During the 2025 Miami Grand Prix drivers’ parade, a lighthearted moment captured the attention of fans worldwide when Nico Hulkenberg hilariously fell over his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto while navigating life-sized, working Lego cars. The parade, held just before the main race, featured drivers racing around the track in full-scale LEGO models of current Formula 1 cars, adding a unique and entertaining twist to the event.
The collaboration between LEGO and Formula 1 created an unforgettable spectacle by equipping the teams with these special cars, each made up of over 4 million bricks, fitted with real Pirelli tires, and capable of speeds up to 20 kph. With 26 experts contributing more than 22,000 hours, the miniature replicas brought smiles as the grid mapped out the Miami GP circuit in these slow-moving, yet functional, models.
As drivers competed playfully, many bumped into one another without consequence. The most notable incident involved the Sauber duo. Gabriel Bortoleto was seen braking sharply to avoid a stationary Haas LEGO car, which caused Hulkenberg to lose balance and fall in a comical moment captured on social media. Such playful antics illustrated the drivers’ camaraderie ahead of the high-stakes race itself.
Nico Hulkenberg, now in his first season with Sauber after the team’s complete driver lineup overhaul post-2024, has been navigating a challenging start. While Sauber’s performance has improved compared to last year, the team remains near the back of the standings. Hulkenberg managed to score points at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix but has finished outside the top 10 in subsequent races.
Beyond the fun of the LEGO parade, Hulkenberg showed awareness of the intense competition among championship leaders. Referencing the close battle between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen earlier in the season at the Saudi Arabian GP, he remarked that such fierce rivalry would continue as drivers fight relentlessly for the title.
Currently, McLaren leads both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships, with a tight contest among McLaren’s drivers and Verstappen for individual honors. While Hulkenberg battles at the rear with Sauber, his insights underline the complexities shaping this dynamic season, blending moments of humor with the seriousness of high-level competition.
