AdminAs Formula 1’s merchandising onslaught continues (I’m seeing branded merchandise at Costco these days), longtime partner Lego has announced new sets featuring the cars of all 10 F1 teams – a product first. That in itself is remarkable, but the vehicles themselves are not just copies with different colors and stickers. Each racing car actually has different aerodynamic components.
During the product announcement, F1 presenter Will Buxton was unexpectedly but pleasantly impressed by the level of detail of Lego sets that don’t cost as much as a games console. In an Instagram video posted by Lego superfan @GirlBricksALot, Buxton points out the differences that may go unnoticed by new F1 fans.
“Wherever you start, it’s different,” Buxton said as he surveyed the entire set. “Look at the floor fences of the Mercedes compared to the Ferrari compared to the McLaren – completely different.”
Buxton then sees the design of the side pods between those same cars. Comparing the Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull cars, both cars have overbites, but in the Red Bull the design goes wide, “sliding to a rear pinch point” at the rear haunches of the vehicle.
“With the Mercedes it drops straight down and you have the engine fin, while with the Red Bull you don’t have that,” he said. “Also take a look. DRS activator? Completely different for both cars.”
Again, this isn’t a $100+ Technic kit that can contain thousands of parts, but a Speed Champions model that retails for $26.99 and contains less than 300 parts.
And every time Buxton looks at the next car, he notices something new.
“Then you go to Ferrari, and unlike Mercedes you have the undercut here [and a] There is a whole different sidepod design going on,” he said. “And you have side impact structures on the McLaren.”
All new sets in the Lego x Formula 1 collection will go on sale in early 2025. City and DUPLO sets will be available from January 1, followed by the surprisingly accurate Speed Champions sets on March 1 and Collectibles on May 1.
However, the Lego Speed Champions are already available for pre-order in select regions, including the US. And at such an affordable price, you can get your hands on the complete F1 Speed Champions set (actually two) for less than a Liebherr Crawler Crane. That’s more than enough cars to make your own Drive to survive storylines on your living room floor. With the children of course.
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