McLaren MP4-23
Lewis Hamilton's first championship car, and McLaren's last drivers' title winner for 17 years.
- Power
- 810 bhp
About the McLaren MP4-23
Revealed at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart in January 2008, the MP4-23 was inspected by the FIA before the season to check whether it carried any Ferrari intellectual property after the 2007 espionage case. Compared with the MP4-22 it had a longer wheelbase, a new rear wing and no traction control under the new standard ECU rules. Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen won six races between them, and Hamilton took the drivers' championship, although McLaren finished second to Ferrari in the constructors' standings. Its season-long development added 'dumbo' wings on the nose from the Hungarian Grand Prix.
McLaren MP4-23 specs
The McLaren MP4-23 produces 810 bhp (604 kW).
| Make | McLaren |
|---|---|
| Model | MP4-23 |
| Years | 2008 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 2.4L naturally aspirated V8 (Mercedes-Benz FO 108V) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,400 cc (2.4 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 810 bhp (604 kW) at 19,000 rpm |
| Redline | 19,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed seamless-shift semi-automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 605 kg (1,334 lb) |
| Power-to-weight | 1339 bhp per tonne |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
McLaren MP4-23 rarity in CarSpot
The McLaren MP4-23 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 42 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 MP4-23 fun facts
- In 2026 McLaren driver Oscar Piastri drove Hamilton's championship-winning MP4-23 at the Miami International Autodrome.
- Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart drove an MP4-23 at Watkins Glen in 2011.
- Jenson Button ran an MP4-23 in MP4-26 colours and on Pirelli slicks at the Mount Panorama Circuit in 2011.
