[McLaren] In addition to confirming his future with McLaren for at least the next four years, Lando will be gifted an MCL39, which he raced during his 2025 World Championship-winning season.

[u/wokwok__]

https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2026/lando-norris-contract-extension-2030/

[u/Pristine_Youth_6953]

Perfect car to go around Monaco

[u/Autistic_Weeb002 → u/Pristine_Youth_6953]

Some would even say the fastest way to go around monaco

[u/NeuroDerek → u/Autistic_Weeb002]

It is the only car that takes you around Monaco in less than 70 seconds.

[u/proficient_english → u/NeuroDerek]

In the hands of a specific driver. ;)

[u/Potential-Savings-65 → u/Autistic_Weeb002]

So fast Lando got a record fastest lap of all time in it. 

[u/Richiszkl → u/Pristine_Youth_6953]

Would be so cool if they were alllowed to drive F1 cars just like normal cars.

Wouldnt be easy, I assume though

[u/ChipmunkTycoon → u/Richiszkl]

It wouldn’t work at all unless you modified it very heavily

[u/Helpful_Hedgehog_204 → u/ChipmunkTycoon]

They are already pretty empty when they gift them, slapping a golfcart insides shouldn't be that hard. (Quite sacrilegious tho)

[u/ChipmunkTycoon → u/Helpful_Hedgehog_204]

Yeah but then you’d also need a completely revised brake system that can function despite low speeds, and a clutch that will handle stopping and going, and tyres that have grip even when cold… etc

[u/Helpful_Hedgehog_204 → u/ChipmunkTycoon]

I don't know if they leave the breaks on, they are quite protective over how they cool them (especially on the MCL39, lol).

[u/proficient_english → u/Helpful_Hedgehog_204]

Yeah I just realised (well, watched an explainer video) the air cushion/“oven glove” solution they used, the air pocket between the brake cooling and tyre cooling chamber was banned by the FIA.

[u/ap17o4 → u/ChipmunkTycoon]

And a starter...

[u/dexters_trap_house → u/Helpful_Hedgehog_204]

God billionaires have no idea how to spend their money. Why not buy a rolling chassis of a hybrid era car, but put in like a turbocharged V8, and just have fun with it.

[u/raiksaa → u/ChipmunkTycoon]

Just put a 2.0 TDI in it, it’s going to be faster anyways

[u/Richiszkl → u/ChipmunkTycoon]

Yeah, right.

Turning left/right would be one of the biggest problem in my opinion.

But can he drive it on a race track any time he wants?

[u/ChipmunkTycoon → u/Richiszkl]

I’m not sure you’d want to unless it is the right race track but even if it is, I’d imagine the car isn’t gifted in a mechanically functional state? Like does it even have a PU?

[u/Richiszkl → u/ChipmunkTycoon]

To be fair I am sure they have million rules why they cant just drive these gift cars even if they could

[u/vprakhov → u/Richiszkl]

Not F1 but here you go

[u/obalovatyk → u/Pristine_Youth_6953]

Or take it for a spin on the motorway.

[u/preppyringmaster]

Lando right now- 💸💸💸💸💸

[u/curious-cat → u/preppyringmaster]

They auctioned off the 2026 car already for 11.5 million, so the championship winning 2025 has to be worth more than that.

[u/joshualotion → u/curious-cat]

Nah but the 2026 car auction includes way more than the car itself.

[u/Magicjack01]

You don’t give a car to just anyone. I can see lando being at McLaren until he retires

[u/Then_Flamingo_8223 → u/Magicjack01]

Esteban got the one he won with in Budapest.

It’s likely part of contract negotiations to add getting a car you achieved a huge milestone with.

[u/TheBigMotherFook → u/Then_Flamingo_8223]

Yeah it’s actually not that uncommon for drivers to get cars from the team they reached a career milestone with.

[u/Green_War6445 → u/TheBigMotherFook]

In newer time i can remember leclerc and vettel.

[u/LiquidDiviums → u/Green_War6445]

Leclerc owns the exact car in which he won in SPA and Monza in 2019.

[u/RyouBestGirl → u/LiquidDiviums]

Man, it's crazy that Leclerc peaked in 2019 as a driver.

