LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM review

76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM is the jewel in the LEGO Speed Champions 2023 crown, and one half of the two-pack stands head and shoulders above the rest.

LEGO Speed Champions’ lengthy lifespan means that the core foundations of its vehicles have become familiar, despite the transition from six-studs-wide to eight-studs-wide cars in recent years. However, half of 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM throws everything you know about LEGO Speed Champions to the side, completely reinventing the theme with one of its best vehicles yet.

76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM manages to keep things interesting for the theme, though one of the cars in this double pack is undoubtedly more intriguing than the other.

— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM set details —

Theme: LEGO Speed Champions Set name: 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM Release: March 1, 2023

Price: £39.99 / $34.99 / €44.99 Pieces: 581 Minifigures: 2

LEGO: Available now

— Where to buy LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM —

As with most previous LEGO Speed Champions double packs, 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM should be available from a wide range of retailers. Check out the latest deals below.

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— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM build —

The new LEGO McLaren Solus GT is an incredibly unique and captivating build (as promised). Completely eschewing most standards for LEGO Speed Champions cars from the chassis to the interior, the McLaren Solus GT has some especially interesting angles and shapes as a concept car (based on a design created for Gran Turismo Sport), and the design team have excellently captured them in the model.

Making use of all kinds of notable techniques, the LEGO McLaren Solus GT doesn’t just feel like a LEGO set when putting it together, but a puzzle that challenges you and draws your attention with every step. When complete, the LEGO McLaren Solus GT is near perfect, not relying on stickers too much for those who prefer to leave them off. Every angle of the LEGO car is interesting to look at and you’ll find yourself constantly finding something new after putting it together.

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The mix of colours is vibrant and eye-catching, and everything in this creation combines perfectly to create easily the most interesting vehicle of the LEGO Speed Champions 2023 range and one not to miss. There’s even a video game controller in the cockpit instead of a standard steering wheel element, just like the concept design. The build will take some patience to finish, but the result is well worth it.

Comparatively, the McLaren F1 LM is a lot less interesting, using standard LEGO Speed Champions techniques. However, these tried-and-tested methods work well and there are a few notable twists in the other half of 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM.

Take, for instance, the paddle embedded into the side of the car and the moving spoiler held in place with a simple but effective method. Combine that with the good shaping throughout and it doesn’t disappoint, though it struggles to stand up to the other half of 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM.

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The interior of the real McLaren F1 LM isn’t your usual arrangement and that’s matched in the LEGO version, with the driver’s seat in the middle and two seats to either side and a bit back.

Considering the limited room available, the LEGO Speed Champions design team’s efforts to recreate this unique seating arrangement are admirable – but there’s no chance of fitting more than one minifigure in. It’s still a great detail and one that focuses on looks rather than functionality, playing to the strengths of this double pack.

The two cars are excellent picks for a LEGO Speed Champions double pack, but the Solus GT is easily the highlight of the set compared to the F1 LM, and it’s not even close.

— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM characters —

There are two minifigures in 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM, one for each car. They’re welcome additions but by no means the focus of the set. They’ll likely end up sitting in the cars once built and for that purpose, they work excellently.

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The McLaren branding is a nice touch but one we’ve come to expect from most LEGO Speed Champions minifigures. The inclusion of two helmets helps keep the minifigures safe and offers an extra level of customisation, but there’s not much more to be said. The minifigures are fine but as is the norm for LEGO Speed Champions (apart from the sets based on movies), they’re ultimately forgettable compared to the builds.

— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM price —

The pricing and value of 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM differs per region at £39.99 / $34.99 / €44.99. That’s noticeably cheaper in the US than last year’s equivalent set, 76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which came in at $44.99. Thankfully, 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM sticks to the usual pricing structure for LEGO Speed Champions double packs in other territories, when it could have easily been a bit more expensive for the entertainment value and quality of the build.

While the Solus GT is by far the better of the two cars in 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM, both cars are high quality in terms of their detail, size, vibrant colours and unique nature compared to other LEGO Speed Champions sets. At the RRP, you won’t be disappointed at all with 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM.

— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM pictures —

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— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM pros and cons —

There’s no doubt about it, 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM is the best and biggest LEGO Speed Champions set in the early 2023 selection. We’d consider paying three quarters of the RRP for the Solus GT on its own (it’s just that good), but the addition of the McLaren F1 LM is welcome too.

The LEGO Solus GT was likely not an easy model to design, being based on a concept. However, from the building experience alone it’s easy to tell that a great many hours have gone into its impeccable assembly. Its only flaw is being a bit finicky to put together at times, though we can’t argue with the amazing result.

The McLaren F1 LM, meanwhile, falls a bit flat compared to the incredibly unique Solus GT. It’s still fulfilling and worthwhile as a new LEGO Speed Champions car with interesting details and a twist in the seating arrangement, but it’s ultimately overshadowed by its fellow McLaren. Which only really speaks to how good the Solus is…

76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM pros	76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM cons
Engaging and challenging build experience	The Solus GT takes some patience to build, but the result is worth it
The LEGO Solus GT is the crown jewel of Speed Champions in 2023	The Solus GT is a lot more interesting than the McLaren F1 LM
Thoughtful details and interesting approaches to designs difficult to replicate at this scale
The Solus GT is a rare kind of LEGO Speed Champions vehicle

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group. 

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— Alternatives to LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM —

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There’s no LEGO Speed Champions double pack quite like 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM, thanks in no small part to the Solus GT. However, we’d posit that both 76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and 76909 Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance & Mercedes-AMG Project One are comparable in price, though the former is more expensive in the US.

For much less in all regions and as an alternative to just the Solus GT, we found that 76916 Porsche 963 had a similarly enjoyable building experience to the standout vehicle in 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM, and the shaping of the two are alike as well.

— LEGO Speed Champions 76918 McLaren Solus GT & McLaren F1 LM FAQs —