McLaren Has Dropped A Design Sketch Of The Three-Seat F1 Successor

McLaren has drip-fed us with a few tiny morsels of new information about the spiritual successor to the legendary F1.

Project BP23, so named for being Bespoke Project number two, and having three seats, will be limited to 106 examples – not-so-coincidentally the same number that were built of the F1. We also have a firm confirmation that it’s definitely going to be a three-seater, with two passenger chairs placed behind and either side of the driver.

Alongside releasing a new design sketch, the Woking-based company says BP23 – not its production name – will be the most powerful and most aerodynamic road-going McLaren ever built. Obviously, every last one has been pre-sold before McLaren’s designers have even fully finished the job. Bah, humbug, etc.

The sketch shows a smooth, flowing shape that tapers to a fine edge over a wide rear diffuser. It’s pretty much what ‘futuristic’ looked like in the 1980s.

It’s expected to use a development of the P1’s hybrid system, and will have to push more than 1,000bhp to the wheels if it’s going to clear the P1’s output by any margin. Development is underway as you read this.

The first deliveries are expected to happen in 2019, leaving a frustratingly long time to wait for those 106 hideously rich future owners. Ah well.