Formula 1 brings 22 drivable LEGO minicars to British Grand Prix parade

LONDON: Formula 1 is putting the pedal to the plastic. Ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix 2026, the sport and The LEGO Group are turning the traditional Drivers’ Parade into a colourful spectacle with 22 fully drivable LEGO minicars, each representing one of the drivers on the grid.

The parade, held around 90 minutes before Sunday’s race at Silverstone Circuit, will see every driver take to the track in a brick-built minicar designed in their team’s 2026 colours and carrying their race number.

The initiative follows the popularity of the LEGO big-build cars introduced during the Drivers’ Parade at the Miami Grand Prix in 2025, which quickly became one of the season’s standout fan moments.

Each minicar has been constructed using more than 28,000 LEGO bricks and took part in a project that required more than 6,400 combined hours of development and construction. Built by a team of 20 designers, engineers and LEGO specialists at the company’s factory in Kladno, Czech Republic, the vehicles are capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 km/h.

Despite their playful appearance, the minicars are fully functional. Each weighs around 280 kg, including 65 kg of LEGO bricks, and rides on standard go-kart wheels to allow drivers to complete the parade safely around the circuit.

Formula 1 said the activation reflects its continued effort to create engaging fan experiences throughout a race weekend by blending sport with entertainment.

Commenting on the initiative, Formula One chief commercial officer Emily Prazer said, “Last year’s F1 Drivers’ Parade in Miami with the LEGO big build cars was one of the most memorable and talked-about moments of the season, capturing the imagination of fans around the world and showing a different side of the sport.”

She added that expanding the concept for the British Grand Prix demonstrates how Formula 1 and LEGO can combine innovation, creativity and entertainment to inspire fans of all ages.

Echoing the excitement, The LEGO Group chief product and marketing officer Julia Goldin said, “The excitement from drivers and fans alike at last year’s Miami Drivers’ Parade was impossible to ignore. Fans and drivers alike asked, so now we are delivering.”

She added that the company wanted to make this year’s experience even bigger and was looking forward to seeing how the drivers enjoy the minicars on track.

With thousands of fans expected at Silverstone and millions more watching around the world, the brick-built parade is set to provide a light-hearted curtain raisser before the serious business of racing begins, proving that in Formula 1, even the warm-up lap can be built brick by brick.