Not just a tonne of bricks – F1 drivers parade around Miami GP track in full-size LEGO cars

Formula 1 continues to come up with inventive ways of building up its American fanbase as it replaced the traditional driver parade truck for the Miami Grand Prix with bespoke LEGO cars.

Each team has its own fully driveable, close to full-scale LEGO replica that the 20 drivers will complete the parade lap with ahead of Sunday’s race.

Built as close to their real-life equivalents as possible, each car was made using close to 400,000 LEGO bricks and are in the individual colours of the teams, with the correct livery and corresponding sponsors included.

The cars will complete a full 5.4km lap of the track at Miami Gardens as part of F1’s multi-year partnership with LEGO, which was announced in September.

Speaking at the time, LEGO Group chief product and marketing officer, Julia Goldin said: “At the LEGO Group, we have a proud history of having recreated many F1 cars in LEGO brick form in the past, and we believe this new partnership, through LEGO play and building, will help bring the spectacle of this sport even closer to all fans.

“It will enable them to celebrate their passion of the sport in more immersive and exciting ways and will see the power of LEGO creativity and imagination further enhance the thrill of F1.

“We look forward to unveiling all that this exciting partnership has to offer to both lifelong and new Formula 1 and LEGO brand fans alike, at home and on track.”

That excitement peaked when the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris took to the track in LEGO versions of their cars, each weighing 1000kg and capable of speeds up to 20kph from their electric power units, running on authentic Pirelli tyres.

The drivers were seemingly impressed by the LEGO machines as they made their way onto the grid following a downpour.

George Russell joked that he had asked if he could use them as “bumper cars” before half of the field drove their respective team-mates around to wave at fans.

There were some attempts at overtaking as the competitive nature of the drivers threatened to take over.

“That was the most fun drivers parade we’ve ever had, some dirty driving, it was great fun,” Lewis Hamilton said, with Max Verstappen adding: “I do think they will have to sweep the track, there is some LEGO debris! We were a bit slow in top speed and we slowly dropped back but I think it is more important they clean the track!”

Based on the LEGO F1 Speed Champions range, each car was created by a team of 26 designers and engineers at the company’s Kladno site in the Czech Republic.