# McLaren MP4/23 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes No. 22 Lewis Hamilton Brazilian GP World Champion 2008 Rain Tyres Minichamps 1:18

> A die-cast 1:18 scale model car replicating Hamilton's championship-winning MP4/23 at Interlagos 2008, fitted with the rain tyres that proved decisive on the final lap.

The McLaren MP4/23 carried race number 22 for Lewis Hamilton throughout the entire 2008 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. Powered by the Mercedes-Benz FO 108V 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8, the car wore the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes silver-and-red livery — one of the most recognisable schemes in early 21st-century grand prix racing. This Minichamps replica captures a very specific moment: the Brazilian Grand Prix specification, complete with rain tyres.

## The McLaren MP4/23: McLaren's 2008 Formula 1 Challenger

The MP4/23 proved competitive across a full season. The Mercedes-Benz FO 108V 2.4-litre V8 sat within a chassis that Hamilton and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen developed through 2008. Hamilton's No. 22 car accumulated 98 championship points across the season — one more than Ferrari's Felipe Massa — in one of the closest title contests in the sport's history.

## Interlagos, 2 November 2008: Final Lap, Final Point

At the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Hamilton required a fifth-place finish or better to take the championship. Rain returned in the closing laps; with two laps to go Sebastian Vettel passed Hamilton, dropping him to sixth. On the final lap Timo Glock, who had stayed on dry-weather tyres, lost grip and Hamilton passed him in the last corners to retake fifth, and the title was decided by a single point. At 23 years and 300 days old, Hamilton became the youngest Formula 1 World Champion at the time. The rain-tyre configuration on this model is a direct reference to those closing minutes.

## Minichamps 1:18 Die-Cast: Open-Wheel Benchmark

Produced by Minichamps, this 1:18 scale model car is die-cast in metal, consistent with the German manufacturer's long-standing approach to Formula 1 replicas at this scale. The fitment of rain tyres rather than slicks makes this a distinct Brazilian GP specification, reflecting the wet conditions that defined the race's outcome. The Vodafone silver-and-red livery and No. 22 race number are reproduced across the bodywork.

## Details

- **Price:** 180.9 EUR
- **Vendor:** MINICHAMPS
- **Type:** RACING CARS
- **Tags:** 1:18, ai-foto, ai-published, F1, MCLAREN, MINICHAMPS, NEWF1NEW

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 180.90 EUR | In stock |

## Images

- McLaren MP4/23 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes No. 22 Lewis Hamilton Brazilian GP World Champion 2008 Rain Tyres Minichamps 1:18 scale model - front three-quarter view
- McLaren MP4/23 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes No. 22 Lewis Hamilton Brazilian GP World Champion 2008 Rain Tyres Minichamps 1:18 scale model - rear three-quarter view
- McLaren MP4/23 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes No. 22 Lewis Hamilton Brazilian GP World Champion 2008 Rain Tyres Minichamps 1:18 scale model - side view
- McLaren MP4/23 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes No. 22 Lewis Hamilton Brazilian GP World Champion 2008 Rain Tyres Minichamps 1:18 scale model - original packaging

---

> Source: [Vroomi](https://vroomimodels.com/products/mclaren-lewis-hamilton-f1-mp4-23-team-vodafone-mclaren-mercedes-n-22-world-champion-brazilian-gp-with-rain-tires-2008-silver-red)
> Updated: 2026-10-29