LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance Review: A Winning Formula?

If you’re a fan of construction toys and Formula 1 then you might be interested in the LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance. It’s a model kit for adults that features incredible details and provides hours of fun or frustration.

The 1,642-piece set can be assembled to create a 1:8 scale model of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance car that competed in the 2023 Formula One World Championship, piloted by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. The LEGO pieces come together to create a 63.8 cm (25 inches) long and 13.5 cm (5 inches) tall model that would look great on display.

We know that LEGO can be a frustrating experience at times – especially when you realised you made a mistake several hours ago and then have to start dismantling the entire model, but when everything is going well it can be the most rewarding process.

What is LEGO Technic?

The car industry and LEGO have a wonderful synergy - Maybe it’s because of the engineering that goes into both industries. LEGO Technic is a great way of showcasing the incredible craftmanship and thinking.

In short, LEGO Technic models feature (sometimes) rather complex mechanisms to create an authentic feeling, offer greater functionality, and create a sense of challenge. Some Technic sets will have sophisticated gearboxes like the LEGO Technic Land Rover Defender, while others may have nice butterfly doors. The Mercedes-AMG W14 set has a working engine and steering, there’s even a rear wing that can be adjusted – for when you need to deploy DRS.

What does the LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance come with?

It all starts with 1,642 pieces of plastic goodness that click together to create the model. There are some spare pieces in case one of those vital pieces ends up under the couch, but we’re not sure if they’re part of the 1,642 or extra. Aside from that there are 74 stickers that are stuck to individual panels to make the entire model more lifelike.

Alongside all this you get a 368-page instruction manual that will be your go-to when it comes to building the set. There are a few pages that mention the success of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team’s success and the technical expertise that goes into designing the real F1 racer. There are also a couple of pages outlining the design and thinking of the Technic model in collaboration with the Formula 1 team.

There’s even an acknowledgement of Lars Krogh Jensen, the LEGO Technic designer. As you flick through the pages of the instruction manual you won’t find much text at all – only number to indicate steps (there are 461 steps), page numbers, and quantity of pieces required for each step.

LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance: What’s good?

There’s plenty of positives to talk about when it comes to building the LEGO set, so let’s start with unboxing. The set comes in a lovely box that contains great illustrations of the model car, and inside you’ll find a load of numbered bags full of LEGO pieces. It could all get quite overwhelming if it wasn’t for the numbering. Each back is opened in order which gives the entire process a logical order.

A lot of the time you won’t realise which part of the model you’re building. It’s a rather interesting experience trying to guess the component which eventually reveals itself to be a sidepod or a part of the rear wing, for example. Some components are rather obvious like the suspension components, but you will find yourself saying ‘aaah’ a lot when things go together with a satisfying ‘click’.

Since we’re on the topic of building the Mercedes-AMG W14 model, let’s talk about the instruction manual. While it may look like something you’d find at a university library, it is rather easy to follow. There’s very little in the way of writing, and everything is explained using high-quality imagery which would have been created using computer aided software. Each section shows you which pieces you need, and some pieces that look similar are numbered so you can always be sure that you’re using the correct piece. At the bottom of some pages there’s also a graphic that’s 1:1 scale so you can compare with the real pieces to make sure you’re on the right track – pun intended.

If you’d prefer an even more immersive building experience, then you can download the LEGO builder app. The app allows you to save your progress and return later, with the added advantage of being able to see the 3D model which you can zoom and rotate. We found the app to more helpful than the instruction manual book.

There’s a huge amount of attention to detail: form the driver’s seat to the suspension mechanism, and even the front wing. You certainly get the sense that the LEGO team have had an opportunity to not only see the Formula 1 car but also understand how things work. Even without an engineering degree you can appreciate the effort that has gone into making this set. The lines and contours of a Formula 1 car are illustrated well.

Of course, with this being a Technic set there must be a few features that not only add a challenge but also make the entire model authentic. We’re not just talking about the life-like stickers here – the angle of the rear wing can be adjusted, just like in F1. Turn the steering wheel and you can control the front wheels. The suspension isn’t just for show – it really works. And lastly, lift the engine cover (behind the driver’s cockpit) to reveal the V6 engine with working pistons. This is more than just a toy to place on your mantel, it's a fully immersive display model that you can show off to your friends and family.

