LEGO Technic McLaren P1 is good, but...

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The latest Technic supercar is a premium build experience, so long as you don’t compare it too closely to the source material.
A large, complex recreation of an impressive luxury car for the mega-rich, LEGO Technic 42172 McLaren P1 offers everything we’ve come to expect from sets of this size and price point. For fans of LEGO Technic, there are few sets that can compete with the build experience offered here, and the result is an absolutely gorgeous display piece with impressive moving parts. The only real downside is that the set doesn’t entirely nail the curves of a real McLaren P1, which may be disappointing for automotive Technic fans.
LEGO Technic’s growing Ultimate Car Concept Series represents the pinnacle of what can be achieved with the LEGO Group’s familiar pins and gears. While there are other large Technic sets on the market, none have the clout of these supercars, which give automotive fans the chance to live out their dreams by building cars which, unless they are exceptionally lucky, they will never have the opportunity to own in real life.
Given this reputation, it’s not surprising that every part of the LEGO Technic 42172 McLaren P1 is streamlined to perfection. The packaging alone is highly detailed and delightfully inviting, setting the tone for a lengthy build that, ironically for a set based on a fast car, takes a long time to complete.
This is not the kind of build that should be attempted in one sitting, nor should builders aim to rush the process. The insertion of gears and levers, the connecting of pins and joints and bolts, all feel reminiscent of building an actual luxury car from scratch. There’s a delightful feeling to slotting together so many Technic elements and discovering how they move and interact which, while present in smaller builds, feels like it is on a completely different level when dealing with a set this large and complex.
42172 McLaren P1 is currently the largest Technic set in the LEGO Group’s active catalogue by piece count, even surpassing 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 and 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3 in its number of elements. The build, then, feels like a true premium experience; something that’s a cut above other Technic sets, even sets based on other iconic McLaren cars. This, though, is nothing new: all sets in the Ultimate Car Concept Series boast a similar level of polish. The real question is: what does 42172 McLaren P1 do to set itself apart from other offerings on the market?

[@Amazarushi]

Have the Daytona and Sian already, gotta get this to complete the Traffic Lights combo!

[@Matt.Thompson.1976]

Nice.

[@Peterecgfxdg-]

Me too

[@Svjhunta]

I have the Bugati Porsche Daytona p1 and sian (no flex)

[@alphaenterprise2232]

​@@Svjhunta lego is grateful for your service

[@marcoseugeniodealmeida9847]

People complain about everything...when i saw it first time, i knew exactly which car it was

[@tynovel]

Awesome outdoor shots! I wish there was the more passionate and animated outdoor narrative as well!

[@allangrant1326]

I brought the Porsche GT3 then skipped the rest, but this P1 has all my attention

[@Matt.Thompson.1976]

Thanks BF. As a fan of both Technic, and the regular Lego system, I still can't believe their are Lego lovers who would rather gouge their eyes out than build Technic........., so much sadness in the world. LOL

[@jackyharuhiko]

These technic cars are extremely huge; don’t underestimate the size. I think this is the most important consideration.

[@ELBASIC]

The only "problema with it is the front, the back is just perfect

[@andrewg7576]

I already have the Mould King in green and the CADA in purple, so yellow is gonna look great!

[@darthvirgin7157]

i’m fine with the front. the real one has soooooo many curves, but the designers were able to get as close as possible with restrictive technic panelings, as well as the interior functionalities and features.

[@kubami5543]

As close as possible will come modders, not designers

[@lolilll]

Looks like 570s

[@Ziriah]

Looks nothing like a p1 from the front tho, just looks like a different McLaren

[@Ziriah]

Looks nothing like a p1 from the front tho, just looks like a different McLaren

[@AncientYouth64]

Why would you expect a lego set to match the real thing😅

[@Anand-vx2xx]

I have some of the others and will definitely pick this up, but i do wish they had chosen a more recent car. The P1 is awesome and all but an elva or even the sabre would have been sweet

[@msp5616]

The million shades of green on the lamborghini sold it for me..

[@nigeburgess5950]

Great review thanks. And beautiful car, will add it to collection at some stage. But a shame, that this is an older model which breaks away from the series history of doing current gen models. I would have preferred they did the original F1 from 1990's which is unique and special with its 3seater styling.

