LEGO Technic 42228 McLaren MCL39 F1 Car official images!
Posted by CapnRex101,
The first images of 42228 McLaren MCL39 F1 Car emerged on LEGO.com a couple of weeks ago and the set has now been officially unveiled. Its press release follows:
42228 McLaren F1 Team MCL39
Rated 18+, 1,675 pieces
$229.99 / £199.99 / €229.99
Available at LEGO.com from 1st March
Race to glory with this detailed LEGO Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 Car model kit for adults (42228). This set makes a great gift idea for motorsport fans, offering a challenging and rewarding building experience as you recreate the detailed features of this 1:8 scale F1 car model.
Assemble the details of the 2025 McLaren MCL39 F1 car as you build the steering, suspension, gearbox and differential. Activate the DRS, then remove the engine cover to examine the V6 engine. Enjoy your victory lap as you proudly display the model in pole position as a tribute to your passion for F1.
It is hard to believe that Technic F1 cars continue to lack the proper rear tyres, now that Icons and Speed Champions cars have them. Nonetheless, what do you think of the set? Let us know in the comments.
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37 comments on this article
another one. yay.
Another one?!
"Enjoy your victory lap as you proudly display the model in pole position"
Comedy gold right here.
The model looks pretty decent overall, but I'm shocked they're still using the same width of tyre for all four wheels on these big Technic models.
Another one?! (applies to both comment and car)
Finally an original idea at a cheap price with all printed parts and a lot of exciting functions. Oh, wait...
What has Technic come to? Formula 1 cars or supercars without almost any functions make up seemingly 80 % of the yearly lineups. Incredibly boring stuff from TLG.
I'm going to start getting Deja Vu...
“Something something price, blah blah another F1 car, yadda yadda stickers, tyres”.
I think I’ve covered the standard Brickset comments, so we don’t need to repeat any of the above anymore.
I probably said this last year and appreciate design schedules, and the secrecy of new sponsors / designs but they always seem to release an F1 set days before the new season where if they wanted to McLaren could rock up in a Bright Pink car, that looks nothing like last years. New regs this year will probably mean a new overall look too. Surely they could release at least before the end of the current season?
@chrisaw said:
"“Something something price, blah blah another F1 car, yadda yadda stickers, tyres”.
I think I’ve covered the standard Brickset comments, so we don’t need to repeat any of the above anymore."
I feel very tempted to paraphrase you in tomorrow's set reveal.
To be fair most Technic cars since the car chassis only had suspension and gear box as functional elements. Blurb mentions can activate DRS (drag reduction system) wing flap which adds something else even though being phased out this season. Just patiently awaiting the return of medium sized construction or agricultural vehicles.
Ok, that will take some time to think about. Do I need another Mclaren Technic car. But this one is in my opinion way more detailed and beautifull compared to the model of 2022 (42141).
Still would have liked it more when they did an Aston Martin, or a Williams technic car.
@chrisaw said:
"“Something something price, blah blah another F1 car, yadda yadda stickers, tyres”.
I think I’ve covered the standard Brickset comments, so we don’t need to repeat any of the above anymore."
You forgot to complain about the box art.
1,675 pieces
$229.99 / £199.99 / €229.99
for a Technic set, consisting of 30% pins.
Youvegottabekiddingme...
(Oh yeah, I'm that guy)
@GrizBe said:
" @chrisaw said:
"“Something something price, blah blah another F1 car, yadda yadda stickers, tyres”.
I think I’ve covered the standard Brickset comments, so we don’t need to repeat any of the above anymore."
You forgot to complain about the box art. "
There is none.
Respect the complaints about the complaints. However, both types of complaints are clearly relevant and carry their weight.
Other than - obviously - not buying sets one does not like, how else - beyond complaining - should someone who hopes for change regarding future Technic lineups voice their concern?
@chrisaw said:
"“Something something price, blah blah another F1 car, yadda yadda stickers, tyres”.
I think I’ve covered the standard Brickset comments, so we don’t need to repeat any of the above anymore."
If TLG keeps doing the same ol' thing over and over ad infinitum, so will I.
So, to that effect...
...oh look, another car.
Car!!
Game off.
Smart move going for last years car instead of gambling (and failing) on the new design. And the obvious choice considering the MCL39 won both the World Constructors' Championship (by a landslide) and the World Drivers' Championship (barely). That said, that makes it all the more disappointing they don't include appropriate stickers for both of the drivers. And obviously they should have asked Lando and Oscar for those lifestyle pictures ;-)
As for the set itself.....nothing new here, which unfortunately also means still the same issues.
@ulibu said:
"1,675 pieces
$229.99 / £199.99 / €229.99
for a Technic set, consisting of 30% pins.
Youvegottabekiddingme...
(Oh yeah, I'm that guy)"
But hey, at least those pins come in nice bright colors!
F1 tyre widths were 305mm at the front and 405mm at the back in 2025. So, at 1:8 they should be 38mm at the front and 50mm at the back. A very noticeable difference, and inexcusable given the price of the set.
