For many of us at McLaren, this opportunity to design and construct the “ultimate sports car” has been a dream come true.
We set out to develop the world’s finest driver’s car by applying Formula 1 technologies to offer Grand Prix-style capability, control and quality throughout; a car individually built and tailored to the most discerning of owners.
We set out primarily to build our own car in our own way. As the programme progressed, we analysed and evaluated all existing mid-engined sports and “supercar” designs.
Our established objectives remained unaltered. Our target has been to create the purest driver’s car, compact and, above all, ultra-lightweight, to achieve optimum all-round performance. It also had to embody the most advanced engineering, intricate and elegant detailing and peerless quality – all to the standards hitherto found only in the modern Formula 1 racing car.
An entirely purpose-designed engine and transmission were essential, combined with innovative modern structures, frontier aerodynamics and pure, balanced styling. Practicality was also vital, the finished car to be functional yet exciting to drive under all condition.
This concept, targeted strictly upon minimal weight, maximum driveability and practicality, combined with our company heritage of exceptional performance, painstaking build quality and uncompromising safety standards, entirely merits the car being named the “McLaren F1”.
We set out to produce the best roadgoing “driver’s car” ever built, or ever likely to be built, and we are confident that this first McLaren production model represents the pinnacle of 20th century high-performance sports car design. 
Read about how the McLaren F1 is designed for the driver.
