CarWow’s latest drag race, pitting the McLaren P1 against the 750S, is a clash of eras—hybrid hypercar royalty versus a modern combustion beast. Let’s just say that the former is most certainly worth the money, that is if you can find one.
McLaren’s P1, a 2013 icon, rolls up with 903 horsepower, its hybrid setup blending a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor. Weighing 3,285 pounds, it’s a lightweight predator by hypercar standards, but its rear-wheel-drive layout can betray it with wheelspin in high gears. The 750S, McLaren’s latest, counters with 740 horsepower from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, no hybrid assist, and a curb weight of roughly 3,170 pounds. It’s the final pure-combustion McLaren, built for surgical precision over raw power. On paper, the P1’s extra 163 horses should dominate, but drag races aren’t won on specs alone. CarWow’s Mat Watson and Mark McCann, behind the wheels of the 750S and P1 respectively, set the stage for a battle that’s as much about driver skill as mechanical might.
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From a standing start, the quarter-mile sprint unfolds on an unprepped surface—think gritty tarmac, not a sticky drag strip. The P1’s hybrid torque surges instantly, but its rear tires claw for grip, costing precious fractions. The 750S, lighter and with modern traction control, rockets forward, its 590 pound-feet of torque harnessed with ruthless efficiency. In the best run, the P1 clocks a blistering 10.1 seconds, but the 750S trails by just two-tenths at 10.3 seconds. For a car with less power and no electric boost, that’s a stunning result. Mark’s experience wrings every ounce from the P1, yet Mat’s 750S proves newer doesn’t mean weaker. The crowd’s roar fades as the timers flash, and the P1 takes the win—but only just.
When it comes to a rolling race, the McLaren P1 doesn’t just show up—it dominates. The 750S isn’t exactly a slouch, mind you—it carves through the air with razor-sharp aerodynamics, hitting a top speed of 206 mph compared to the P1’s blistering 217 mph. But speed alone can’t save it. The P1’s monstrous 664 pound-feet of torque turns the rolling start into a one-sided thrashing, handing the older car another win.
Then comes the surprise twist: a brake test from 100 mph. You’d think the decade-old P1 might falter here, but nope—Mark’s P1 comes to a halt quicker than Mat’s 750S, flipping expectations on their head. Those carbon-ceramic brakes, paired with the P1’s lighter frame, clamp down with ferocious grip.