It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
What is the normal flagship Technic set for this year? I hope it is something exciting!
@bigGQ23 said:
"It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
"
I don't know if it's funny or sad, but Lego gave the 42223 MkII wider rear tires with narrow front tires
Yawn.
Wake me up when Technic starts yielding actually interesting sets again.
@AustinPowers said:
"Yawn.
Wake me up when Technic starts yielding actually interesting sets again. "
I fear you'll be asleep for a while...
Another one?!?
Those cars are all nice and good by themselves - and it probably looks pretty cool to have them all side by side with maybe their smaller 'system' counterpart beside. But this can most likely only apply for a very hard core aficionado. Most people (I guess) will get their favourite one and spend their Lego money on something else - no lack of choice nowadays.
As nice and well done as they may be, they do not bring much in terms of new 'technical' knowledge for long term Technic fans. When 8458 came out, I was excited to learn how they could cram the suspension at the front. That mechanism has not changed since and while there is nothing new for me/us here, we also have to recognize that every year, there is a new batch of kids reaching the age where this is right up their alley.
I believe the frustration (at least mine) does not come from a product which I/we have no interest in but rather from the fact that the range produce very little variety. I bought a few Technic sets here and there in recent years but the last good/desirable/interesting Technic set I own is from 2015 (42043). I did enjoy 42100 to some degree but there is little mechanical function in it as most motors are directly connected to an actuator. 42145 was also interesting to some degree but the cyclic controls were so embedded into the chassis that it was hard to understand the concept just by looking. Once the whole thing runs, it is hard to see what it does (Sariel did a good video showing what really happens).
In my view (and I believe it is shared by many) Lego can do as many car as they please but they should also produce at least one large and very interesting piece of machinery per year. It does not even have to be a vehicle. 42221 seems to be very popular. I also said many time that Technic could easily do a GBC module once or twice a year and that would probably teach quite a few mechanical concepts.
Despite the repetition, considered on its own this does look good to me and it does make sense to produce it as a coda to last year's F1 bonanza. If I can find this on deep discount I may consider getting it.
@bigGQ23 said:
"It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
"
It's the 5th actually.....at least they now have slicks, and are based on actual cars.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @bigGQ23 said:
"It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
"
It's the 5th actually.....at least they now have slicks, and are based on actual cars."
8458(nl), 8461, 42000(nl), 42141, 42171, 42206, 42207, 42228
*nl: not licensed
It is not possible that there is a greater customer base for F1 cars than construction vehicles, which seemed to be the staple large Technic release for years?
@HOBBES said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @bigGQ23 said:
"It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
"
It's the 5th actually.....at least they now have slicks, and are based on actual cars."
8458 (nl), 8461 , 42000 (nl), 42141 , 42171 , 42206 , 42207 , 42228
*nl: not licensed"
Ah yes, forgot about the oldies....I stand corrected.
@ShinyBidoof said:
"It is not possible that there is a greater customer base for F1 cars than construction vehicles, which seemed to be the staple large Technic release for years?"
There probably is, but the construction vehicles tended to include features and systems like pneumatics (or at this price, remote control/battery features). This doesn't really do anything.
And for my own comment: Great idea for a set but absolutely terrible execution from TLG. For the price it should have the correct tyres at the very least, and you'd hope the parts would be printed...
Another F1 car.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @HOBBES said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @bigGQ23 said:
"It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
"
It's the 5th actually.....at least they now have slicks, and are based on actual cars."
8458 (nl), 8461 , 42000 (nl), 42141 , 42171 , 42206 , 42207 , 42228
*nl: not licensed"
Ah yes, forgot about the oldies....I stand corrected."
Well, to be fair, 8461 is not a Technic set per se, it is somehow classified as a 'Racers'. We all knew what you meant.
@Huw said:
" @AustinPowers said:
"Yawn.
Wake me up when Technic starts yielding actually interesting sets again. "
I fear you'll be asleep for a while..."
Quite likely.
Thankfully I still have plenty of unbuilt Technic sets from better times.
I'm particularly looking forward to these:
853, 8851, 8862, 8868, 8480, 42040, 42053, 42055, 42069, 42078, 42097
@HOBBES said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @HOBBES said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @bigGQ23 said:
"It's insane to me that this is Lego's 3rd licensed f1 car at this scale, and they still can't bring themselves to make proper rear tires. I like this car but i want it to be accurate
"
It's the 5th actually.....at least they now have slicks, and are based on actual cars."
8458 (nl), 8461 , 42000 (nl), 42141 , 42171 , 42206 , 42207 , 42228
*nl: not licensed"
Ah yes, forgot about the oldies....I stand corrected."
Well, to be fair, 8461 is not a Technic set per se, it is somehow classified as a 'Racers'. We all knew what you meant."
They should reintroduce the Racers theme......would fit most of the current sets much better than Technic.