LEGO City 60442 F1 Driver with McLaren Race Car is a speedy way to get a surprisingly satisfying LEGO F1 fix.
Coming in at the lower end of the price range for LEGO City F1 sets releasing in January 2025, 60442 F1 Driver with McLaren Race Car keeps things simple and captures all that it needs to for a fun introduction to building a Formula 1 car out of LEGO bricks.
Release: January 1, 2025 Price: £10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99 Pieces: 86 Minifigures: 1 LEGO:
Simple but effective
Obviously with one eye on the Speed Champions F1 sets coming in March 2025, January’s LEGO City F1 collection is going to feel a lot simpler in appearance, design and general features. That is not to write off any of these first sets at all, though, as demonstrated by the engaging build behind 60442 F1 Driver with McLaren Race Car.
It is an easier build than any Speed Champions car would be, slotting into the LEGO City demographic accordingly, but putting together the McLaren at this size isn’t without its authenticity. It's a simple build, yes, but one with clever parts usage and an intelligent way of introducing the wider concepts and designs of an F1 car to younger builders, or even older ones looking for a quick fix before the Speed Champions cars arrive.
Pealing back the papaya
Included in 60442 F1 Driver with McLaren Race Car is, as the name suggests, a McLaren F1 car and an unnamed, generic McLaren driver. The unique shape and style of an F1 car means that even at a more junior level of design as seen in LEGO City (this set is recommended for the 6+ age group), this is an interesting and unique LEGO set to put together.
As mentioned, that includes details that touch on the authentic, as you build out aspects such as the chassis, engine cover, and airbox just behind the driver’s head, all at the back end of the car, before putting together elements of the front end that include the halo, nose and front wing. There are even finer details we weren’t expecting to see at this level, including part of the floor edge represented through some smart parts selection, whilst the manner in which the sidepods and cockpit come together is quite satisfying.
Generally speaking, the entire build does not come together as you may expect. The thickness of the underside is kept to a minimum to keep the profile of the entire car as low as possible – this didn’t have to be worked into a LEGO City version of an F1 car, but it has been and the set is all the stronger for it.
In all, for half the price of a Speed Champions car, this thing delivers an engaging LEGO build that is far more recognisable than you would expect for the budget.
Speed Ch…who now?
The minifigure included features an overalls design based on what the McLaren F1 team drivers wear, for our most authentic representation of them yet, whilst the McLaren-branded helmet is the same as the one featured in 76919 2023 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car.
The driver matches the car nicely and – thanks to that low profile achieved through the car’s design – he sits as low as a minifigure could in any LEGO F1 car.
Printed elements for the wing, nose, wheels and steering wheel feel like bonuses (particularly in comparison to what we have on Speed Champions cars), and in all rounds out LEGO City 60442 F1 Driver with McLaren Race Car as an excellent LEGO F1 car experience.
Overall, you may go into this set just after a quick fix until the Speed Champions cars come along in a few months’ time, but you may finish building it asking if you really need those more expensive versions when so many boxes are ticked here.
Our honest opinion: Maybe it’s just the hype of official LEGO F1 sets, but this is way better than you would ordinarily expect a LEGO City set to be.
This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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