Despite becoming a global juggernaut, Formula 1 still strongly connects to its country of origin, Britain. Several teams are based in the UK, and some of the most iconic drivers are British. That includes Williams Racing and its champion driver, Nigel Mansell. Both of these are celebrated in this new LEGO® Icons set. It is similar to the McLaren Ayrton Senna set released last year and is based on a classic F1 car. In the case of this set, it’s the Williams car driven by Nigel Mansell in 1992, which helped him clinch the F1 Championship that year. Here’s what the LEGO Icons Williams Racing FW14B & Nigel Mansell set has to offer.
Product Details
Set Name: Williams Racing FW14B & Nigel Mansell | Set Number: 10353 | Pieces: 799| Theme: Icons
Number of Bags: Bags x 5 + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: Sheet x 1 | Insiders QR: Yes
RRP: £69.99/$79.99/79.99€/99.99AUD/99.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & LEGO retailers from March 1st
The LEGO Icons theme and, before it, Creator Expert, have featured several different vehicles. Many of them have taken inspiration from iconic car brands and models. As part of the LEGO F1 Collection, Williams Racing’s 1992 F1 Car joins the Icons line-up and follows a similar set released last year. This celebrated the 1988 McLaren F1 car and its legendary driver, Ayrton Senna. This time, the set recreates the 1992 Formula 1 Championship-winning car driven by British motorsports legend Nigel Mansell.
The scale of the set is similar to some of past Icons/Creator vehicles and matches the car from the similar McLaren set. On the surface, it appears quite simple, but it still offers an advanced build experience. Not as complex as Technic sets, but still detailed enough to capture some of the car’s inner workings and its retro exterior.
As you build, you notice some of the car’s inner workings. There are also a few unique elements introduced in the set. These include a triangular bar, which becomes the car’s unique rod suspension. These hold a set of newly introduced tyre elements, complete with retro Goodyear branding. Similar to the unique wheels found in the Speed Champions F1 sets, these are a complete piece featuring both the rim and the outer tyre. Unlike the McLaren car, the front and rear tires are of different widths. Both of these new elements were featured in the McLaren set and will most likely be seen in future sets. Although the set does offer a simplified vehicle, it still offers some nice little details. The front wheels can be turned as they are linked to the steering wheel. You can also check out the car’s engine by popping off the section behind the driver’s seat. This reveals the car’s Renault engine.
The car’s exterior detail is a mix of elements and stickers. Unlike modern F1 liveries, back in the late ’90s, things were less cluttered, and the use of possible sponsors was less selective. The Williams car features sponsor logos for Canon, Goodyear and Elf. For obvious reasons, it doesn’t feature the tobacco brand sponsorship. Regardless, the overall livery matches that of the 1992 car.
With the car complete, you build a simple display stand. This slots into the base of the car, and once connected, it allows the car to sit at an angle. Turning it into the perfect display piece and great companion to the McLaren set. The stand also features a display plaque detailing the car’s stats, drivers and wins.
Nigel Mansell is a British legend and competed in Formula 1 between 198o to 1995, winning the 1992 F1 Championship. He began his F1 career with Lotus before moving to Williams. After a brief spell at Ferrari, he would end his career with a return to Williams. As the driver is just as iconic as the car, it’s even featured in a separate stand. This features a stickered plate with a quote from Mansell.
I liked the McLaren Icons set, and I’m glad to see the concept revisited for another racing legend and classic F1 car. Williams is also an important part of F1 history. During their heyday in the ’80s and ’90s, they picked up several Driver and Constructor Championships. This set is a nice celebration of the team’s achievements. A very special mention must go to the set’s minifigure; it’s a wonderful representation of Nigel Mansell and his cheeky nature. There are plenty of other drivers and classic F1 cars which would make great sets, so I hope the concept continues. The Williams Racing FW14B & Nigel Mansell set will be released on March 1st.
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The LEGO Group provided this set to BricksFanz.com for review purposes. The thoughts expressed in this review are those of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or F1. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion.
