Ferrari 488 Pista vs McLaren 750S Drag Race 2025: The Ultimate Speed Showdown
Supercar enthusiasts love one question — Which is faster: Ferrari or McLaren? In 2025, this burning question was answered on a real runway, where a tuned Ferrari 488 Pista Spider faced the mighty McLaren 750S Spider in an epic quarter-mile drag race, followed by rolling and brake tests.
Let’s dive into the complete review, performance results, and the unexpected twist that made this battle unforgettable.
⚙️ Engine and Performance Overview
Both supercars represent the pinnacle of design and engineering — but one hides a serious secret under the hood.
🔧 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider (Tuned)
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.9L Twin-Turbo V8 |
| Power | 920 HP (after upgrades) |
| Torque | 870 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Weight | 1,485 kg |
| Value | £400,000 |
| Upgrades | New turbos, ECU tune, downpipes (£17,000 total) |
The Ferrari’s factory tune delivers 720 hp, but this one is heavily modified — producing a monstrous 920 horsepower. It’s lighter, aggressive, and visually stunning.
⚙️ McLaren 750S Spider
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 |
| Power | 750 HP |
| Torque | 800 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Weight | 1,438 kg |
| Price | From £277,000 |
Despite being stock, the McLaren 750S Spider is lighter and more aerodynamic. It’s a direct evolution of the 720S, with sharper response and refined aerodynamics for better launch performance.
🔥 Sound Test and Setup Drama
Before the race, both cars went through a sound check. Surprisingly, both twin-turbo V8s produced very similar tones — aggressive yet refined.
The Ferrari driver, however, faced a technical nightmare — its launch control button malfunctioned due to a previous coffee spill that jammed the switch. Multiple fixes were attempted, from unplugging keys to cleaning the button with adhesive — nothing worked perfectly. When the Ferrari’s gearbox fault finally appeared, it looked like the Italian supercar was in real trouble before the race even started.
🚀 Roof Race: Just for Fun
Before the drag race, both drivers tested how quickly their convertible roofs could retract.
Result: The McLaren 750S won easily — proving even its roof operates faster!
🏁 Quarter-Mile Drag Race Results
Despite the Ferrari’s immense power advantage, its launch control wouldn’t engage, forcing a manual brake-boost launch.
| Car | Power | Launch Control | Quarter-Mile Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari 488 Pista (920 HP) | 920 HP | ❌ Disabled | 10.8 seconds | ❌ Lost |
| McLaren 750S | 750 HP | ✅ Enabled | 10.44 seconds | ✅ Winner |
Even with less power, the McLaren 750S Spider stormed past the Ferrari thanks to a flawless launch and precise traction. The Ferrari’s boost power couldn’t overcome the poor start.
⚡ Rolling Race (50 mph Test)
To remove the launch control issue, a rolling race from 50 mph in 3rd gear was organized.
| Car | Gear | Start Speed | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari 488 Pista | 3rd | 50 mph | ❌ Lost (barely) |
| McLaren 750S | 3rd | 50 mph | ✅ Winner (by small margin) |
The McLaren pulled slightly ahead at higher speeds, though the Ferrari gained momentum near 7,000 rpm — proving its mid-range boost was extremely strong.
🛑 Brake Test Results
Both supercars then performed an emergency brake test from high speed. Despite nearly identical performance, the McLaren stopped slightly shorter, securing another narrow victory.
Result: McLaren 750S wins by a fraction of a meter.
🧩 Why the Ferrari Struggled
- Launch Control Malfunction: The button was jammed, preventing the car from using its optimized acceleration program.
- ECU GPS Link Issue: The tuned ECU possibly relied on GPS input, and poor signal made it think the car was already moving. Hence, it refused to engage launch mode.
This explains why the Ferrari couldn’t unleash its full potential during the drag race.
🏆 Second Battle: McLaren 750S vs Tuned McLaren 720S (1115 HP)
To continue the showdown, the 750S faced a tuned McLaren 720S producing an astonishing 1,115 horsepower.
Tuned McLaren 720S Specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 |
| Power | 1,115 HP |
| Torque | 1,315 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed DCT |
| Weight | 1,419 kg |
| Performance Mods | Fully built engine by MSL Performance |
🔥 720S vs 750S Quarter-Mile Results
| Car | Power | Quarter-Mile Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren 720S (Tuned) | 1,115 HP | 9.9 seconds | ✅ Winner |
| McLaren 750S (Stock) | 750 HP | 10.2 seconds | ❌ Lost |
The 1,115-horsepower 720S blasted through the line nearly 0.3 seconds faster, proving just how effective extreme tuning can be.
⚡ Rolling Race: 720S vs 750S
| Start Speed | Gear | 720S Top Speed | 750S Top Speed | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 2nd | 188 mph | 168 mph | 720S ✅ |
| 50 mph | 3rd | 166 mph | 158 mph | 720S ✅ |
Even in rolling conditions, the tuned 720S out-accelerated its newer sibling with brutal force.
🛑 Brake Test Between the Two McLarens
Despite its extreme power, the 720S managed to stop almost on par with the lighter 750S. The difference was minimal — proving both cars have outstanding braking systems.
🧠 Final Verdict
| Test | Winner |
|---|---|
| Roof Race | McLaren 750S |
| Quarter-Mile (Ferrari vs 750S) | McLaren 750S |
| Rolling Race (Ferrari vs 750S) | McLaren 750S |
| Brake Test (Ferrari vs 750S) | McLaren 750S |
| Quarter-Mile (720S vs 750S) | Tuned McLaren 720S |
| Rolling Race (720S vs 750S) | Tuned McLaren 720S |
🏁 Conclusion: Speed, Style, and Reliability
The 2025 supercar showdown revealed more than just horsepower numbers:
- The McLaren 750S proved that smart engineering and lighter weight can beat raw power.
- The Ferrari 488 Pista demonstrated incredible mid-range acceleration but suffered from tuning-related reliability issues.
- The Tuned McLaren 720S showed what happens when precision meets extreme power — achieving sub-10-second quarter-mile times.
In the end, the McLarens dominated the races overall, but the Ferrari remains the emotional favorite — a symbol of style, sound, and pure Italian passion.
⭐ Key Takeaways
- The Ferrari 488 Pista (920 HP) struggled with electronics despite immense power.
- The McLaren 750S delivered consistent, reliable performance.
- The Tuned 720S (1,115 HP) became the fastest of them all, running a 9.87-second quarter-mile.
- Sometimes, technology and traction beat brute force.
Md Imran Rahimi is the founder and main author of TechScopeHub.in. He is passionate about technology, gadgets, and automobiles, and loves to share simple yet valuable insights with readers. With a focus on honest reviews and clear comparisons, Imran’s goal is to make technology easy and useful for everyone.”