CHRIS HARRIS DRIVING THE MCLAREN F1 IS QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT THAT MAKES US EVER SO SLIGHTLY JEALOUS.
Few cars command the kind of reverence that the McLaren F1 does. Designed by the legendary Gordon Murray and launched in 1992, the F1 redefined the boundaries of performance, engineering, and purity of driving experience. More than three decades later, it remains one of the most celebrated road cars ever built. And if anyone was going to articulate just how special it is, it would be Chris Harris. Recently, Harris got the opportunity to tick one of the last boxes on his driving bucket list - getting behind the wheel of an F1 on the open road. His experience was nothing short of transformative, punctuated by wide-eyed amazement and some choice expletives of sheer disbelief. To understand Harris’s excitement, you need to appreciate what makes the McLaren F1 so unique. At its core, the car was designed with a single philosophy: absolute driver engagement. Unlike today’s hypercars, bloated with electronic aids and hybrid powertrains, the F1 is brutally analogue, demanding complete focus from its driver.
Engine: 6.1-litre BMW S70/2 V12
Power Output: 455 kW @ 7,400 rpm
Torque: 650 Nm @ 5,600 rpm
0-100 km/h: 3.2 seconds
Top Speed: 386.4 km/h (world record for a production car until the Bugatti Veyron)
Weight: 1,138 kg (dry)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Chassis: Carbon-fibre monocoque (first road car to feature this)
But it’s not just raw performance that amazes him. “The ride comfort! It rides so beautifully. It’s supple. It’s got compliance. The damping’s lovely.” Harris is stunned by the F1’s ability to blend race car-like control with surprising usability. Even the turning circle impresses him. “It’s like a London taxi!” Then comes the moment that seals his fate. He floors it. The F1 catapults forward with unrelenting force, accompanied by that iconic V12 wail. “That ruins me for life. It should ruin every other carmaker.” There are many cars that claim to be the best, but few, if any, hold up to the McLaren F1. As Harris puts it, “I’m a bit late to the party, but the engine is the best I’ve driven on the road. The gearbox, once you sync with it, is sensational. The control weight is sensational. I’m completely in love.” He steps out of the F1, utterly ruined for other cars. “Why would you want anything else?” he asks, knowing full well that there is no real answer. There simply isn’t another car that delivers such an unfiltered, raw, and exhilarating experience.
Harris sums it up best: “It’s not the fastest, not the most capable, but the most special road car I’ve ever driven.” For those who have driven an F1, they know. For those who haven’t, well, we’ll just have to live vicariously through Chris Harris’s unforgettable day with one of the greatest cars ever made.Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off a season motoring journalist and driver getting as excited as you'd expect after finally being able to get behind the wheel of the iconic McLaren F1: Chris Harris on Cars: McLaren F1. The best sports car of all time | Chris Harris on Cars
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