The pre-race parade will be given a playful twist on Sunday when the full grid takes to the circuit in individual fully drivable Lego F1 minicars.
Each car has been designed in its team’s 2026 colours and features the driver’s race number, with the parade set to take place within 90 minutes of the grand prix start.
The activation follows the success of the Lego big-build cars used at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, where drivers shared 10 team-themed machines in a parade that quickly descended into a light-hearted demolition derby.
This year, Formula 1 and the Lego Group have expanded the concept, with every driver given their own minicar rather than sharing with a team-mate.
Each car is made from more than 28,000 Lego bricks and is capable of reaching up to 25km/h.
The fleet took more than 6400 combined hours to develop and build at the Lego Group’s Kladno factory in the Czech Republic, with 20 designers, engineers and Lego specialists involved in the project.
Each minicar weighs around 280kg, including 65kg of Lego bricks, and is fitted with standard go-kart wheels.
Formula 1 chief commercial officer Emily Prazer said the Miami parade had encouraged F1 and Lego to go bigger for Silverstone.
She described last year’s Miami drivers’ parade as one of the most memorable moments of the season and said the British Grand Prix version would build on that success for fans at the circuit and watching around the world.
Lego Group chief product and marketing officer Julia Goldin said the reaction to last year’s event made its return an obvious move.
“The excitement from drivers and fans alike at last years’ Miami Drivers Parade, was impossible to ignore,” Goldin said.
“Fans and drivers alike asked – so now we are delivering. We wanted to go even bigger than last year and ensure we continue to surprise and delight our fans.
“We can’t wait to see what the drivers do when they get these minicars on track.”
The drivers are already treating the parade with varying levels of seriousness.
Lance Stroll said he was not especially worked up by the idea, joking the cars needed considerably more power to grab his attention.
“I’m indifferent. I’m not going to lose sleep over it,” Stroll said.
“I’m not going to wake up super early in the morning excited about it. It’s just another one of those drivers’ parades.”
He later added: “I think if they had another 600 horsepower, then it would be interesting. Then we’d be more excited.”
Lando Norris was more upbeat, having been part of last year’s chaotic Miami parade.
“I’m pretty excited for it, actually!” Norris said.
Drama at the hairpin! 💥
Watch the full LEGO race on our YouTube channel 🍿😅#F1 pic.twitter.com/0WTh8TfJWL
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 10, 2025
The McLaren driver joked that simply making it back in one piece could be the target if the Silverstone version is anything like Miami.
“If it’s like Miami, of course, then I think whoever can make it back to the start line will be a winner already,” Norris said.
“So, I think it’s a cool thing to do. It’s different. It’s nice to, obviously when you’re all together and you can have a little chitchat and see the fans when you’re on the truck.
“But I think it’s nice to do something different every now and then. So as long as it’s safe and we all behave, which we shall, then it will be a jolly good ride.”
Gabriel Bortoleto said the event gave drivers a rare chance to break from the usual pre-race routine.
“I would just want to go for it. Last year was so fun,” Bortoleto said.
“I think it’s a nice thing to have. We do the truck drivers’ parade most of the races and have it once like this, I think it’s quite a nice thing.
“Last year, I think everyone had fun and I don’t see why this year we cannot have fun as well. It’s good.”
Valtteri Bottas, who missed the Miami edition last year, said he was looking forward to getting his chance at Silverstone.
“I’m actually really excited because I missed it in Miami last year when I was watching it and it looked so fun,” Bottas said.
“So I think the key will be, because everyone is capped to 25 kilometres per hour, saving distance is probably the key.
“I’m excited. So saving distance is my strategy, and using tow.”
Arvid Lindblad said he was less focused on winning than making the most of the unusual parade.
“For me, I don’t think that race is going to be about winning,” Lindblad said.
“It’s just about having some fun and maximum damage.”
Lewis Hamilton joked the parade could prove more hazardous than the race itself after watching the Miami version unfold, teasing he could skip it altogether.
“I mean, it’s the most dangerous part of the weekend,” Hamilton said.
“I let Charles drive last time and it was just hilarious watching everyone crashing into each other.
“So yeah, I don’t know whether or not I’ll be in the Lego car this year.”
Formula 1 will stream the drivers’ parade live on their YouTube channel from 10pm AEST.
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