Ferrari F40 vs. McLaren P1 Drag Race Shows What a Difference 25 Years Can Make

It was never going to be close. But an F40 is still pretty fast.
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Yes, drag racing a modern hybrid hypercar against something roughly 25 years its senior might very well be an exercise in asking questions you already know the answer to. When you’re given access to a McLaren P1, a Ferrari F40 and an empty runway, though, it’d almost be rude not to. This is exactly what the folks at Lovecars on YouTube, a group that includes Top Gear and Fifth Gear alum Tiff Needell, have done. 

Despite them being worlds apart, both the P1 and F40 use mid-mounted, twin-turbo V8s as well as a whole lot of carbon fiber but that’s pretty much where the similarities stop. The McLaren’s power unit is a 3.8-liter hybrid while the Ferrari uses a 2.9-liter and comes from a time when the Prius was just a twinkle in Toyota’s eye. As a result, the P1 produces 903 horsepower and gets to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds, almost double the ponies and a good amount quicker than the F40’s 471 hp and official zero to 62 time of 4.1 seconds. 

The Ferrari also uses a five-speed manual while the McLaren benefits from a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Italian car’s gated manual might win big emotional points but doesn’t really count for much in the context of a drag race.

With all that in mind, it really shouldn’t be a surprise which car comes out victorious in a head-to-head sprint (or, in the P1’s case here, a light and respectful jog). 

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h/t: Motor1

Chris Tsui Avatar

Chris Tsui

Reviews Editor

Chris Tsui is The Drive’s Reviews Editor. He oversees the site’s car reviews operation in addition to pitching in on industry news and writing his own evaluations of the latest rides. He lives in Toronto.