The Silverstone Museum has unveiled a new exhibition in honor of Formula 1’s 75th anniversary. The Race visited to explore the collection and gain insights into the assembly process of such exhibits.
In celebration of F1’s milestone, the museum, which opened in 2019, features a rotating selection of historic and contemporary F1 cars and memorabilia. This special exhibition will be on display until October of this year.
Recently, George Russell’s 2023 Mercedes W14 joined the collection, adding to notable vehicles like Jenson Button’s 2009 Brawn, the legendary Lotus 72, Red Bull’s 2014 RB10, Nigel Mansell’s championship-winning FW14B, and the 2000 McLaren MP4/15.
Notably, Graham Hill’s 1962 championship car, the BRM P578, and Damon Hill’s 1996 title-winning Williams FW18 are exhibited next to each other—a world first, according to museum curator Rob Jaina, who confirmed this with F1 historian Doug Nye.
Among the latest additions is the Leyton House March CG891, designed by Adrian Newey. There’s also a diverse range of F1 helmets, trophies, and car parts on display. Visitors can even experience some classic cars virtually using the museum’s simulators.
Upcoming Exhibits
In the coming weeks, the first McLaren F1 car raced by Lando Norris, the MCL34, will join the collection, along with a modern Alpine F1 car and potentially a Haas F1 car, marking their first appearances at the museum. Additionally, the iconic ‘sharknose’ Ferrari F156, which Enzo Ferrari infamously decided to cut up after a disappointing 1962 season, will be featured.
Building an F1 Museum Collection
Curating a collection of F1 vehicles is a challenging task. To gain insight into the process, The Race spoke with Rob Jaina, the museum’s head of learning and engagement. Jaina explained, “A significant part of my role involves sourcing vehicles for the museum; everything here is on loan.” He emphasized the importance of relationships with teams, especially since funding is limited.
Jaina detailed how he communicates with teams like Mercedes, thanks to his connections. Mercedes maintains a comprehensive heritage collection, retaining every component, even those from damaged cars like the Brawn GP001, acquired when they took over the team. He also mentioned, “Some cars are privately owned, requiring careful relationship-building. Many of these vehicles are valued at millions, so owners need assurance that they will be well cared for.”
