Lego's built 10 functioning F1 cars for the Miami Grand Prix*
Lego's built 10 functioning F1 cars for the Miami Grand Prix*
*Well, for the drivers' parade. All it took was four million pieces and 22,000 hours of work…
Skip 27 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
1
/
27
Lego has really outdone itself this time. Three years on from its incredible but very stationary full-size F1 McLaren build, the world's premier manufacturer of barefoot hazards has constructed 10 fully operational F1 cars for the Miami Grand Prix.
Obviously they're not for racing (although you have to wonder if Sauber might be keen), instead bringing a bit of novelty factor to the drivers' parade ahead of this weekend's race.
Advertisement - Page continues below
'Hang on,' we hear you say. 'If there are 10 cars and 20 drivers… do half of them have to walk?' Fair question, to which the answer is 'no'. For these almost 1:1 scale Lego F1 cars are made for two.
'We actually started developing the cockpit first because we had to fit two people inside,' Jonathan Jurion, senior designer for the project, tells TG. 'Obviously the Lego set fits a mini-figure... which doesn't have the anatomy of a real person.
'So fitting two people inside was a bit of a challenge. We had people of different heights sitting inside, kind of figuring it out.'
The designs are actually based on the (much) smaller Speed Champions versions, and while the teams didn't have to hand over reams of complicated 3D data to make the whole enterprise possible, they did all sign off on their individual liveries.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Each car features almost 400,000 bricks and weighs 1,500kg, with 26 specialists involved in the design, engineering, and manufacturing. A team of dedicated builders worked in shifts to get each car finished.
Skip 10 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures.
1
/
10
All told, you're looking at 22,000 hours of work. Or to put it another way, if one person worked around the clock without loo breaks or sleep, they would've needed… two and a half years. Wowzers.
Also, there isn't a single brick used that you can't buy in a shop, so if you really wanted to you could do this yourself. Likely very expensive though.
Top Gear
Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Success Your Email*
Right, time for powertrain details. No 1.6-litre V6 hybrid here obviously; instead Lego's done the sensible thing and stuck with an electric motor that generates 11bhp, or about the same as an Alonso-McLaren era Honda. It's rear-wheel drive, and the motor, single-speed transmission and differential are all housed in one unit. The brakes are from a racing car, although Lego won't say which one.
If we had unlimited budget and time, we could go really close to the real thing
The top speed is barely more than 12mph and the battery is only big enough to do the parade lap (plus a little extra, just in case). But F1-rivalling G force was never the goal.
'If we had unlimited budget and time, we could go really close to the real thing if we wanted to,' Jurion insists, adding that the team had to deliver all 10 cars in just eight months when before one car had taken up to a year. 'So we try to keep it as simple as possible and focus more on reliability and drivability.' Probably wise.
They're as simple as it gets to operate: there's one switch (up for forward, down for reverse), and two buttons to wake up the motor and power steering. Then there's the steering wheel, brake and throttle pedals, and that's it. All thoroughly tested back in the factory parking lot in Kladno, Czech Republic, we're assured.
That didn't stop Lego from sending the drivers a user manual in advance. Although we suspect that was more about making sure they stuck to the Renault Twizy-style seating arrangement, rather than half of them riding shotgun a la Senna and Mansell…
After this weekend the cars will go on tour, rather than following the more traditional route of being consigned to the attic, never to be seen again.
