After a 26-year wait, McLaren has finally reclaimed the F1 Constructors' Championship and returned to the top of the sport!
To celebrate this monumental achievement, you might be wondering: Is there a cool McLaren brick set worth picking up?
Preferably something budget-friendly—under 1,000 yuan?
Look no further than this ultra-rare McLaren Sbare, with only 15 sets released globally!
Don’t worry, we’re not talking about the ¥21 million hypercar. This is the affordable brick version from SBARE’s latest release—the McLaren SPBRE P1 (based on the Sbare prototype)!
Product Overview
Brand: SBARE
Model Number: Y18001
Name: SBARE P1
Piece Count: 3862+
Recommended Age: 14+ (18+ strongly advised)
Material: ABS (matte black parts are painted)
Finished Dimensions: 59.5 × 23.3 × 15.5 cm
Scale: 1:8
Release Date: January 1, 2025
Price: ¥518
Unboxing: A Treat for Detail Fanatics
The packaging is sleek and minimal, with a two-piece box featuring only the SBARE logo and product number on the front. The back showcases the completed model for instant visual impact.
Though labeled as "14+," we highly recommend this for builders 18 and older—3862 parts and intricate mechanical systems make this a serious undertaking.
Inside, the components are split into Box A and Box B.
Box A includes bags 1–7 and several uniquely molded pieces.
Box B houses bags 8–10, four additional sealed parts bags, two soft hoses, and four wheels.
The Build: A Double Challenge for Hardcore Fans
Part Quality & Sorting
Packaging: Parts are sorted step-by-step—no mispacks or missing pieces.
Molding: Clean cuts with no flashing or warping. Moderate clutch power. A few axles and pin holes are tight-fitting, and distinguishing matte from gloss parts can be tricky.
Custom Molds: Exterior pieces like the wheel arches are newly molded for accuracy and easier building.
Stickers & Prints: Only one sheet of thick UV-coated stickers. Most details are printed—excellent quality here.
Instruction Manual
A highlight of the set. Nearly 500 pages, split into Book A and B.
Clear part and step labeling
1:1 scale comparisons for confusing pieces
The last 50 pages of Book B include modding guides for adding motorized functions
Building Experience
The SBARE P1 is not beginner-friendly. The static version alone takes 1,326 steps. Add another 30+ for the motorized version. Estimated build time: 30+ hours.
It starts with internal structures, so the early stages are especially tough—but it gets easier as you go.
Hell-Level Challenges
Mechanical Integration Zone: Highly complex. Missteps are costly. The front suspension handles steering, chassis lift, and door-opening—all at once. One wrong move, and you may need to rebuild from scratch.
Matte Part Confusion: Dark gray, matte black, and glossy black parts can be hard to distinguish. Pay close attention!
Carbon Fiber Elements: Structural parts like wheel axles are carbon fiber (with a distinct matte texture). Be extra careful during assembly.
Pro Tips:
Each major bag takes ~4 hours. Arm yourself with an industrial-grade part separator—and patience.
Test moving parts every 10 steps to avoid "undo everything" disasters.
Mechanical Functions: High Creativity, Needs Polish
4-Speed Gearbox
Compact and effective. Uses a petal-gear + cross-axle combo to switch between four gears. Good engine and rear axle linkage.
Issue: The motorized version’s gear switch can jam due to high resistance in the elastic band—consider replacing with a lower-tension one.
Chassis Lift
Operated via worm gear and gear mechanism. Height is adjustable but manually turning the gear (especially near the right triangle window) can be laborious. A rear input port offers a more convenient alternative.
Butterfly Doors
Shares a power source with the lift system. Toggle the side lever to switch between door and lift control.
However, the doors are a bit heavy and may be difficult to open—possibly due to long transmission paths or setup errors.
Steering
Classic gear-and-rack setup allows accurate front wheel turning. A smart limiter prevents oversteering—a thoughtful touch. Still, smoothness could be improved.
Power Inputs
Two manual input areas: near the right triangle window and the rear. Both are functional, but the triangle window input requires force. For ease, directly turn the input shaft inside the engine bay.
Final Build: A Mechanical Art Piece
Visually, the SBARE P1 looks stunning. The matte black finish, accented with orange blocks and blue lines, radiates energy and high-tech vibes.
The aerodynamic curves and side profiles—from the front to rear wheel arches—are impressively recreated.
The front diffuser and side air blades are detailed, although the model feels slightly less sharp than the real car’s razor-edge aesthetic. It leans more toward stability and coherence.
At the rear, the large spoiler, exhausts, and diffusers are faithfully rendered—even the number of diffuser blades matches the original.
Interior elements like the steering wheel, dashboard, center console, and gear shifter are finely done. Stickers look great too.
The tires aren’t newly molded but borrowed from the SP3 model. Combined with custom calipers and post-processing, the realism is solid.
Thanks to its 1:8 scale—standard for mechanical sets—it packs a rich feature set. Beyond working steering and engine linkage, it offers liftable chassis, opening butterfly doors, and more. Add motors for full remote control.
In real-world testing, the gearbox transitions smoothly across all four gears. Steering and suspension functions work reliably (see “Mechanical Functions” above for details).
Verdict: A Mechanical Masterpiece for Hardcore Builders
With 3862 pieces, SBARE’s P1 is a showcase of functional density. But its steep learning curve and some less-than-smooth features mean it's best suited for seasoned enthusiasts.
If you’re a diehard McLaren fan or a Technic fanatic, this is a must-buy for 2025.
If you prefer a smoother, beginner-friendly experience, wait for an optimized version.
Who It's For:
Devoted McLaren fans
Technic/mechanical set pros
Car model collectors
Who Should Skip:
New builders looking for smooth builds
Realists who dread rework
So… how many late nights would you trade for 3862 pieces of dark mechanical romance?