McLaren F1 Restomod Reimagined With Modern Aero And Hybrid Power By Sabino Leerentveld

• Hybrid powertrain delivers 950 hp in V12 with electric motor

• Advanced aero creates 1,050 kg of downforce for track-racing capability

• A Considerate Update to the McLaren F1 by designer Sabino Leerentveld

A New Take on a Legend

Revisiting the McLaren F1 is no easy task. More than 30 years after its debut, the car is still regarded as one of the greatest ever built. That makes it a risky canvas for reinterpretation, but Dutch designer Sabino Leerentveld, digital creator and Chief Designer at Sabinodesign, has taken on the challenge with a restomod concept that feels both ambitious and respectful.

Subtle but Comprehensive Design Changes

The project was initiated as a side project. Having worked in automotive design and body kits for years, Leerentveld wanted to see what would happen if the McLaren F1 were updated to modern aero and technology. "It was just an exercise," he says. "I wanted to see what a specced-out McLaren F1 would look like if I strapped modern aero to it. We tweaked pretty much everything."

From a distance, the shape is recognizable, but nearly every surface has been redone. The front bumper has been resculpted into a multi-piece Formula 1-style wing, added to by ducts, bonnet vents, and enormous openings behind the wheels. Widerbody fenders increase the track out by 150 mm front and rear, with subtle side vents providing extra cooling to the enhanced powertrain. In back, there's an even larger diffuser, engine cover vents, and a ducktail spoiler with DRS that manage airflow. Even the details — mirrors, lighting, and trim — have been updated.

Hybrid Powertrain With Supercar Numbers

Weight has been minimized to 1,200 kilograms, an incredible 150 kg lighter than the initial version. Power comes from a hybrid setup that pairs naturally aspirated V12 power of 700 hp with an electric motor offering 250 hp, for a total of 950 hp. The reward is uninhibited performance: 0–100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, 360 km/h top speed, and more than 1,050 kg of downforce from the new aero package.

A Balanced Restomod Design Approach

This McLaren F1 restomod idea eschews extremes. It doesn't stretch the proportions or go fantasy, rather considering what the car would look like if it was designed now. Leerentveld confesses a lot of the work is subtle: "You can hardly see it in the photographs, but we altered nearly everything." That restraint makes the design feel like an evolution, not a replacement, updating the legend without losing its DNA.

While still a cyber exercise, the project illustrates how freelance designers can move automobile culture forward. By merging hybrid power, modern aero, and more efficient construction into one of the most honored vehicles ever made, Sabino Leerentveld has proven that restomods can be progressive without forgetting their heritage.

Connect with Sabino Leerentveld

To explore more of  Sabino Leerentveld’s work, including ongoing projects and portfolio highlights, you can follow or connect with him on the following platforms:

Sabino Leerentveld

Instagram

Behance 

Full gallery featuring the Mclaren F1 restomoded digitally by Sabino Leerentveld can be found at the end of this article. 

Disclaimer

These projects are creative explorations by young car designers. In some cases, they were developed independently, while in others they were created with guidance or mentorship from OEM design studios, such as during internships. Unless otherwise noted, they are not official works of the manufacturers or studios involved.

DailyRevs does not claim credit for the vision or effort behind these projects and receives no financial compensation for publishing them. Each feature is shared with the consent of the designer following direct outreach and agreement. We also welcome submissions from designers who wish to be featured, provided the quality of the work meets our editorial standards.