Does the rumbling roar of an engine make your heart leap? Maybe it’s seeing a ray of light bouncing off a gleaming hood or watching wheels turn so fast they become a hypnotic blur. The power of cars and their machinations is not lost on Formula 1® fans, and now you can get the chance to see some of the most well-built, expertly engineered and legendary race cars to ever grace the race track at London’s upcoming Formula 1® Exhibition. To keep you in the know, here are the star cars that have been officially announced…so far.
1. Lotus 72
The first of their Star Cars to be announced was, drum roll please…the Lotus 72! From the minds of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and designer Maurice Philippe, this iconic race car made its debut in the 1970 season, marking a new era of motor racing. It went on to secure 39 podium finishes, with 20 wins, a feat never matched by one car type in F1® history. Not only does it have two Driver’s World Championships and three Constructor’s World Championships to its name, but was also voted the ‘greatest Grand Prix car of all time’ by Autosport in 2023.
Clive Chapman, son of aforementioned creator Colin Chapman and owner of Classic Team Lotus was thrilled the car will be on display at London’s Formula 1® Exhibition, stating it was an opportunity “for fans to reminisce on its legacy as one of the greatest racing cars in Formula 1® history…it symbolises what was then a new era of great British racing”.
2. The Sharknose Ferrari (Ferrari 156 F1)
Dig out your most psychedelic jacket and go go boots – the second star car is a true blast from the past. The ‘Sharknose’ Ferrari 156 first sped onto the F1® scene in 1961 and produced the first ever American F1® champion with legendary driver Phil Hill. It also won Ferrari their first F1® Constructors’ Championship and ultimately achieved five wins overall with Hill, Wolfgang von Trips and Giancarlo Baghetti. Known for its unique aerodynamics and superior power, the sleek, bullet-shaped race car was almost 20 km/hr faster than its competitors.
Ultimately, Enzo Ferrari had all ‘Sharknose’ Ferraris scrapped at the end of 1962, but after a lookalike prop starred on screen in 1996 film ‘La Passione’ it rekindled public interest in its striking appearance. This resulted in two replicas being built using original Ferrari techniques. Now, fans have the rare opportunity to see the 120-degree V6 motor replica of the ‘Sharknose’ Ferrari exclusively at the Formula 1® Exhibition and pay tribute to Phil Hill’s 1961 Championship successes. An aspect especially significant for his son, Derek Hill, who stated “Having spent time with this car and driven it at speed I’m thrilled to know it will be on display for so many to learn about and to enjoy, all the while honouring my father and his finest moment in Formula One racing.”
3. McLaren MP4/14
Next, we jump forward to the year of The Matrix, Britney Spears’ ‘Baby One More Time..’, the solar eclipse and, most importantly for you F1® fans, the launch of Mika Häkkinen’s McLaren MP4/14. You guessed it, it’s 1999, and one of the most ambitious designs ever has just streaked onto the race circuit. Designed by Neil Oatley and Adrian Newey, the McLaren MP4/14 would go on to be the quickest car of the season and give Mika Häkkinen his second Formula One Drivers’ Championship in a row. Success didn’t stop there, the iconic car has seven race wins under its (seat)belt.
4. Red Bull RB16B
Now for a car that has most definitely made its mark this decade: Red Bull RB16B. See the car with which Max Verstappen won the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, and was crowned world champion for the first time in arguably one of the most nail-biting finales of all time. This star car took 10 Grand Prix wins and eight second-place spots at the hands of Max Verstappen, securing his (and Red Bull’s) first Championship since 2013 – marking the end of seven years of Mercedes dominance.
5. McLaren MP4/4
Fancy getting up close to one of the most dominant F1® cars ever? The exhibition is throwing it back to the totally tubular 80s with Ayrton Senna’s Honda-powered McLaren MP4/4. Behind the wheel of the McLaren, Senna won fifteen out of a possible sixteen Grands Prix during the 1988 season – a feat accomplished thanks to the 1.5 litre V6-turbo engine, the sleek design and, of course, the talents of Senna himself.
The team behind the car also won the 1988 Constructor’s Title with three times as many points as the runners-up. As if all that success wasn’t enough, the McLaren MP4/4 held the record for the highest win rate in a season until 2023, when it was broken by the Red Bull Racing RB19 – funnily enough the RB19 was also powered by a Honda V6 turbo engine.
