McLaren MCL38
The papaya car that ended McLaren's wait for a Constructors' title stretching back to 1998 and gave both its drivers their first Grand Prix wins.
About the McLaren MCL38
Designed under Rob Marshall and developed in McLaren's own new wind tunnel, the MCL38 raced in 2024 with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Early upgrades, notably a Miami package that Zak Brown called 'almost a B-spec car', fixed McLaren's long-standing weakness in slow corners and turned it into a front-runner. It won six Grands Prix, starting with Norris in Miami, took eight poles and 21 podiums, and clinched the Constructors' Championship at the Abu Dhabi finale. It was the first customer-engined car to win that title since the 2009 Brawn BGP 001, although commentators felt driver and team errors cost Norris a stronger challenge for the drivers' crown.
McLaren MCL38 specs
| Make | McLaren |
|---|---|
| Model | MCL38 |
| Years | 2024 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid (Mercedes-AMG F1 M15 E Performance) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,600 cc (1.6 litres) |
| Induction | Turbocharged |
| Redline | 15,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed seamless sequential semi-automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 798 kg (1,759 lb) |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
McLaren MCL38 rarity in CarSpot
The McLaren MCL38 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 0 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
McLaren MCL38 fun facts
- It was the first McLaren to lead the Constructors' Championship since the MP4-29 of 2014, taking over from Red Bull after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- Its rear wing was found to flex at speed in a way that mimicked DRS, a trick nicknamed the 'mini-DRS', after it had been used at the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix.
- McLaren had no mechanical reliability problems with the car, scoring points on 46 of its 48 starts.
