McLaren P1 2014-2015 verdict

There were those – we were not among them – who accused McLaren’s 12C of being clinical and soulless. There will not be those who accuse the P1 of being the same. This is a car whose maker has taken joy in its engineering and greater joy in presenting it to the driver.

The exquisite carbonfibre is not just displayed but featured, the whizzes, fizzes and whistles of the drivetrain are left undamped, and the driver is thoroughly involved with the way that the P1 rides and handles. There’s no bluff with the P1.

McLaren's ethos and perfectionism writ large. A scintillating triumph

Matt Prior

Editor-at-large

Is it the world’s best driver’s car? That’s more difficult to answer, because your favourite driver’s car might differ from ours, because moods change and because we haven’t – yet – had a P1, a Porsche 918 Spyder and a LaFerrari in the same place at the same time.

Bugatti's Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is still the straight line and top speed benchmark. It's the ultimate in last-decade power.

For now, though, we know that if we had 100 cars, there would be many days when only a P1 would do. You can’t ask for more than that.