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The Ultimate Fantasy Garage: Road Cars from the F1 Track
The Ultimate Fantasy Garage: Browse the Road Cars of Ferrari, McLaren, and F1’s Elite.
Last updated: 5 December 2025
That high-octane thrill of watching the Formula 1 season never truly fades, does it? Whether the chequered flag is waving this weekend or we're running old highlights on repeat, that need for speed is always there. We get it—the pursuit of absolute performance is addictive.
The legendary manufacturers that dominate the F1 grid have poured decades of racing excellence into their road cars. We’ve picked five legendary marques that you can admire from right here in Aotearoa that offer a slice of that pure speed experience.
Let's check out the brands that let you revel in the heritage and fulfil your need for speed.
1. The Red Tide of Passion: Ferrari
The F1 Team Vibe: Ferrari is Formula 1. The Scuderia Ferrari team embodies passion, drama, and history, holding the record for the most titles in F1 history. When you see that iconic red, you see generations of racing authority. Their F1 heritage is all about a screaming engine and a relentless pursuit of speed, often driven by the passion of the Tifosi (their fans).
The Road Car: From the sleek lines of a classic 308 to the visceral power of a modern SF90, every model is a testament to the engineering dedication honed on the track. They are ultimate collector items and stunning examples of performance art—it’s pure escapism just to browse the listings and admire the lineage.
2. The Kiwi connection: McLaren
The F1 Team Vibe: Founded by the legendary Bruce McLaren right here in Aotearoa, the team is the ultimate story of Kiwi grit, ingenuity, and a refusal to give up. McLaren Racing is known for its technical brilliance, famous papaya livery, and a dedication to super-lightweight design. Their F1 team is all about speed and pushing the limits of meticulous engineering.
The Road Car: McLaren cars are often built around a carbon-fibre MonoCell (just like their F1 racers) to ensure maximum stiffness and minimum weight. This focus on super-light construction and incredible aerodynamics is a direct descendant of the principles that have won them multiple championships. They are the ultimate expression of Kiwi-born racing precision, as the brand pays homage to its roots with the contemporary, stylized “Speedy Kiwi” logo on every car.
3. The Hybrid Powerhouse: Mercedes-Benz
The F1 Team Vibe: Since returning to the sport, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team has become the most dominant force of the hybrid era, setting records for consecutive championships. Their team is a technical juggernaut, famous for its 'Silver Arrows' and its commitment to groundbreaking power unit development. They represent precision, clinical execution, and relentless innovation.
The Road Car: These high-performance machines showcase the influence of their racing division, with efficient, hyper-responsive engines and sophisticated suspension systems designed to manage unbelievable power. They embody a strategic, winning mindset, translating track dominance into road presence.
4. The Rising Star: Aston Martin
The F1 Team Vibe: The Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team is all about a return to the top tier. The brand has deep ties to racing, but the modern team is the ultimate luxury underdog, aiming to take on the established giants. They embody a forward-looking commitment to success, wrapped in that iconic British Racing Green—a truly classic look with modern determination.
The Road Car: Aston Martin has always been the marque of refined power and sophisticated design. Their road cars manage to be both high-performance sports cars and luxurious GT cruisers. The current F1 team's focus on efficiency and high-level chassis design is flowing directly into the stunning, high-powered road line-up. They are the perfect blend of racing heart and grand touring style.
5. Joie de vivre: Alpine
The F1 Team Vibe: A subsidiary of French Car giant, Renault, the Alpine F1 team builds on many past seasons of technical excellence as an engine manufacturer and focuses on their aggressive engineering approach for the A524 chassis, with a complete overhaul of almost every component and a particularly assertive redesign of the chassis and rear suspension to improve aerodynamic performance and low-speed grip.
The Road Car: Alpine's road cars are a celebration of the joy of driving. Benefiting on the brand's founding principles of lightness, agility, and a competitive spirit, the current hero is the A110, which uses a lightweight aluminum chassis and body to prioritize exceptional handling and an engaging driving experience over raw horsepower.
Whether you're celebrating a historic win, or simply enjoying the engineering beauty of a perfectly designed machine, the spirit of the F1 paddock is right here in Aotearoa.
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