[@pseudoty]

I just saw in another review that when you push the car the wheels squeak. Not sure if that person made a building error or if that is an issue with the set.

[@RememberPluto]

I have the last 4 technic super car display cars and ive built 100s of lego sets. These 4 still sit in my backlog because i am to afaird to build them. I couldn't even get the landing gear on the discovery right 😢

[@ik5513]

After having the sian, bughatti and ferrari I think that I am going to skip this one. the super car line is not that exciting anymore at least for me

[@Shorjok]

I've built some fairly hefty lego sets in my time but 11 hours is a lot. Definitely the kind of set you spread out over multiple days of building.

[@brucetaylor7085]

11 hours for the experts, 35 plus for me and I have built all the previous technic supercars😀😀

[@D-Bri]

Random guy on the street was Jeremy Clarkson??

[@dawngregorie7423]

Im going to get the lego g500 before i get this one for a warmup before the mclaren😊😊

[@markp1222]

For a nano-second I was expecting you to say Dogging Site, not Dog Walking site. I know, thats on me. The interior of a P1 is clearly too snug for that !

[@iFish12]

😂

[@SEEKERONE1]

Wow, that would take a lot of time off to build. Lolol it would take me a week to complete it.

[@Jhoff07]

The p1 is probably my most favorite hypercar out of them all. And i think lego did a great job trying to get it as close as possible, especially with the rear

[@antmof94]

Ive always wondered why Lego cars dont have color options. Would it be that hard?

[@silverwhiteknight]

Loved your review, though would a liked more details on the functionality

[@mssm9495]

Check out review by Racing Brick.

[@user-rr9dr5nq6u]

So Simpsons yellow, Minions Yellow or Yellow Submarine Yellow? Nice artsy box.🤠

[@andrewg7576]

That clutch in the middle isnt going through gears. It is hybrid drive, electric, or neutral, just like the real car.

[@oskarkacprzak6472]

Does the logo version have a electrical moter

[@andrewg7576]

@oskarkacprzak6472 It has some version of electric drive, but I don't know if the motors are included. Like the V8 is included but I don't know if the twin turbos are also in the set.

[@mssm9495]

I thought you were going to say that you later found dog shit in the background of all of your outdoor footage and couldn't use it in your review.

[@zackaryheinson1089]

does the instructions properly build the gear system? My daytona is sitting with a wrongly built gearbox because the instructions are flawed

[@Steve-ArfArf]

No issues with my Daytona, think you just read the instructions wrong

[@zackaryheinson1089]

@@Steve-ArfArf it seems like it works fine, but the technical analysis proves it isnt properly working. the gears skip and dont go 1-8 smoothly. its more 1-4-8-3-7-2etc.

[@AR_119]

They were wrong. I had to go online and find the edited instructions and the omitted page from mine. It has you put the gears in the wrong order out of the box. Lego even said so but never bothered to fix them in actual sets outside of release a statement. Just look at a youtube video and it will explain the fix. It's simple but hard to get to once you have built it.

[@arghjayem]

07:15 I dunno- the biggest? Check out the alternative build of the 76139 batmobile as an animated series Batmobile! That thing is HUGE!

[@bvonk]

I'm a big fan of Lego and McLaren, but I completely agree with your points about the front of the P1. That's why I'm not going to buy it yet, maybe when it's cheaper. In another video I saw that you can detach the back fairly easily to see the engine. First remove the rear wing and then the rest of the rear is only attached at two points.

[@ygrbooks]

My God! If you think this is Lego Technic, you are totally off the beam. And if you think this set is a challenge, please do not ever try the LEGO 42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs, which is highly functional and really demanding ... (though it would be fun watching you fail).

[@maartenderijke3591]

If you dont know technic its very challenging

[@federicosicairos1592]

I'm pretty sure they all have their own challenges, the arocs doesn't look that challenging in my opinion.

[@astrodolphin8219]

wah wah wwaaaaahhh

[@federicosicairos1592]

@@astrodolphin8219 ????

[@ygrbooks]

@@federicosicairos1592 Wait till you have to get the pneumatics right ... 😜

[@MInggallardo456]

I THOUGHT IT WAS A PHOTOSHOP RENDERING 🥲