In a breathtaking feat of design and engineering, the drivers’ parade at the recent Miami Grand Prix was taken over by fully driveable LEGO big build cars representing every team on the Formula 1 grid.
BUILD THE THRILL
Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, there was a fresh take on the Formula 1 (F1) drivers’ parade.
Rather than touring the track on the back of a truck, all 20 drivers had the chance to get behind the wheel of fully drivable LEGO big build cars, lapping the 5.4-kilometer Miami International Autodrome while waving to fans before the race.
Over 22,000 hours, a skilled team of 26 design, engineering, and building specialists from the LEGO Group created these incredible two-seater vehicles at its Kladno factory in Czechia, where the idea initially emerged, marking the first time multiple drivable big builds have been produced by the company at the same time.
The cars are based on the LEGO F1 Speed Champions range and bespoke to each team’s colours and liveries, capturing intricate and unique details such as sponsor logos, and even fitted with authentic Pirelli tires.
DID YOU KNOW?
- The Miami Grand Prix is located 7,626km from the LEGO Group’s headquarters in Billund, Denmark – equating to 1,412 laps of the track.
- The inaugural Miami Grand Prix in 2022 coincided with the 90th anniversary of the LEGO Group, which was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen.
- 40,000 LEGO bricks would be needed to cover the longest straight at the Miami International Autodrome, which stretches 1.28km.
Each vehicle is made of nearly 400,000 LEGO bricks and able to reach speeds of 20 kilometers per hour (kph) – a fraction of the ~375kph top speeds that can be achieved by an actual F1 car, which the LEGO big builds are at a near 1:1 scale with.
However, the slower speeds didn’t stop stars such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris from racing – and humorously, crashing into – each other on the parade, to the amusement and excitement of fans and drivers alike as the track was littered with LEGO debris.
Despite these incidents, the ‘race’ was won by the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan ahead of the 57-lap showpiece.
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES
Both F1 and the LEGO Group are synonymous with pushing the boundaries, and this latest challenge was a true testament to that.
The cars were created to celebrate an ongoing multi-year partnership between the two that was first announced in September 2024, bringing together two passionate global fanbases and engaging new audiences.
This partnership will make the sport more accessible to families around the world at a time when F1 has seen a huge surge in growth with younger fans.
Indeed, data shows that across the US and European Union (EU), over four million children between the ages of eight and 12 now actively follow the pinnacle of motorsport, while 40 percent of Instagram followers are under 25.
It will also promote innovation, technology, and engineering – which have defined the sport for 75 years – as exemplified by the LEGO big build cars in Miami, along with stronger inclusion and representation.
As well as the driveable big builds, there are a number of other at-race experiences that will ramp up the fun during the 2025 season for people of all ages.
Fans are set to be immersed in the world of F1 by the LEGO Group with interactive activities and challenges designed to celebrate the sport’s engineering and technical heritage.
At select events, the experience of being at an F1 track will also be heightened by brand-new LEGO Fan Zones, where fans can enjoy exclusive make-and-take builds, photo opportunities, and a chance to see the LEGO Group’s entire F1 product range featuring all 10 teams for the first time.
Following the conclusion of the Miami Grand Prix, all 10 LEGO big builds are now embarking on a world tour with appearances at future races.
LEGO BIG BUILD CARS – FACTS AND FIGURES
- Each car was built using almost 400,000 LEGO bricks, along with a selection of other components to make them capable of driving.
- Over 22,000 combined hours were spent developing and constructing the 10 LEGO big builds.
- The cars were capable of reaching speeds of 20kph during their unveiling at the Miami Grand Prix drivers’ parade.
- Each of the big builds weighs approximately 1,500 kilograms (kg), with LEGO bricks accounting for 1,000kg.
