Navigation

Lego's Life-Size, Drivable Cars Turned Heads at the Miami Grand Prix

Even the drivers were blown away.
Image: Even the drivers were blown away by the life-size Lego cars, which reached speeds of about 12 miles per hour.
Even the drivers were blown away by the life-size Lego cars, which reached speeds of about 12 miles per hour. The Lego Group photo

Help us weather the uncertain future

We know — the economic times are hard. We believe that our work of reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now is more important than ever.

We need to raise $6,000 to meet our goal by August 10. If you’re able to make a contribution of any amount, your dollars will make an immediate difference in helping ensure the future of local journalism in Miami. Thanks for reading Miami New Times.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal
$6,000
$2,750
Share this:
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Miami got its first F1 rain race and a double podium for McLaren during this weekend's Grand Prix, but the real highlight of the weekend came during the Drivers' Parade, when Lego amazed spectators with a set of life-size cars crafted from the childhood staple plastic bricks. Racing fans got early glimpses at the big-build F1 cars at Hard Rock Stadium's Lego Garage, but no one expected the cars to be fully drivable two-seaters.

Even the drivers were blown away.

"This was the most fun Drivers' Parade we've ever had," Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton said with a broad smile during an on-track interview after 20 drivers completed a full lap around the Miami International Autodrome.

He and other drivers took to social media to share funny moments, including Lego crashes and overtake attempts from the not-so-speedy racecars.
@lewishamilton

Chaos

♬ original sound - Lewis Hamilton
Built at a near 1:1 scale with Formula 1 cars and capable of reaching speeds of about 12 miles per hour, each car was constructed out of nearly 400,000 Lego bricks. A team of 26 designers, engineers, and Lego builders worked about 22,000 hours to build the ten cars.

"I've been a huge Lego fan since I was a kid," Jonathan Jurion, senior designer of the Lego Group: Big Build Design, told New Times. "I'm a huge Formula 1 fan, so this project feels like a dream...I'm proud of our team, and now seeing the kids stopping by and appreciating the cars, I hope it inspires them to build something."

Much like the drivers who got to hitch a ride this weekend, the Lego cars are going on the road. Following the exclusive reveal in Miami, all 10 Big Builds will embark on a global tour, stopping at future races and giving racing fans a closer look.