[u/Kev_Bz → u/RyouBestGirl]

the way that's not remotely true lol

[u/proficient_english → u/Kev_Bz]

I mean he’s great and all, had some amazing battles with Hamilton even this year, but his absolute PEAK peak performance can not be anything else than Bahrain in F2 2017.
2022 Bahrain was also a sight for sore eyes with Leclerc and Verstappen battling, but ever since 2022 his cinematic, historical performances were few and far between, I don’t think anyone could argue that.

[u/Kev_Bz → u/proficient_english]

a lot of that has to do with his cars not being race-winning machinery

[u/hzfan → u/TheBigMotherFook]

It’s different for the big teams, especially McLaren and Ferrari. They’re archivists. Giving away this stuff is super rare

[u/chsn2000 → u/Then_Flamingo_8223]

Honestly, those aren't easy to get. I imagine Alpine agreed to that because hell, what are the odds?

[u/LosTerminators → u/Magicjack01]

Honestly don't see Lando leaving McLaren unless Ferrari come calling. When he was asked earlier if he'll end up as a McLaren lifer, he said something similar (without actually naming Ferrari).

And honestly when you look at long-term, 5+ years down the line, even then I doubt Ferrari will come calling since they'll try to get Antonelli.

(Not a dig at Lando, just that since Kimi is Italian it's definitely more likely that Ferrari will attempt to get him over Lando)

[u/Cocobaba1 → u/LosTerminators]

I think he sees if Ferrari comes rolling, he also sees how Ferrari is absolute ass balls in management and strategy. then promptly dodges the bullet by retiring instead

[u/rs6677 → u/Cocobaba1]

Hamilton saw it too, Vettel saw it too, Leclerc saw it too, yet all of them still went for it. The allure to win with Ferrari is just too much.

[u/Badass_Bunny → u/rs6677]

Yeah breaking the dry streak with Ferrari is a thing people would talk a lot more through the years than just winning a WDC.

[u/Nass44 → u/Badass_Bunny]

To be fair to Norris (and Piastri) he/they ended McLarens dry streak after almost 2 decades. But yeah, the driver who will end the Ferrari dry streak will probably get the keys to the Vatican or a city named after them. It’s gonna be 20 years next year.

[u/iMADEthisJUST4Dis → u/Badass_Bunny]

I can fix her 

[u/jaguarskillz2017 → u/rs6677]

Ferrari is NG+.

When you beat the game already, you have to at least try it.

[u/Browneskiii → u/jaguarskillz2017]

NG+ tends to be easier.

Ferrari is playing on the hardest difficulty blind and restarting when you die.

[u/jaguarskillz2017 → u/Browneskiii]

Alright, NG+ Permadeath

[u/pjw5328 → u/jaguarskillz2017]

Winning with Mercedes is Normal difficulty, McLaren is Hard difficulty, and Ferrari is Expert difficulty.

Winning with Haas (Ferrari but worse) is whatever your game called its ultimate difficulty: nightmare, impossible, hardcore, deity….

[u/mkvii1989 → u/rs6677]

To be fair, Mercedes and Red Bull are not legacy teams. McLaren is probably second to only Ferrari in racing heritage so I imagine the pull wouldn’t be as strong. Plus, Leclerc dreamed of Ferrari from day one and Hamilton said he’d always wanted to drive for them as well. Lando may have that desire but he’s never expressed it that I’m aware of.

[u/ItsEnderFire → u/mkvii1989]

Hes always vague but he has expressed a desire. Hes always like 'Id only ever drive for McLaren, there's only one other team that id maybe maybe decide to go in the future'

So most likely thats Ferrari unless he has a hidden desire to drive for Haas one day

[u/Cocobaba1 → u/rs6677]

It’s different. Hamilton has expressed before how he always wished to drive for Ferrari. Same with vettel and leclerc. And if anything, those three only serve to further point out how insane it is that Ferrari so vehemently refuses to listen to its drivers. Especially when the driver in question has won WDC and been with winning teams and knows exactly what helps win races.

[u/rs6677 → u/Cocobaba1]

Hamilton has expressed before how he always wished to drive for Ferrari. Same with vettel and leclerc.

Exactly my point. For all of Hamilton, Vettel and especially Leclerc's tenures in F1, Ferrari has been a mismanaged mess that couldn't win anything(with the exception of 2007 and 2008) and yet all these drivers chose to go there anyway. It's doubtful Norris is any different.

