To promote the collaboration between the LEGO® Group and McLaren in a unique way, the toy manufacturer came up with a special idea. “Let’s build a full-size version of our LEGO McLaren P1™ model and drive it around the Silverstone circuit… with Lando Norris at the wheel!”
This was a bit of a shock for the design team at the LEGO Group. They had previously built and driven a full-size Bugatti Chiron, but this was a whole different ball game according to Lubor Zelinka, the design manager who has been working at the famous Danish company for ten years. The Czech is part of a team of 23 people, consisting of designers, engineers, and model builders who bring the brainwaves of the marketing department to life.
The difference with the Bugatti? “This is the first LEGO brick model that can make turns, complete a lap on a real race track, and all this with a Formula 1 driver at the wheel.” According to Zelinka, the McLaren project was a step up in many aspects compared to the previous assignments for his team. “We really raised the bar in terms of what’s possible with LEGO Technics. It’s the most advanced drivable LEGO car we’ve ever built, and all in record time. It was finished in just seven months!”
See it with your own eyes!
McLaren was also more than willing to contribute to this project, and the LEGO Group was given access to their resources and had a lot of contact with the engineers in Woking.
