifth career victory, marking McLaren’s first Australian Grand Prix win since 2012. Piastri mounted a late recovery to finish ninth, overtaking Lewis Hamilton. McLaren had delivered a commanding start to the 2025 season.

Note: This is a 'Kerbside' model and does not feature any moving parts.