McLaren MP4/20

Hand-airbrushed by Rafael García Cano, Fernando Alonso’s official helmet painter between 1999 and 2009, this piece replicates the 2005 McLaren MP4-20, a car renowned for its speed and fragility. In a year of tougher regulations—engines had to last two race weekends and tyre changes during races were banned—McLaren introduced a new chassis with a flat nose, short wheelbase, and the distinctive “horn wings” behind the air intake. Its Mercedes-Ilmor FO110R V10 engine, combined with Michelin tyres, made it the fastest car of the year. Designed by Adrian Newey, Mike Coughlan, and Peter Prodromou, the MP4-20 won 10 races — 7 with Räikkönen and 3 with Montoya — and took 7 pole positions, but reliability let it down. Renault prevailed through consistency, leaving McLaren second. Even so, the MP4-20 is remembered as the fastest single-seater of 2005 and a masterpiece of modern aerodynamics.