LEGO has unveiled a massive replica of the McLaren Formula 1 race car ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Designed in partnership with McLaren Racing, the life-sized LEGO McLaren is even capable of accommodating a real F1 driver, with eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo pictured behind the (LEGO) wheel.
Assembled by a team led by LEGO Masters Australia judge Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught, the colossal build contains 288,315 bricks and reportedly took more than 1893 hours to piece together. The enormous LEGO McLaren also includes a number of mechanical features, such as moving pistons for its engine, a locking differential, and steering activated from the cockpit.
The one-of-a-kind build (which will be showcased at the Versor Tech Hub located near gate 10 for those attending the Australian GP) may not be something you can house in a bookcase, but LEGO has just released a more sensibly-scaled version of the McLaren F1 race car. The new LEGO Technic McLaren F1 is currently sold out due to popularity but is still available on backorder.
This isn’t the first time LEGO has built a life-sized car from its iconic plastic bricks; back in 2018 the company put together a full-sized replica of a Bugatti Chiron. The giant LEGO Chiron featured over 1 million LEGO pieces, weighed over one-and-a-half tons, and even moved thanks to over two thousand LEGO Power Functions motors. Not enough? Check out this LEGO Batmobile. Unfortunately it seems like we may have missed out on seeing a full-sized LEGO Time Machine to coincide with the newly-released 1,872-piece Back to the Future set.
If LEGO blocks rock your socks, be sure to check out our review of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can chat to him on Twitter @MrLukeReilly.