'They'll spread around the globe and hopefully inspire kids – and adults – to join Lego and Formula One as well,' says Jurion. You never know, if next year's regs turn out as bad as the doom mongers are claiming, F1 might yet put in an order for another 10…
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How JD Vance is embracing a new 'peacekeeper' role between Trump, Musk and other top advisors
As the battle between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump escalated on social media on Friday, the president pulled Vice President JD Vance aside to coordinate their response. Vance was preparing a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, for an interview with podcast comedian Theo Von, and wanted to be prepared for the proper response to Musk. While the president took a harder edge against Musk on social media and while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he wanted the vice president to be more diplomatic, sources familiar with the exchange told the Daily Mail. By the time he entered the podcast studio in Nashville, however, the feud had escalated to new heights. As Von described it to Vance, 'the fu**ing s**t missile is in the cannon.' Von's audience was captivated as they watched Vance confronted in real time with posts from Musk declaring that Trump's name was in the Epstein files and even endorsed posts on X calling for Trump to be impeached to make him the president. Vance dismissed Musk's claim as 'totally BS' and affirmed he would remain loyal to the president first. At the same time, however, he praised Musk as 'incredible entrepreneur' and 'really good' even though he said it was a 'huge mistake' for him to go after the president that way. But the vice president was also optimistic that Musk could patch up his relationship with Trump. 'I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold,' he said. Vance was puzzled by the exchanges but made excuses for Musk's behavior, describing him as 'an emotional guy' and whose 'heart is in the right place.' By Friday, Vance joined White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to speak with Musk to help smooth things over after the very public blowup. 'The last four months of my life I've probably had a hundred calls with Elon Musk,' he confirmed to reporters after Musk admitted publicly that some of his attacks on Trump had gone 'too far.' For Vance, a natural successor to Trump, it made sense to heal the relationship with the world's richest man if he ever wants to be president. But Vance indicated he really wanted to heal the relationship for the good of the country and for the good of his friend. 'I think that if he and the president are in some blood feud, most importantly it's going to be bad for the country but I…don't think it's going to be good for Elon either,' he said to Von. It was a rare display of diplomacy for the vice president, who spends a lot of his time on the global stage picking fights with journalists and politicians like Gavin Newsom on social media. But his longstanding relationship with Musk helped smooth over the very public blowup with the president. Vance first met Musk in June 2023, according to reports, as they were introduced by tech investor David Sacks, long before the native son of Ohio kicked off his political career by running for senate. Musk also reportedly supported Vance as his preferred candidate for Trump's running mate, describing him as the 'smartest' of the potential vice presidents. In the early days of the administration, Musk praised Vance on social media as the 'Best VP ever and our future President.' Vance began his vice presidency in a very public blowup during the Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky and famously scolded Europe for their failure to commit to free speech. His trip to Greenland was less than diplomatic, as he delivered the unpopular message to the island that it was time to team up with the United States. But in recent weeks, the vice president's job has required him to be more of a diplomat. On Tuesday, residents of Butte Montana was surprised to see Air Force Two land at their small airport and a motorcade for the vice president was spotted driving out into the country. As tensions between Iran and Israel escalated, Vance visited the Murdoch Ranch in Dillon Montana, roughly 70 miles south. Vance met with Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch and a group of other Fox News executives for dinner, according to reports. The diplomatic visit took place even after his political advisors chaffed as Murdoch's media outlets were highly critical of his political record in the Summer 2024 as President Trump was still ruminating on his choice for vice president. It was no secret that Murdoch wanted to see former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be Trump's choice, as his media outlets spent significant resources criticizing Vance's anti-war views. The vice president's office did not respond to the Daily Mail's requests for comment. Although Vance's time in the Senate was short, he developed many relationships that have served the Trump administration well. His personal touch with his former senate colleagues helped sooth some of the concerns that they had with the president's more controversial picks for his cabinet. Prior to his departure for Montana, JD Vance traveled to Capitol Hill on Tuesday meet with Republican senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Johnson was unhappy with the president's Big Beautiful Bill that was currently in negotiations with the Senate, but after Vance met wit the senator, the White House signaled they were more optimistic about getting him on board. Unlike the president's movements, Vance's schedule remains mostly private allowing him to have the flexibility to have private meetings and move more quickly with his travel. The job also runs into unexpected territory. Just weeks after visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his wife and children, Vance found himself contacting Modi to help ward off a war between Pakistan and India. In June, Vance also met with an all-party delegation from India to discuss ongoing tensions with Pakistan and possible business opportunities. Vance also met with political activist Laura Loomer, and although the contents of the meeting remained private, there were no political fireworks after the meeting, suggesting their exchange was cordial enough to stay out of the headlines. When the Papal conclave resulted in the election of Pope Leo XIV, an American, Trump asked Vance to lead the American delegation. Despite the pope's previous criticism of both Vance and Trump on social media, the delegation was successful as a smiling Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio posed for pictures with the American pontiff. Unlike many modern vice presidents who can go days without hearing directly from the president, Vance frequently communicates with Trump, people familiar with his interactions with the president say. Vance is careful about not stepping out ahead of the president, and remaining tactful in his communications about what he is thinking. His role as a jack-of-all trades vice president continues, as he continues his work confident that he has the president's trust. 'I know the president pretty well and I knew that he had a lot of trust in me, the role of the vice president is very derivative of what the president is doing,' Vance told Von while discussing his job. 'So if the president has trust in you and gives you a task and just lets you go and do it, that's kind of what your job is.'
Auto Blog
12 hours ago
- Auto Blog
GM Hints at New Affordable Next-Gen EV Made in U.S.