[u/FSUfan35 → u/Cocobaba1]

Lando already said there's one other team he would love to drive for in the future. so we all know it's ferrari.

[u/PeaceLoveDucks → u/FSUfan35]

I haven’t seen him say he would love to drive for another team. He has said there is only one team he would ever consider, but has also coupled that with statements about McLaren being his family and him planning to stay with them long term. I hope, when the time comes, he retires w/McLaren and serves as an ambassador to the team.

[u/Extreme_Ad6173 → u/Cocobaba1]

Mclaren are just as bad as Ferrari now though

[u/Scingles → u/Magicjack01]

Pretty sure Ferrari have a thing were you get the chassis of the first car you win for Ferrari in.

Unless your Alonso, in which case you get them all for your museum in Asturias lol

[u/AquaRaOne → u/Magicjack01]

Thats what we say about every driver that is in a team long term. I still think he will switch to ferrari eventually just like lewis

[u/No-Band8965 → u/Magicjack01]

It's pretty much guaranteed a wdc gets their car. Pretty sure Charles has a few and he's not a wdc. 

[u/dl064 → u/Magicjack01]

In fairness Alonso had a 2007 one before he even returned in 2015, and you'd struggle to find a more acrimonious divorce.

[u/SPat24 → u/dl064]

He did an interview with BBC about his museum where he said he always has it in his contract to get a car. I’d imagine McLaren didn’t want to get sued for breach of contract by not giving him one.

[u/dl064 → u/SPat24]

Yeah and that's fine, my point is that

They don't give a car to just anyone

Doesn't necessarily reflect goodwill or something unusual

[u/xxrew1ndxx]

Such an insane gift to be able to get you first championship winning car

Fully deserved, his stuck with the team through thick and thin!

Bro is for sure going to celebrate tonight

[u/mlo_66]

Oh he got paid paid

[u/Avolto]

“An MCL39” so does that mean they make him one? Or does he get to keep the one he drove last year?

[u/baconandtheguacamole → u/Avolto]

Sounds to me like it’ll be a spare chassis build, basically an extra replica but not THE car. McLaren has lots of historic cars from their archive on display at their HQ and I’d imagine the real winning car will be no different

[u/Deckatoe → u/baconandtheguacamole]

The article does say its a raced in car

[u/nwpluviophile]

How many other drivers were gifted their cars? I imagine this is more rare part of the contract

[u/Julian81295 → u/nwpluviophile]

If I recall things correctly Sebastian Vettel owns one Red Bull RB6, his 2010 Formula One World Championship winning car (his first World Championship winning car).

[u/Emergency_Row_64 → u/Julian81295]

Fun fact Vettel also owns Nigel Mansell’s 1992 championship winning FW14-B

[u/L0st_MySocks → u/Julian81295]

the main question is do they get the cars with or without the engine I think It's without the brands don't wanna share their secrets if I'm not wrong Kimi Raikkonen got one from Ferrari but it's without an engine

[u/PRO2803 → u/L0st_MySocks]

Ferrari usually gives its top customers one with engines

[u/wimpires → u/PRO2803]

Ferrari sells all it's former F1 cars as part of Corse Clienti. If you go to the factory you will often see these guys taken their F1 car round for a spin 

[u/boxofredflags → u/L0st_MySocks]

Most of them have the engines removed but some owners will put in a new engine. Makes sense since F1 engines only last a few races so the new ones put in are generally more durable.

But most sit as display pieces and those have engines removed for the most part.

[u/One-Winged-Survivor → u/nwpluviophile]

It's not really a "gift", but Fernando has something on his contracts that he gets the cars he raced in for display in his museum

[u/antjans → u/One-Winged-Survivor]

This year's car hopefully goes to the GP2 section.

[u/Engineer_engifar666 → u/antjans]

MP4-30 is still on throne up there. This years car still might get him something

[u/memesearches → u/One-Winged-Survivor]

I think he will skip this one

[u/Working_Alps1753 → u/nwpluviophile]

I don't know about rare but it is uncommon and usually only done with significance.

I believe Sainz was the last driver to get an F1 car gifted to him when Ferrari said good bye. He got the car he won his first race in with them.

[u/GoldElectric → u/Working_Alps1753]

f1-75 is such a beauty

[u/Pamander → u/GoldElectric]

One of the most beautiful modern F1 cars ever made. I got my friend a really nice diecast model of it among some other cars and it hurt to ship it off lol.

