► Open in London today
► A good look at the sport
► But tickets aren’t cheap
F1 returns from the summer break for the Dutch grand prix today but there’s another way to see some F1 machinery this weekend. Today marks the opening of the F1 Exhibition in London, new, London-based, exhibition that promises to give fans a thorough look at the technology and history of the sport. Located in ExCel centre, it’ll be running ‘til the end of the year.
What’s in it?
We were able to take a look around the exhibition at a press preview event earlier this week and found it to be a compact, contained look at what Formula One is today – and what it used to be in the past.
Of course, there’s a mixture of F1 cars (seven in total) and they make the exhibition a no-brainer if you’ve been unable to get close to race car before. There’s something for everyone here; from the classic cigar-shaped cars of the past, to the ground-effect cars of the 70s all the way through to rise of the more familiar 90s cars.
Of course, there’s something for more recent fans; from a 2021 Red Bull to a Lewis Hamilton Mercedes and the somewhat sinister remains of Romain Grosjean’s car after his huge crash at the 2020 Bahrain GP. The latter is enclosed in a glass box and resembles parts of a shipwreck more than a racing car.
Formula One has always been about technology, and the exhibition does its best to show the progression of the sport – for better or worse. From a comparison of racing overalls and powertrains to a somewhat unfavourable comparison between front-wings of the 00s and the 20’s, the exhibition does well to show the incredible rate of progression.
The cars and models are supported by detailed audio descriptions and fact panels, but also by other bits and pieces such as old race programs, scale-wind tunnel models and profiles on people such as Enzo Ferrari – all which help to build a picture of F1 beyond the cars or the Netflix shows.
There’s also an immersive experience which allows visitors to ‘sit’ on the pit wall and experience some of race, complete with all the data streams, noises and visuals a race engineer would see. And to finish off there are several simulators and a gift shop – of course
Worth it?
Is it worth going? That depends. It’s cheaper and likely more convenient than a ticket to Silverstone, and it gives you a taste of the sport with artefacts and experiences you’ll be unable to find anywhere else. It also provides a genuinely illuminating look at the history of the sport, and the route it’s taken to become the high-speed, multi-billion-dollar business it’s become today.
Which leads me to the ticket prices.
You’ll be able to see ticket prices here, and they’re everything you’d expect from F1. They’re especially expensive when you look at the price of the Silverstone Festival, also taking place this weekend. Still, it may be worth it for the sheer convenience (for some) as well as the unusual combination of exhibits.