It’s been over a decade since McLaren kicked off P1 production, and it feels like the perfect moment for a new chapter. McLaren recently shared a video featuring employees waxing lyrical about the F1 and P1, paying homage to what makes these machines so special. And then, right at the end, a flash of numbers: October 6th, 14:00 BST. Will we finally see the successor to the P1? Even if it’s just a glimpse or a cryptic teaser, we’re certainly getting something to whet our hypercar appetites.

Rumours suggest McLaren has already previewed this hypercar code-named P18 to select dealers earlier this year. The big news? A hybrid V8 powertrain is in development, set to replace the twin-turbo V8 that’s been in the McLaren family since the MP4-12C’s debut back in 2011. The P1 successor will also usher in a fresh design language hints of which McLaren teased earlier this year.

Back in 2012, the P1 redefined what a hybrid hypercar could be. Alongside the Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari LaFerrari, it formed part of the 'Holy Trinity' of hybrid performance cars. With a hybrid twin-turbo V8 that cranked out a staggering 674 kW and 900 Nm of torque, combined with a featherweight carbon-fibre body tipping the scales at just 1,510 kg, the P1 was an absolute monster. And that’s before we even mention its sophisticated hydraulic cross-linked suspension and active aerodynamics, which together made the P1 a genuine weapon on track and road. Over a decade later, it remains one of the fastest cars on the planet.

McLaren has dabbled in hypercars since, with the Senna, Speedtail, and Elva, but none have shaken the earth quite like the P1 or the F1 before it. With its newest '1' car, McLaren aims to rekindle that magic.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s rivals aren’t sitting idle. Porsche has dropped hints of its next hypercar, an all-electric weapon previewed by the Mission X concept. Ferrari, too, has something in the works another hybrid hypercar destined to keep enthusiasts guessing. The race to replace legends is well and truly on, and all three marques have big shoes to fill.