The P1 hypercar transformed McLaren Automotive from fledgling upstart into fullblown Ferrari and Porsche rival. From there it went on a roll, subsequently giving us the 675LT and then the 720S, two vehicles that remain supercar benchmarks.

Now, there’s a followup to the P1. A true successor when other halo McLarens since – like the Senna, Elva and Speedtail – have been in a different vein.

It’s called the W1, that latter number signifying a legacy to the P1, and further back to the iconic F1. Big shoes to fill then…

And yet, at a glance, the W1 doesn’t seem that different from the P1. At a time when Ferrari has halved the number of cylinders and doubled the number of driven wheels in the new LaFerrarisucceeding F80, the W1 is still powered by a hybrid twinturbo V8 with power going to the rear only.

But, that does mean the W1 has more engine capacity and cylinders (in the guise of an allnew 4.0litre V8) than the Italian, and the front wheels remain uncorrupted. It’s 75hp up on the Ferrari, too…

So, is updating the P1 formula a route to success, or should McLaren have mixed up the recipe a little more? We took a deep dive with the W1, inside McLaren HQ, to find out. Over to Top Gear Magazine’s Head of Car Testing, Ollie Marriage, to find out…

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00:00 Intro
01:14 Design
04:02 Chassis
04:35 Engine
06:59 Chat with Chris Harrison
14:07 Interior
17:31 Conclusion

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