From Schumacher to Senna: Every named LEGO Formula One driver minifigure

LEGO has a deep history with Formula One but only a handful of drivers have made it so far as to get their very own minifigure design.

There have been dozens of LEGO Formula One sets across LEGO Racers, Speed Champions, and Technic but not every single one comes with its own driver. One of the most bizarre takes on this was in 8142 Ferrari 248 F1 1:24, which creates an illusion of a driver with a minifigure head but no body.

However, some sets not only included drivers but were inspired by specific, named Formula One greats. With another Formula One legend rumoured to be on his way next year, here’s a look back over all the named LEGO Formula One drivers ever to get their own minifigures.

Michael Schumacher

2006’s 8672 Ferrari Finish Line saw the LEGO Group make history with the first named Formula One drivers, with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher making his debut as a LEGO minifigure. He stands out from the rest of the Ferrari team as the unnamed people are depicted in the classic minifigure yellow, whereas Schumacher has skin colour elements and mouthlines to reflect his expression.

Schumacher featured once again in 2007’s 8144 Ferrari 248 F1 Team (Michael Schumacher Edition), alongside Felipe Massa (but more on him later) and alongside Barrichello 8389 M. Schumacher and R. Barrichello but all three appearances used the same minifigure design.

Rubens Barrichello

Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello also featured alongside Schumacher in 8672 Ferrari Finish Line – in a way. The minifigure is named as being both Barrichello and Felipe Massa. Both are Brazilian drivers who were prominently racing at the time of the set’s release, so perhaps it was designed for builders to be able to alternate between the two. An odd choice and it’s the only set that Barrichello features in, never getting his own unique design.

Felipe Massa

Unlike Barrichello, Massa went on to get his own design after appearing in 8672 Ferrari Finish Line. In 2007, Massa starred in both versions of 8144 Ferrari F1 Team, with the choice of pairing him with either Kimi Räikkönen or Michael Schumacher. Fast forward two more years, there was yet another minifigure design for Massa in 8168 Ferrari Victory with an updated, brightly coloured helmet.

Kimi Räikkönen

One of the sets featuring Schumacher and Massa was actually released in two versions. The second, 8144 Ferrari F1 Team (Kimi Räikkönen Edition), included the first minifigure for Finnish racing driver Kimi Räikkönen, as the name would suggest. His first iteration was fairly simple, with mouth lines and unique eye prints and he later got a second design alongside Massa’s in 8168 Ferrari Victory with a new helmet.

Lewis Hamilton

We didn’t get any more named Formula One drivers until 2017, when Lewis Hamilton made his first and only appearance in 75883 Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The LEGO Group was still working on Formula One sets in the interim, but featuring either no driver or unnamed minifigures.

The British driver is easily distinguishable from his printed stubble, even though he’s not actually named in the description of the minifigure or set. However, it’s quite clear that the minifigure is based on the seven-time World Champion.

Nico Rosberg

Joining his former team-mate, Nico Rosberg also appeared in 75883 Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The set came out in 2017, following four years of the pair both driving for Mercedes (with a turbulent relationship, to say the least). Both minifigures were depicted in the classic minifigure yellow, with Rosberg sporting his signature baseball cap that he always wore on the grid.

Toto Wolff

While Toto Wolff isn’t technically a Formula One driver, he did race professionally for Red Bull between 2004 and 2006, competing in both the FIA GT Championship and Italian GT Championship. In the world of Formula One, Wolff is a long-standing team principal and CEO for Mercedes, as well as holding a 33% stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. As such, he’s also earned his place in 75883 Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team.

Ayrton Senna

That brings us up to the latest rumours around minifigure Formula One drivers, with reports from reliable source 1414falconfan suggesting that the late Ayrton Senna will be included in 10330 McLaren MP4/8. It would be a fitting year to honour the driver, exactly 30 years on from his death in 1994 while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit in Italy. Of course, this inclusion is far from confirmed at the moment, so take it with a pinch of salt for now.

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