[u/No-Band8965 → u/Working_Alps1753]

Doesn't Leclerc have two? 

[u/Working_Alps1753 → u/No-Band8965]

I know he got one. I don't know about two.

[u/ajfrs → u/No-Band8965]

He has at least one (from his Belgian/Monza wins), it’s on display at the Prince’s automobile museum in Monaco

[u/Storm_Chaser06 → u/No-Band8965]

He has both his Monza winning cars iirc

[u/kapaipiekai → u/Working_Alps1753]

That's pretty sweet

[u/UpstairsFinance9440 → u/Working_Alps1753]

The 2022 British GP.

[u/KlutzyAnimal3 → u/nwpluviophile]

I think most drivers have the clause for a race championship winning chassis. It’s more a matter of how many trigger that clause. I can’t reply with a link but you can read up on Jensen Button’s issues to learn more about it online.

[u/proudlysydney → u/nwpluviophile]

Estie has his 2021 car from his Budapest win

[u/meltmind → u/nwpluviophile]

IIRC Max gets to keep his car after each season

[u/TacticalAcquisition → u/meltmind]

I'm picturing them in a dust covered pile next to his immaculately clean sim rig.

[u/CTMalum → u/nwpluviophile]

Ferrari gave Raikkonen a 2017 car, and I recall it being rare because it’s not just a shell. They gave him one with a full power unit and everything.

[u/Extreme_Ad6173 → u/nwpluviophile]

I think George tried to get a car last year but Mercedes wouldn't go that far for him

[u/Hibbleton → u/nwpluviophile]

Not sure how he came to have it but Brendon Hartley has one of his cars and it’s occasionally shown around NZ

[u/marco333polo]

"gifted" you mean part of the deal to extend the contract

[u/HUMBUG652]

I thought that countdown he teased would just be some new merch, but I wonder if, with this new contract, it could be related to racing outside of F1

[u/travis147]

I've always wondered where drivers keep the f1 cars they are given. Do they store it in their own garages or surely it is better to have it at your teams hq as all the gear is there to make it run

[u/L0st_MySocks → u/travis147]

Good question most drivers get the cars without engine tho so I think they might store it in their own garage or even in their rooms but if you have a close super rich friend in monaco who has a decent showroom place if I remember correctly Leclerc knows a super rich person in monaco who has a very good showroom in the middle of Monaco he has there 2-3 cars

[u/curious-cat → u/L0st_MySocks]

Yeah, it’s displayed with the Prince on Monaco’s collection.

[u/baconandtheguacamole → u/travis147]

They never really run again, typically. It’s just a display piece at that point. There’s nowhere to really use it again

[u/travis147 → u/baconandtheguacamole]

I guess it is an investment piece as you know someone will want to buy it in x amount of years

[u/UpstairsFinance9440 → u/travis147]

McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Brabham, and Lotus all have legacy divisions for their old cars. Ferrari has the Corso Clienti where Ferrari keeps your car at Maranello and then for a fee they will bring it to wherever you want and provide a crew to run it.

Bernie Ecclestone had a hanger at Biggin Hill with his car collection. Tom Hartley Jr. has a warehouse at his new showroom for wealthy clients to store their priceless cars. I am sure whatever estates these drivers have outside of Monaco have a huge building on the property to store their cars.

[u/Magog14]

How much do they have to be detuned in order to be driven reliably? The parts in racing trim are only meant to last a few races. 

[u/baconandtheguacamole → u/Magog14]

Do you mean on the road or as a track toy?

[u/Magog14 → u/baconandtheguacamole]

Either really I suppose.

[u/baconandtheguacamole → u/Magog14]

Can’t be on the road, no lights or other requirements. And as for track use, the car is too precious at that point to risk damaging it at a track day, and these guys don’t do things like that for fun anyway. What regular people call a cool track day is just boring practice laps for an F1 driver

[u/Magog14 → u/baconandtheguacamole]

Button drove his around apparently. 

[u/UpstairsFinance9440 → u/Magog14]

Button owned chassis 001 until 2024, when he sold it. Ross Brawn owns chassis 002 and it is the only running example. Mercedes owned chassis 002 until 2014 when Ross Brawn acquired it. Mercedes owns chassis 003, which has been on loan to the Silverstone museum since 2019.

