Lego’s Life-Sized F1 Cars Steal the Show at Miami Grand Prix 2025
The 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix was not just about roaring engines and high-speed racing; it also featured a unique and captivating display from Lego. The renowned toy company unveiled ten life-sized F1 cars, each meticulously crafted from nearly 400,000 Lego pieces. These remarkable creations captivated the attention of both racing enthusiasts and Lego aficionados, proving to be a highlight of the event.
The sheer scale of the project was staggering. With ten cars representing each of the Formula 1 teams, the undertaking required close to 4 million Lego pieces in total. This collaborative effort between Lego and Formula 1 showcased the incredible potential of the iconic building blocks, transforming them into awe-inspiring replicas of the pinnacle of motorsport engineering.
The highlight of this Lego spectacle was undoubtedly the drivers’ parade before the Miami Grand Prix began on May 4th. The F1 drivers, the very individuals who pilot the real machines at breathtaking speeds, took the wheel of these drivable, electric-powered Lego cars for a lap around the Miami International Autodrome, located within the Hard Rock Stadium complex. The spectacle was met with cheers and laughter from the crowds, as the drivers embraced the playful nature of the event.
McLaren’s Lando Norris jokingly remarked that driving the Lego car "felt better than the real thing," highlighting the novelty and lighthearted spirit surrounding the parade. Williams driver Carlos Sainz, ever the racing professional, couldn’t help but note the conditions of the track, which had been soaked by early afternoon rain. He speculated, "With the slick tire on the wet, it’s going to be fun. Hopefully we don’t have Legos going everywhere," foreshadowing some minor incidents that would occur during the parade.
Indeed, the parade wasn’t without its bumps and scrapes. George Russell drove the Mercedes with Kimi Antonelli as a passenger, while Charles Leclerc piloted the Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton riding behind. At one point, the Mercedes appeared to graze the Ferrari on the Miami straightaway, adding a touch of drama to the playful event. Furthermore, after the McLaren made contact with the Alpine car, some Lego pieces did detach from the structures, prompting Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the two-time Miami Grand Prix winner and pole sitter for Sunday’s race, to quip, "I think they need to sweep the track."
While the Lego F1 cars were visually impressive, their performance specifications differed significantly from their real-life counterparts. Each Lego car weighed approximately 1,500 kilograms (3,306.93 pounds), nearly double the weight of a real F1 car, which, according to 2025 F1 regulations, cannot exceed 800kg (1,763.7 pounds) with the driver included.
Furthermore, the Lego cars prioritized spectacle over speed. They possessed a modest seven or eight horsepower and a maximum speed of 20 kilometers an hour (12 miles per hour). In contrast, real F1 cars can reach speeds upwards of 200 mph at the Miami track and even exceed 230 mph at other races.
The construction of these life-sized Lego F1 cars was a feat of engineering and design. The Lego pieces were carefully placed around a robust steel structure base to ensure safety and stability. The cars were designed to accommodate two occupants, with one person behind the wheel and another behind a removable seat back.
Adding to the authenticity of the experience, the Lego cars were equipped with genuine F1 steering wheels, four Pirelli tires, and hydraulic brakes used on F1 cars. "They are upscaled Lego speed champions sets," explained Jonatan Jurion, the lead designer for the Formula 1 project.
Jurion further elaborated on the challenges faced during the design process: "We had to figure out how to make two people sit in it – that was quite a challenge. We mocked that up first, and we built the scale of the car around it, and it turned out pretty nicely that it actually has the size of the real F1 car. So that’s pretty cool. We got the real Pirelli tires on them, which is really cool as well."
The ambitious project was executed at the Lego Group’s Kladno factory in the Czech Republic. From initial concept to final completion, the endeavor took approximately eight months, requiring roughly 22,000 hours of work by a dedicated team of 26 designers, engineers, and Lego builders.
While this isn’t the first instance of Lego creating a car for Formula 1 – McLaren driver Lando Norris drove a McLaren made of Lego pieces at Silverstone in September 2024 – the scale of this project, involving ten cars instead of just one, represents a significant accomplishment for Lego.
Marcel Stastny, a project manager at Lego, emphasized the challenges overcome: "It was a really exceptional project because the timeline that we usually have for one car, we needed to reshuffle to be able to produce 10 in the same timing. So this was a very challenging project, but we were super excited from the very first moment when we saw this."
Martin Smeida, an elite engineer for the project, added, "This is the highest recognition of hard work for our whole team."
The life-sized Lego F1 cars appeared to be a resounding success among the drivers, who embraced the lighthearted nature of the parade before the Miami race commenced.
“That was the most fun drivers’ parade we’ve ever had,” Lewis Hamilton stated, capturing the overall sentiment. “It was very fun.”
The Lego cars provided a unique and memorable experience, contributing to the overall excitement and spectacle of the 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. The successful collaboration between Lego and Formula 1 showcased the creativity and engineering prowess of both organizations, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed the event.
