McLaren’s first Formula 1 race was the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix. Now, sixty years later, the team is back in their bag for their1,000th start, joining Ferrari as the only constructors ever to reach that number.
Naturally, McLaren Special Operations marked the moment the way MSO always does: by building something almost nobody will get to own. But, at least we get the pleasure of salivating over it.
Second Team to a Thousand
A thousand Grand Prix starts is a milestone that takes a better part of a lifetime to build. McLaren has been chipping away since Bruce McLaren lined his own car up at Monaco in ’66, and the ledger now reads north of 200 wins and 10 constructors’ titles, including last season’s sweep of both crowns.
The names behind those wins, from Senna and Prost to Hamilton and Norris, reads like a roll call of the sport’s greats. Ferrari got to four figures first, but it also had a 16-year head start. Reeling that in from behind is arguably the more impressive trick.
A Livery, a Plaque, and Not Much Else
We’re not going to pretend the 1000GP is some reengineered special. Under the paint, it’s a standard Artura. What MSO actually touched is the wardrobe.
The base is deep black, cut by a pixelated papaya camo applied by hand across the bonnet, side skirts, and mirror caps. It’s the same digital pattern Norris and Piastri will wear on the MCL40 in Monaco, shrunk to road-car scale.
Orange pinstripes trace the front splitter and rear diffuser, the calipers turn papaya, and a blocky “1000GP” graphic sits on the lower doors. On the interior is a dedication plate in metallic papaya gold, stamped “Surrey · England.”
The Powertrain Stays Put
McLaren left the mechanicals alone, but the Artura didn’t really need any help in this department anyway.
It remains the only road-going McLaren built around a V6: a 3.0-liter twin-turbo tied to an axial-flux motor and a 7.4-kWh battery.
The figures read 690 horsepower and 531 lb-ft, enough for a flat 3.0-second dash to 62 mph and a 205-mph top end. It’ll also slip 21 miles on battery power alone, for the rare day you’d want to keep your six-figure supercar quiet on the open road.
Spec Sheet
Model: McLaren Artura 1000GP by MSO
Model Year: 2026
Engine: 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Plug-In Hybrid
Electrification: Axial-flux motor, 7.4 kWh battery
Power: 690 HP
Torque: 531 lb-ft
Transmission: 8-Speed Dual-Clutch (SSG)
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
0-62 MPH: 3.0 seconds
Top Speed: 205 MPH
Electric Range: 21 miles
Curb Weight: 3,303 lbs
Limited Edition: Yes, 10 units
Base Price: $233,000 (1000GP undisclosed)
Pricing & Availability
McLaren is keeping the sticker quiet, which usually means “more than you’d like.” The standard Artura opens at $233,000, and the 1000GP will sit above it. Only 10 client cars are slated for the global market, so the queue is presumably already sorted.
Scorecard
2026 McLaren Artura 1000GP by MSO
McLaren celebrates its 1,000th F1 start with just 10 MCL40-liveried Arturas, mechanically stock but carrying a milestone only Ferrari has beaten it to.