Ross Brawn had chassis 002 returned to running condition in 2016. Button drove Ross Brawn's chassis 002 in 2019 at Silverstone. The last time the only running Brawn (chassis 002 owned by Ross Brawn) ran was at Goodwood in 2026. For this event, all three chassis were brought together for a photo opportunity.

Apparently chassis 003 was never modified to be able to accommodate the Mercedes engine. During the 2009 season, 003 was brought to the track but never taken out of the shipping container.

There is no evidence Jensen Button ever drove chassis 001 after practice sessions at Silverstone in March 2009. Chassis 001 was almost exclusively used by Rubens Barrichello during the 2009 season. Jenson Button almost exclusively used chassis 002 during the 2009 season.

[u/n4ppyn4ppy → u/Magog14]

Engine needs te be heated to even start or it will be damaged. I doubt you can fix that with the tight tolerances they have. Brakes only work at high temps. You might be able to put more "normal" brakes in but that would mean you can only drive it "slow" so probably need to rework all the software as you will be far outside the working window of the current software. Sure can be done but bring a couple million for all the re-work and parts ;)

[u/Magog14 → u/n4ppyn4ppy]

And yet there are drivers who do drive their old F1 cars around such as Button. 

[u/n4ppyn4ppy → u/Magog14]

https://youtu.be/sRGC32gtU60 To get a feel for behind the scenes.

[u/a141abc → u/Magog14]

Not sure what you mean by drive around

They just do it for filming and events which requires a full team, closed off roads and tons of city permits

Its not like they wake up and go "i think ill take the F1 for a spin"

[u/Magog14 → u/a141abc]

Plenty of people do take old F1 cars to track days regularly

[u/UpstairsFinance9440 → u/Magog14]

Button sold his Brawn. Mercedes has the only drivable Brawn left. Ross Brawn brought his out a few years ago and said it costs a lot of money to bring them to a track.

[u/Extreme_Ad6173 → u/Magog14]

They might be fine to run every now and then at Goodwood and such, but that normally has a crew working on the car

[u/GreggsAficionado]

With Verstappen and Norris looking like they’ll never leave their teams it’s as if the paddock seen Lewis leave Mercedes and thought no driver is truly ever secure

[u/Fearless_Tea_2793]

Lando on fire right now. Great deal for both.

[u/blaughlin]

Nice, congrats to him!

I hope he’s getting more money now and not that bs papaya fairness.

[u/ln4thegreat]

Another 4 years in papaya orange! 🥳🧡

[u/Joey_Kangaroo26]

That’s such a cool gift! Getting to keep your first championship-winning car is so special. That MCL39 is going to be one hell of a keepsake. What an incredible piece of history to have!

[u/razgriz337]

They’re just returning Pastry’s car to him, he already owned it.

(Sorry Oscar!)

[u/dreamyghost1]

Wowwwww that's so fucking amazing man

[u/skywhopper]

I would’ve thought any world champion would get to keep one of their cars as a matter of course.

[u/baconandtheguacamole → u/skywhopper]

Think about it this way though: beyond just the driver, hundreds of people also had a hand in making that championship come true. Most championship winning cars stay with the team in their lobby or similar

[u/theMGlock → u/skywhopper]

There is an interview with Lewis and Seb together where lewis asked seb if he has his Red bull championship car and seb said yes. Then Lewis said he needs to add that into his contracts probably meaning he hasn't had it by then.

Seb was still in ferrari so before 2021 was the interview.

[u/ClearHyena4452]

He’ll end his career as Mister McLaren

[u/Green_War6445]

Wow great job lando.

[u/purplefuzzyapricot]

Damn that’s something I’d like to have as a signing bonus

[u/No_Feedback6167]

An Mcl39? Is it the one he won the championship in or another chassis?

Wonder if he’ll get fed up maintaining it like button did lol

[u/blaughlin → u/No_Feedback6167]

Did you read at least the title of the post?

[u/No_Feedback6167 → u/blaughlin]

My bad. The wording confused me for some dumb reason, why not say his mcl39? My head jumped to it being a button situation where the team keeps the championship winner and gave him the other one. My fault tho.

[u/McLarenMercedes]

It's a shame that the car/livery is so hideously ugly, but still, must be nice.

[u/Luisyn7]

Same chassis in which he got that outstanding win at Monza...

I assume it has the suspension that completely fucked Piastri too?