McLaren MCL39 wins Autosport’s Competition Car of the Year Award

The McLaren MCL39 has been voted the 2025 Autosport Competition Car of the Year.

McLaren’s last ground-effect Formula 1 challenger was the car to beat in 2025, taking 14 grand prix wins and 13 pole positions. McLaren won the constructors’ championship and Lando Norris took his first drivers’ title, with team-mate Oscar Piastri third in the points.

Motorsport readers have voted the Mercedes-powered MCL39 as the best car of 2025, ahead of its F1 rivals the Mercedes F1 W16 and Red Bull RB21, the Ferrari 499P that won the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship, Porsche’s IMSA SportsCar Championship-winning 963 and the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 that won 12 of the 14 rounds in the World Rally Championship.

McLaren’s victory was announced at the star-studded 38th Autosport Awards at London’s Roundhouse on 21 January.

It is the second time in succession that McLaren has scooped the Competition Car of the Year, following the 2024 MCL38’s win, and ninth time in total.

Other categories decided by fan voting include Driver of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Moment of the Year presented by Bahrain International Circuit, Rally Driver of the Year and British Competition Driver of the Year. As well as Team of the Year, the other new prize voted for by fans is Creator of the Year.

Further awards, decided by expert judging panels, include the Pioneering and Innovation Award, Promoter of the Year and Brand Partnership of the Year.

To find out who our other award winners are go to motorsport.com/awards