GM has shared info on its development of a new next-gen affordable EV as it ramps up U.S. production with a $4 billion investment. GM's Fairfax, Kansas plant to host automaker's affordable EVs General Motors (GM) has announced plans to develop and build an affordable next-gen electric vehicle (EV) at its Fairfax, Kansas, plant. While Chevy's new Bolt EV is entering production by the end of the year at the same Kansas facility, it's unclear whether the up-and-coming next-gen model is part of the Bolt family or a new lineup. GM's president, Mark Reuss, said in October the 2027 Bolt EV's 'price isn't final yet,' while adding 'it [2027 Bolt EV] will be priced only slightly higher than the 2023 Bolt, which started at $28,795, and it will just be one member of a family on the Bolt, including an even lower cost option,' according to GM Authority. The average transaction price (ATP) for a new EV in May was $57,734, Kelley Blue Book reports. Chevy's 2027 Bolt will be North America's first Ultium-based model with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, helping the model sell at lower prices than ones with nickel manganese cobalt batteries. Despite details on the 2027 Bolt remaining limited, its release around mid-2026 means that Chevy is likely months away from revealing the model. GM's ambitious U.S. production plans are taking shape News of the affordable EV in development arrives after GM revealed plans to invest around $4 billion in U.S. production for gas-powered and electric models over the next two years. Domestic manufacturing investments should help GM mitigate the impacts of President Trump's tariffs, which are projected to cost the automaker up to $5 billion in 2025. GM's $4 billion investment will allow the company to manufacture over two million vehicles in the U.S. annually. In addition to making a next-gen affordable EV and the 2027 Chevy Bolt, GM's Fairfax, Kansas plant will support the gas-powered Chevy Equinox's production starting in mid-2027. Equinox sales increased 30% year-over-year during Q1. Separate GM U.S. production facilities include Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Michigan, and Spring Hill Manufacturing in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Orion Assembly will take on gas-powered full-size SUVs and light-duty pickups, while Spring Hill Manufacturing will focus on the Chevy Blazer, the Cadillac LYRIQ and VISTIQ EVs, and the Cadillac XT5. GM's Factory ZERO in Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan, will handle the Chevy Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Cadillac ESCALADE IQ, and GMC HUMMER EV pickup and SUV production. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV — Source: Chevrolet GM also confirmed plans last month to commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs. These cells will provide a 33% higher energy density compared to the best lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based cells at a comparable cost. The new battery cells are expected to be a staple of the automaker's electric truck lineup, with over 400 miles of available range, while optimizing savings over their high-nickel pack counterpart, which currently supplies segment-leading range. An employee holds a full-size prototype LMR battery cell at the General Motors Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center. — Source: Steve Fecht for General Motors Final thoughts Following GM's most recent production announcement, the biggest question is whether its next-gen affordable EV will be part of the Chevy Bolt EV family or a new lineup. We also don't know whether the 2027 Bolt EV, which is returning after a three-year hiatus, will revive its hatchback configuration or if the model will adopt crossover styling reminiscent of its EUV version. Still, it's clear that GM's manufacturing strategy is prioritizing affordability in the EV segment and cost mitigation amid tariff policies. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
Auto Blog
12 hours ago
- Auto Blog
This Is The Cheapest New Porsche In America
The Cheapest New Porsche Comes With A Few Sacrifices Porsche doesn't really do 'cheap'. From minor optional extras to the MSRP of a new model, there is always a premium to pay to own a model from one of the world's most desirable automakers. Even the cheapest Porsche model on sale in America can't be called affordable in any way. As we'll see here, it is more expensive than all its major rivals. But it's also the easiest way into new Porsche ownership, and for many, that privilege will be enough. Here's a breakdown of what you get in Porsche's cheapest new model. The Cheapest New Porsche Is The Macan Source: Porsche The base Porsche Macan has a starting price of $63,100, making it the brand's most affordable model. Slotting into the compact luxury crossover segment, the Macan goes up against rivals like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. Being a Porsche, the Macan is more expensive than all of them, despite not being class-leading in every area. Porsche also said it will not be moving production to the USA to mitigate the effect of tariffs, suggesting that prices of its models can be expected to rise even further. There is also an electric Macan that, surprisingly, makes up almost half of all Macan sales, but that will cost at least $75,300. So, is the most affordable Porsche Macan worth it, or are you better off with a used Cayenne from a class above? Let's find out. Design: Sportier Than The Average Crossover The least expensive Porsche is a good-looking, sporty crossover. It appears to hug the road with its low-slung stance, and has a coupe-like sloping roofline at the back. The resemblance to the Cayenne is obvious, and that's no bad thing. