The Story of LEGO and Formula 1

I’m sure everyone’s heard about the LEGO Group’s new partnership with Formula 1. Formula 1, a rising trend worldwide in recent years, has managed to capture the attention not only of motorsport enthusiasts but of everyone. Boosted by Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary series, the sport seems to have also led the LEGO Group to take action.

Since last year, the LEGO Group has captured collectors’ attention with its various Formula 1 sets. Just last week, LEGO flooded us with more than 10 new Formula 1 themed models. However, did you know that their passion for Formula 1 is not a recent development?

In fact, the LEGO Group brought F1 sets to life years ago. It’s likely that the sport’s past lack of popularity compared to today led to fewer sets being produced.

The detailed and stylish Formula 1 models we’re used to seeing today under the Speed Champions theme have appeared in the LEGO Group’s portfolio at various times under different titles. However, for longtime LEGO fans, the first sets that’s likely come to mind are the Ferrari sets from the Racers theme, released between 2004 and 2009. But even before the Racers theme, the LEGO Group had produced other sets under different themes.

Let’s take a look at the history of LEGO Group’s Formula 1 sets by dividing it into five sections!

(Note: This list is the result of my own research, there may be some sets I’ve missed.)

1970’s – First Years

The LEGO Group introduced their first Formula 1 themed set in 1975 under the Hobby Sets theme. It’s likely that the company, observing the growing action and popularity of Formula 1 in the mid-1970s, decided to diversify its portfolio by adding a Formula 1 car to a theme aimed at adults.

The Formula 1 set with the code 392, while simple in design compared to today’s sets due to the piece variety and technical limits of the time, still manages to capture the spirit of Formula 1 cars quite well. Moreover, the rear tires were designed to be thicker than the front ones, staying true to the concept!

I can’t say the same for the second model, the Formula 1 Racer set with code 695 (which was later re-released as 491). Although it looks simpler compared to the first model, it may have been designed this way due to being part of a different theme, given the conditions of the time.

1980 & 90’s – Classic Town & Model Team

After not releasing a similar set for about 10 years, the LEGO Group made up for it by offering numerous sets to LEGO enthusiasts between 1985 and 2000.

Continuing the Formula 1 concept under the Classic Town theme, the company released Formula 1 themed sets in 1985 that were roughly the size of minifigures. While these sets didn’t directly carry the “Formula 1” name, the designs and concepts of the vehicles clearly referenced the world of Formula 1. Below, you can see a few sets I selected for you:

(You can find the full list here)

At the same time, under the Model Team theme, which offered a structure similar to today’s Creator Expert, the LEGO Group released two more detailed, larger, and piece-rich models for LEGO enthusiasts. For its time, the Model Team theme was particularly known for its more complex and intricate builds. Thanks to these features, the Formula 1 car model was a great fit for the theme’s portfolio.

During this period, the LEGO Group combined Formula 1 with the Technic theme as well. Also, did you know that in the 1990s, there are Formula 1 cars even under the DUPLO theme? Yep, you can find Formula 1 cars in DUPLO sets, too.

2000’s – Racers

The Racers theme, which can be considered the predecessor of Speed Champions, was introduced to LEGO enthusiasts in the early 2000s. Under this theme, the LEGO Group began making official licensed sets by partnering with iconic Formula 1 teams like Williams and Ferrari.

The sets released during this period can be considered a peak in LEGO’s history, both in terms of design details and the licensed vehicles used. The Ferrari licensed sets produced between 2004 and 2009, in particular, were not only a great source of excitement for Formula 1 fans but also for LEGO collectors. Below, you can see a few sets I selected for you.

(You can find the full list here and here) 

2010’s – Speed Champions

After taking a break from the Formula 1 concept for a while, the LEGO Group made its return to the racetrack with the Speed Champions theme, which began in 2015. Unlike the previous Racers theme, the Speed Champions theme focused on designing licensed vehicles at a smaller, more play-friendly scale. The first sets in this theme featured iconic cars from major Formula 1 brands like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes-AMG, bringing them to LEGO enthusiasts.

In fact, a strong relationship was established between the LEGO Group and Mercedes-AMG under the licensing agreement, so much so that in 2017, a special LEGO set was distributed exclusively to employees of Mercedes-AMG. This unique set was a model based on Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 cars, and because it was only available to company employees, it has become an extremely rare piece. Today, the average sale price of this set is around $1,500!

2020’s – Recent Sets

Between 2015 and 2017, the LEGO Group introduced Formula 1 cars to LEGO enthusiasts under the Speed Champions theme, creating great excitement with its licensed models. However, for an unknown reason, the theme went quiet for a while when it came to Formula 1 sets. After several years, the LEGO Group returned in 2022, reigniting the passion of Formula 1 fans with exciting new sets. During this period, the LEGO Group didn’t limit itself to just the Speed Champions theme. The Technic theme also stepped in, offering larger and more complex models to reflect the grandeur of Formula 1.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the future of LEGO Formula 1 sets… Last weekend at the Las Vegas GP, the LEGO Group managed to surprise Formula 1 fans once again by unveiling exciting new sets. The most striking innovation was the decision to design each Formula 1 team’s car in minifigure size, bringing them to fans in a whole new way.

In addition, they expanded the series by adding Ferrari’s car design alongside the previously released McLaren and Mercedes Technic models.

The surprises don’t end there! The LEGO Group also announced its decision to release a special Formula 1 themed Collectible Minifigure (CMF) series.

Moreover, they introduced new Formula 1 sets under the City theme, aiming not only at collectors but also a broader audience. These sets feature easier-to-build designs and play-focused features, making them appealing to LEGO fans of all ages.

(You can find the full list here here)

The combination of LEGO and Formula 1 is truly the intersection of two of my passions, and I can honestly say it makes me really happy. As a fan, I’ll be eagerly awaiting even more sets in the future!

 

Set images used in this article are from Brickset, Bricklink, The Brick Post and Merlin’s Bricks. The cover image is from the official LEGO site.