5 Best F1 inspired road cars

Most ardent followers of Formula One dream of getting behind the wheel of a championship winning single-seater to experience the exhilaration for themselves, at least once in their lives. Each week sees a multitude of a new set of parts installed into each Formula One car, but it is not quite as often that fans get their hands on any of these cars.

While F1 cars and their parts rarely go on sale, they often burn a hole in your pockets. Most of these antique race winners belong in a museum where people can view them from up close. None of that, however, comes close to going on a spin in one around iconic circuits. That fortune is reserved for only a few.

The next best thing, perhaps, could be driving a car that has been inspired by the pinnacle of motorsport. There have been a few hypercars designed, keeping in mind the race cars that compete in a Grand Prix. Let us have a look at some of these hypercars and the story behind their concept:

#1 Aston Martin Valkyrie

One of the finest things to emerge from a collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing seems to be the Aston Martin Valkyrie, or as it is code-named, Nebula or previously, AM-RB 001.

Apart from the extremely sleek bodywork going for itself, the car boasts of having arguably the most successful F1 designer, Adrian Newey, working on the design. The British engineer required a challenge beyond Formula One and after speaking to the bosses at Red Bull Racing about designing a road car, was quickly given the green signal.

Judging by the aerodynamic elements on the car, which should be no surprise given Adrian’s dominance in the area, the hypercar is worthy of the claims by the developers about breaking the lap record at Nürburgring and the Formula One record at Silverstone. Its track only version, Valkyrie AMR Pro, might come close to adding some truth to the assertions.

While developing a road car is a completely different ball game than designing a Formula car, judging by the specifications, the bespoke V12 Cosworth engine fitted car, would be a favourite in no time. The delivery orders are already coming in, with Formula One driver, Daniel Ricciardo, going ahead to put down money for his Valkyrie.

#2 McLaren Senna

The Formula One connection is evident in the name of the car. The McLaren Senna was developed with wholehearted consent from the family of the three-time world champion, Ayrton Senna.

McLaren have gone so far as to announce a collaboration with the Instituto Ayrton Senna and would be making a significant donation in order to support underprivileged children in Brazil.

The twin-turbocharged V8 engine, coupled with a lightweight design has helped the car reach a top speed of 340 km/h, limited by redline. The body of the McLaren is comprised of carbon fiber aerodynamic elements, which provide the car with the capability to be aggressive and faster on track.

Only 500 units of the McLaren Senna would ever be produced, all of which have already been sold.

#3 Mercedes-AMG Project ONE

67th International Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA)

The Mercedes-AMG ONE was unveiled at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt and has incorporated a modified 1.6 litre turbocharged hybrid V6 engine utilized in the Mercedes-AMG Formula One cars.

Even the interior is Formula One-themed, with the style being adopted in the steering wheel and pedals, giving the insides the feel of a racing cockpit. The exteriors boast of a roof-mounted inlet along with a noticeable central fin extending to the back of the car, required to increase lateral stability during cornering, according to Mercedes.

Only 275 units are going to be produced to maintain exclusivity and will be delivered to their already decided owners at the estimated price of US $2.72 million apiece.

#4 Ferrari LaFerrari

The name, LaFerrari, means ‘the Ferrari’, and it is the first ever production car to be equipped with the HY-KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that is utilized by the Prancing Horse’s Formula One team. The technology helps in retracting the maximum amount of power from the car while minimizing emissions.

The chassis of the car is furnished with carbon fibre and it is equipped with active aerodynamics, which helps with maximizing downforce and performance. The two electric engines driving the LaFerrari have been developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli.

The Ferrari can accelerate from 0-100km/h in under three seconds and while the limited production units made have already been sold to their owners, the price has gone as high as around US $7 million. That specific unit was auctioned off to raise money for earthquake relief in Italy.

#5 McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 was designed by Gordon Murray, a well-known Formula One car designer along with Peter Stevens. After a long four year stint conquering the F1 world with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna from 1988 to 1991, the British manufacturers were ready to bring to road the very essence of their single-seater racing cars.

The most quirky feature of the F1 would be the centrally located driver seat, with space for two more passengers on either side, providing the driver with better visibility. The bodywork comprises of carbon-fibre reinforced polymer, the first of its kind, and the BMW V12 engine that the car is equipped with is a naturally aspirated one.

The F1 was inspired by the Honda NSX, which in-turn had used inputs from Ayrton Senna during the development phase. Only 106 units of the McLaren were produced between 1993 and 1998, leaving a lot of potential buyers wanting including Lewis Hamilton.

Edited by Shahid Salman