LEGO 71049 F1 Collectible Race Cars: What could have been?

Although LEGO 71049 F1 Collectible Race Cars have impressed many now that they're out, there's still a lot that could have been in a Formula 1 series.

One week on from the release of 71049 F1 Collectible Race Cars, anyone who really wants the smallest version of a Formula 1 car that the LEGO Group has made yet should have been able to get one. Available in blind boxes (that you can scan to find the car you're looking for using Brick Search), there's one 29-piece car for each of the Formula 1 teams, as well as F1 and F1 Acamemy branded cars to round out a set of 12.

This marks a major change for the LEGO Collectible Minifigures theme, which has until now, as the name would suggest, always included minifigures. A period of change opens up a lot of doors – and we can't help but think about some of the other possibilities.

A straightforward Formula 1 CMF

What many Formula 1 fans are calling for is a straightforward Formula 1 Collectible Minifigure series. While a series based on the current grid would be tricky – the rapid rookie changes alone in 2025 would have made this an impossible task for the LEGO Group to manage – picking out 12 iconic Formula 1 drivers who have not yet appeared as minifigures would be a pretty easy task.

This would also have offered the chance for some detailed torso and leg prints, recreating old-school driver suits. We're thinking Michael Schumacher in Ferrari red, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jackie Stewart, and Niki Lauda.

Returning to some classic icons of the sport would have been a great way to pull in long-term Formula 1 fans, where the LEGO City, Speed Champions, and Technic sets have the most appeal to fans of the sport in recent years.

More of a motivation to pick up all 12

With all the builds and cars being fairly repetitive, aside from the colour, the only motivation to pick up all 12 cars is to get a full grid (and the extra two, which have admittedly excellent prints). Adding a little extra something, like sections of track that you could then send the cars hurtling around, would have made them more enticing to pick up a full set.

Plus, adding track sections would lean into the play features of the cars. Despite being so small, the brick-built cars are remarkably sturdy and lend themselves well to play, and that effect would only be increased if there was a track to race them on – even though this might impact the price, admittedly.

If it's about the build, make it more about the build

One difference from the previous CMF series that was immediately apparent is that the build is certainly more involved, even if it's just 29 pieces. With that in mind, having a new element to really make the builds pop. Perhaps a rear wing that actually stands up, with a thinner shape to make it more streamlined, rather than a flat tile, or even a dedicated halo element that mimics its real shape more closer – but we're just spitballing here.

At the end of the day, you could probably make these cars yourself out of parts you have lying around, with just a few rarer pieces included. Adding something a little more niche or desirable might have helped take this series from good to great.

Check out our in-depth review of all 12 cars from 71049 F1 Collectible Race Cars here for more detail on all of the buildable cars.

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