How could LEGO Speed Champions’ side builds fit into the current theme?

LEGO Speed Champions’ side builds have fallen by the wayside in recent years, so how could the theme incorporate them into future releases?

LEGO Speed Champions is on something of a roll in 2025, with 10 Formula 1 sets having raced into view on March 1 and the theme currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. During the past decade, the fan-favourite racing range has continued to evolve, originally launching with six-stud wide scale vehicles in 2015 before switching to eight-stud wide releases in 2020.

Along the way though, LEGO Speed Champions also appears to have lost its small side builds, companion models that were last seen in sets that arrived in 2020. Past extras have included the likes of race lights, a TV camera, a fuel pump, victory podium with chequered flags and many others, all of which provided additional play and display options.

Going forward, how could new LEGO Speed Champions’ side builds fit into the current theme and what previous sets could provide potential inspiration for such racing models to come?

Look to LEGO City

While the current LEGO Speed Champions line-up is lacking any side builds, LEGO City has them in spades. For instance, 60474 F1 Grid with VCARB & Sauber Race Cars comes with a light gantry with sliding panel to simulate grid-start action, with starting lights in LEGO Speed Champions sets having been included as far back as 2015’s 75899 LaFerrari.

In addition, non-Formula 1 LEGO City sets for 2025 offer other possibilities, such as the storage boxes with stools found in 60447 Off-Road 4x4 Mountain Truck or 60472 Scrapyard with Cars’ selection of modular quick-fit parts.

Race tracks

One item that’s yet to be included in any LEGO Speed Champions set to date is a brick-built track or a road to place vehicles on. Even a small section of such a surface for display purposes would no doubt be appreciated by many fans of theme, while the possibilities for play options would also be expanded.

One potential idea might be to repurpose elements from 60460 No Limits: Race Car Ramp Track, which utilises modified 8x16 and 16x16 plates plus stickers to recreate road and track surfaces. Builders would then have the ability to extend such surfaces using any similar LEGO pieces they may already have in their own collections.

Making movies

A handful of film-based LEGO Speed Champions models have been launched over the last few years, including the likes of 76911 007 Aston Martin DB5, 76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T and 76917 2 Fast 2 Furious Nissan Skyline GT-R (34).

While the movie minifigures included in those sets were appreciated, the inclusion of side builds could have added another level of interactivity. The previously released models missed out on Q Branch-created gadgets or a nitro-refuelling station respectively, to name just a couple of optional extras.

Spectators and stands

Race-based LEGO Speed Champions sets usually include a minifigure driver decked out in team colours and logos, but where’s the fan representation? The addition of a brick-built spectator stand could open up doors for all kinds of minifigure possibilities and provide a space for fans to include their own.

No such small side build has been included in any LEGO Speed Champions to date, but the potential for such an additional model would seem to be appealing enough. Larger models could even go all the way and offer grandstand builds, such as in 75883 MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, with room to pack in multiple minifigure fans.

Press area and camera tower

Speaking of slightly larger side builds, one key aspect of racing is its extensive media coverage. While a small TV camera was included in 2016’s 75870 Chevrolet Corvette that element of the motorsport has yet to appear in other LEGO Speed Champions releases.

A dedicated press area with a couple of minifigures would seem like a good solution, or even a tall camera tower, complete with plenty of broadcast equipment and media-type minifigures. Even just a lone reporter with a basic microphone and camera, such as in 75912 Porsche 911 GT Finish Line, could be considered for future LEGO Speed Champions models.

More lights and equipment

Many LEGO Speed Champions sets came with starting light side builds, which worked well when displaying vehicles in dynamic racing poses. In fact, we last saw such additional models included in 2020’s 76898 Formula E Panasonic Jaguar Racing GEN2 Car & Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY and 76899 Lamborghini Urus ST-X & Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO, plus this year’s LEGO City 60474 F1 Grid with VCARB & Sauber Race Cars.

Equipment side builds have also appeared in a number of LEGO Speed Champions sets, ranging from a fuel pump in 75872 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, a design studio desk in 75880 McLaren 720S, a wind tunnel with a rotating fan in 75892 McLaren Senna, and an adjustable lap counter in 75888 Porsche 911 RSR and 911 Turbo, all of which deserve to make a welcome return in any upcoming models.

Winners’ podiums

To date, only four LEGO Speed Champions sets have included a winner’s podium, a side build that feels like it deserves to be included in many more models. Past releases such as 75873 Audi R8 LMS ultra and 75881 Ford GT & 1966 Ford GT40 show how it should be done and we’re surprised that none of this year’s Formula 1 sets have included similar extras.

One option might be to offer a winner’s podium as a make and take model, similar to a Toys ‘R’ Us exclusive from 2016 that also boasted its own trophy element. However, we’d much rather see dedicated side builds return to LEGO Speed Champions sets in 2025 and beyond, as there are still endless possibilities for such essential extras.

Be sure to check out our LEGO Speed Champions 10th anniversary page for more celebratory stories and the latest wave of LEGO Speed Champions Formula 1 sets is available now.

LEGO Speed Champions sets confirmed and rumoured for 2025

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