For McLaren, the P1 represented a watershed moment in the history of the company.

Having just returned to road-car production with their spectacular MP4-12C sports car, McLaren was poised to produce a “new F1”—a car that would proudly reaffirm the company’s place in the upper echelon of ultra-exclusive, high-performance marques.

Staying true to its roots, McLaren sought to keep weight to an absolute minimum, which resulted in the development of a carbon monocoque chassis that tipped the scales at only 200 pounds.

The unique carbon-ceramic disc brakes, developed in conjunction with Akebono, are infused with silicon-carbide to help dissipate heat and are capable of absorbing 50 percent more energy than those on the MP4-12C.

Adding to the effectiveness of the brakes, the McLaren P1 utilizes Brake Steer.

This system applies the brakes to the car’s inside-rear wheel when cornering above a certain threshold, which brings the P1’s nose closer to the apex.

While the combustion engine sup...