Other details include the wheels and tyres, that are fully slick like you find in F1, and they certainly make you feel part of the pit crew when you assemble them at the end of the build. We’re sure this was done on purpose, but we can’t say we matched the 1.8-second pit stop performed by McLaren in 2023.

One of our favourite features of the finished product is the suspension which appears realistic. While the W13 suffered porpoising issues, the W14 model here has plenty of suspension travel to mimic on-track performance.

LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance: What’s okay?

As with most LEGO sets there are loads of small pieces, which not only means that this set isn’t suitable for children, but it also means that some pieces can be misplaced. Thankfully there are several spare pieces, but that does make you question yourself at the end of every chapter. Only some of the pieces have a spare, so be sure not to lose the wrong piece. We’re still wondering how LEGO choose which pieces need to have a spare – we’re sure LEGO have a rather technical way of understanding which pieces are lost more often.

This set, as with other LEGO Technic sets, is designed to be assembled over the course of several hours. Expect to spend over 5 hours building in total, which you can spread over the course of several days or even weeks. We suggest you take a leisurely approach and enjoy it along the way. We found the best way to undertake the build was to find a nice large area where we could leave the model so we could return to it whenever possible.

When building the W14 Technic model it is important to make sure you pay attention to details. Insert a piece upside down or the wrong way and you’ll regret it later. We will mention it is easy to put a piece in backwards so bear that in mind. The LEGO Builder app should be helpful here.

LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance: What’s bad?

We wouldn’t say there is much that’s bad. There’s a great deal of functional features that contain lovely details, but a lot of the exterior features are completed using the provided stickers. We found that the stickers are rather difficult to line-up nicely, and you don’t get any spare stickers so make sure you get it right.

The finished product is a lot larger than you would think. It’s certainly longer than the LEGO Technic McLaren P1 Hypercar, so you would need to clear some space if you want to display it. This might not necessarily be a bad thing as it means you get a lot for your money, but if you’re short on space then you should avoid this set.

The only other downside to the Mercedes-AMG F1 set is that it won’t appeal to fans of other Formula One teams: Red Bull or Ferrari fans might not appreciate it as much, and the only other 1:8 scale F1 set is a McLaren Formula 1 set so options are limited.

LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance: Price

This set costs £189.99, but we found this set for £149.49 from the official LEGO Store on Amazon. This is around the similar price-range to the Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hypercar, and considerably lower-priced than the Ferrari Daytona SP3 set.

LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance: Verdict

Fans of Formula One rejoice. The Mercedes-AMG W14 is a great LEGO Technic set that offers hours of enjoyment and incredible levels of detail. There is a level of challenge to the entire set, but whether you’re building for fun or meticulous about LEGO, there’s something for everyone. Underneath it’s similar to the McLaren Formula 1 set but on the exterior it offers a refined shape and smoother contours.

There’s certainly a great deal of thought and engineering that’s gone into creating this set, and it shows in the features. From the rear wing to the moving pistons in the V6 engine – the W14 set offers a wonderful balance between design and functionality. The functions aren’t gimmicky either, they represent some of the more interesting features of the sport that we love.

If you’re afraid the set won’t offer a rewarding experience then fear not, the F1 model is enjoyable to assemble and lovely to look at. If you’re gifting this set to a fellow petrolhead then we’re sure they’ll love it. It can be built over the course of several weekends during F1 races, somewhat like F1 teams adding upgrades to the car.

LEGO Technic is an addictive hobby – one that requires patience, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Now, where’s the company credit card?

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How the LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance was tested

To put it plain and simple: The LEGO Technic model was assembled over the course of several days. We kept returning to the set and building in 1-hour intervals, which was enough time to complete two bags (out of 12) worth of pieces, give or take. The total build took around six hours with minimal need to correct mistakes.

Who tested the LEGO Technic Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance?

This LEGO set was tested by our resident LEGO enthusiast, Naveed Hussain. He has two engineering degrees so who better to put the Technic model to test. Naveed’s LEGO ‘career’ goes as far back as he can remember, often seen building racing circuits when he’d finished his key stage 3 homework.

__Naveed Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He enjoys anything with four wheels, and is always planning his next road trip.__

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