Lego's F1 Technic Sets Mimic Formula 1 Engineering Better Than You Might Think

Hello, chap adults! May I liking you successful an interlocking ceramic strategy designed to mimic your favourite racing automobile? Yes, this is astir Lego Technic F1 sets, which you mightiness (incorrectly) deliberation are child's toys. The website intelligibly states they are for ages 18+. Lest you deliberation I'm being snarky, not only person I built my stock of Lego car sets, but I was besides enthralled erstwhile this very tract discussed Lego demonstrating really CVT gearboxes work. I was besides nerdy capable to creation an overhead valve setup for my 1994 8880 Lego Technic Super Car's engine, truthful covering nan specifications of modern F1 Technic sets is pure, distilled joy.

The sets these days are fantastically detailed, and nan champion portion is, Lego doesn't conscionable make nan models look for illustration title cars, location are a shocking number of engineering details, too. There's nan evident stuff, specified arsenic reciprocating pistons successful nan V6 engine, but that's an iceberg tip. Gone are nan blocky, crude designs of nan '70s and '80s Lego sets, which looked for illustration F1 cars rendered by a Commodore 64. In nan 1990s, Lego started embracing much realistic designs, particularly pinch nan Ferrari Formula 1 Racing Car successful 1998. This kit was a large leap guardant pinch existent Ferrari and Shell logos, not to mention moving steering.

As nan 2000s marched along, these sets started to incorporated much bespoke pieces to seizure nan swoops and angles of nan existent title cars, specified arsenic nan 2004 Ferrari F1 Racer that appeared erstwhile Michael Schumacher was dominating nan series. Current Lego Technic F1 sets are nan astir meticulous yet. These elaborate models are really meant for display, but if you want to play pinch them for illustration you're a kid connected nan extracurricular and nan inside, Lego will reward you for it.

Right now, Lego offers 4 Technic F1 cars for $229.99 each: nan Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20, nan Ferrari SF-24, nan Mercedes-AMG W14 E Performance, and nan McLaren Formula 1 car. There's besides a smaller, cheaper pull-back Mercedes-AMG exemplary and a McLaren Formula E car, too. And nan details, from quality to function, are extraordinary.

It's not capable to conscionable person springs to fto nan suspension rebound; nan suspension besides has to enactment for illustration nan existent thing. F1 suspension is rather complex and is designed to optimize aerodynamics and weight distribution for optimal velocity and handling. Anything that doesn't person to beryllium exposed is concealed by nan car's bodywork, truthful springs and dampers are inboard. To fulfill F1 fans and car tech nerds, Lego has replicated nan suspension arsenic intimately arsenic integrative brickery will allow. To spot nan activity of nan suspension successful nan Lego Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 exemplary complete pinch push and propulsion rods, Josh Builds Stuff demonstrates pinch fantabulous camera work. The Lego car uses coil springs while modern F1 cars usage torsion bars, but it's still dang close, and torsion bars would beryllium reliable to make retired of plastic, anyway.

Moving connected to nan engine, of course, location are moving pistons, but checking retired RacingBrick's build of nan Lego Technic Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 car shows that Lego includes a shiftable 2-speed transmission and a small exemplary MGU-H portion that's driven by a cog from nan gearbox. While it's not nan 8 speeds successful a existent F1 gearbox aliases nan five-speed dogleg transmission Lego designed for nan 8448 Super Street Sensation supercar successful 1999, this is different area wherever we tin springiness Lego immoderate slack. There didn't person to beryllium a transmission astatine all, but it's included anyway.

Looking astatine Brick Quest's study of nan Lego Red Bull RB20 and Ferrari SF-24 models, you tin spot that nan institution created bespoke aerodynamic bits to thief nan cars return shape. Alex Nunes helpfully sits nan 2005 Lego Technic Ferrari F1 exemplary adjacent to nan 2025 version, and nan item differences are stark. The '05 exemplary has wings constructed from banal Lego pieces, inaccurate wheels, and an wide emotion of being much spindly. The '25 exemplary connected nan different hand, has beautifully shaped wings, replica instrumentality covers, and P-Zero branded slicks, and it is little skeletal because Lego has perfectly figured retired really to seizure nan principle of existent cars. Lego moreover included an approximation of an F1 DRS strategy pinch an adjustable rear wing. 

Sponsorships are large money for F1, truthful it's nary astonishment that firm stickers are everyplace connected Lego Technic F1 models. Brands for illustration HP, Ray-Ban, Visa, and Zoom walk millions of dollars to person logos slapped connected Formula 1 racers, and you'd amended judge they're going to want their names connected nan scaled down location versions, too. Looking astatine nan charismatic 2022 McLaren F1 Lego Technic instructions, which, astatine 320 pages, are longer than J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," it appears nan sponsorship graphics are conscionable stickers. So, if your favourite squad loses a sponsor, tear disconnected nan sticker from your exemplary for added realism.

Lego is an unbelievable medium. Henry Lim built a moving Lego harpsichord. Lego itself built a life-size driveable Bugatti Chiron. I made my woman a Lego bunny that poops Hershey's Kisses for Easter. Your imagination and bully sensation are nan only limits.