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The following exterior features are standard on the Macan: 19-inch alloy wheels Power tailgate LED headlights with cornering function High gloss black spoiler The first sign of Porsche's stinginess is in the color palette, with only black and white being standard. The cheapest premium colors are $690 each, and a Paint to Sample option goes all the way up to $13,140. Porsche offers a near-endless array of exterior upgrades, from striking wheels to noise-insulating glass, puddle light projectors, various decals and logos, and full packages. These can quickly see the total MSRP hit $70k. Interior: High-Tech, But The Best Features Cost Extra Sitting in the Macan sets you up for a sporty drive, as it doesn't have the top-heavy feel of many other crossovers. The dashboard wraps around the driver appealingly, with all key functions within easy reach. Quality levels are reasonable, but not amazing for the price. However, typical Porsche details like the center tachometer remind one that this SUV comes from the same family that produces the 911. Grey or black leather interiors are standard, and like the exterior, every other color or material upgrade costs extra. The fanciest upholstery options go for almost $6k, and the seats can be upgraded to offer more adjustability, too. These are the standard Macan interior features: Eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats Three-zone automatic climate control Eight-speaker sound system Wireless device charging Apple CarPlay Adaptive cruise control Front/rear parking sensors 10.9-inch touchscreen Although that's a fair selection of features, you can get a similar spec in the Mercedes-Benz GLC, which is over $10k cheaper. For instance, the standard GLC has a more modern and larger 11.9-inch touchscreen that includes Android Auto, which the Macan doesn't have. A surround-view camera plus lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist are $2,000 on the Porsche, whereas the GLC has access to a suite of 15 advanced driver-assistance features for less. We could make similar comparisons with the X3, which can be specified with many advanced features for the price of a basic Macan. Below-average rear-seat space and just 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space are another two sacrifices if you choose a Macan. Performance: As Quick As Rivals, But Better To Drive Source: Porsche The cheapest Macan gets you a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it's a lively powertrain that gets the Macan from 0-60 mph in exactly six seconds. That matches the BMW X3, but the Macan is also available with the $1,220 Sport Chrono Package that gets the 0-60 mph sprint down to 5.8 seconds. Numbers aside, the Porsche is one of the best SUVs to drive in this segment. The dual-clutch transmission shifts quickly, and that's complemented by accurate steering with decent feedback. It's not harsh, either, and will happily cruise along the freeway for hours without disrupting occupants. An adaptive air suspension, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, and a sport exhaust system are all available to further enhance the drive of this Porsche crossover. How Much Is A Fully Loaded Porsche Macan? A ridiculous amount of money can be spent on the base Macan, with Porsche offering a dizzying number of expensive options. We managed to spec the model above for a total of $120,440 – the optional extras ($55,090) nearly matched the car's base price. Some of the most expensive add-ons included Gold Bronze Metallic from the Paint to Sample collection ($13,140), 21-inch exclusive wheels ($4,850), the deviated stitching interior pack ($4,730), and the Burmester high-end sound system ($5,690). It's nonsensical to spend this much on a base Macan, considering that you can get a Cayenne GTS with a 4.0-liter V8 for similar money. Other Affordable Porsche Models If you're looking for a cheap Porsche for sale but don't want to spend six figures, here are two other options. Porsche 718 Cayman ($72,800) Source: Porsche A completely different prospect to the Macan, the base 718 Cayman is a razor-sharp sports coupe. Seating just two, it's not a practical car, but it has the agility and feedback that few modern sports cars can match. A 300-hp engine will get the base Cayman to 60 in 4.7 seconds. The Cayman won't be around in its current form for much longer, so get one while you can. Porsche 718 Boxster ($74,900) Source: Porsche Everything we said about the fantastic Cayman applies to the Boxster, but here, you can the duality of an open-top convertible. The Boxster matches the Cayman's performance and specification level, and is equally rewarding to drive. Like the base Macan, several options will quickly send the price soaring into 911 territory. Summary: There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Porsche The base Porsche Macan may officially be the cheapest Porsche, but it's still expensive in its segment. We expect very few, if any, Macans to leave the factory without a handful of options. And, honestly, it needs some extras to match the specs of its rivals. The cheapest Macan delivers a class-leading driving experience and the prestige of the Porsche badge, but it's not a sensible purchase. If you can live with the fact that you're paying much more to get a Porsche, go for it. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
