Iconic cars, rare artefacts and interactive fun for the family – F1 Exhibition opens in Germany

The internationally celebrated Formula 1 Exhibition has opened its doors in Germany for the first time, bringing exciting racing history, unique F1 cars and exhibits, multimedia installations, interactive elements and plenty of adrenaline and drama to OBEX in Oberhausen.

Set across an area of more than 3,000 square metres, it's taken more than five years to develop the ground-breaking exhibition, which includes contributions from leading F1 teams and drivers from the past and present, as well as Formula 1 experts.

With numerous exhibits and memorabilia, exclusive video and photo material that has never been seen before, spectacular audio and video design, expansive installations, insider facts and extraordinary objects, the Formula 1 Exhibition provides a unique perspective on the exciting history of the sport.

Visitors are taken on a journey through the most legendary, formative and moving moments in F1 history, accompanied by an audio guide, with seven iconic racing cars from different eras just some of the many highlights – allowing guests to experience motorsport history and innovations in technology and design up close.

Among the cars on display are the Ferrari F1-2000, in which legendary German F1 champion Michael Schumacher won the first of a total of five World Championship titles with Ferrari at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2000 – ending a 21-year drought for the legendary Italian team.

Other cars on display include the Mercedes W02 from 2011, also driven by Schumacher and his compatriot Nico Rosberg, which helped lay the foundations for Mercedes-Benz's historic dominance. From 2014 to 2021, the German brand won eight Constructors' titles and seven Drivers' titles.

Schumacher and Rosberg were the first German driver duo since 1955 in the ‘Silver Arrows’, and the famous and very rare Mercedes W154 is also on display in the exhibition. With its groundbreaking design, technical excellence and dominance in the late 1930s, it reached incredible speeds of over 300kph and became a symbol of Mercedes' innovative strength and pursuit of performance.

The Arrows A8 F1, with its BMW engine, the Toro Rosso STR2, the Red Bull Racing RB16B – in which Max Verstappen won his first title in 2021 – and the iconic Matra MS80-02 that Sir Jackie Stewart drove to victory in five races in 1969 to secure his first Championship, also feature.

Spread across seven specially-designed themed rooms, which were conceived in collaboration with renowned curators, artists and filmmakers, the vehicles form one of the centrepieces of the exhibition, which has much more to offer – including a dedicated German-themed room.

Germany's incredible Formula 1 history can be characterised by technical excellence, legendary drivers and historic victories. The German Drive room celebrates this heritage by showcasing the greatest moments in Formula 1 on German racetracks – such as the Nordschleife, the Nürburgring and the Hockenheimring – or by German drivers, as well as special memorabilia and exclusive content.

Exceptional talents such as Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, with 11 titles between them, cemented the country's place among the sport's elite, before Rosberg built on that legacy by winning the 2016 World Championship with Mercedes.

The 90-minute journey through the world of F1 begins with Once Upon A Time In Formula 1, a gallery of previously unpublished photos, films, artefacts and numerous interviews with the sport's most famous personalities, taking visitors through some of the most popular and defining moments in F1 history.

The Design Lab gives a rare insight into the development of an F1 car and shows how the teams design and produce new components. This is followed by the Drivers and Duels room, which celebrates the most legendary drivers and memorable moments since Formula 1 started in 1950.

Revolution By Design is all about innovation and ingenuity, ground-breaking technical advances and the unique power of Formula 1 design. The next section, Survival, focuses on Romain Grosjean's dramatic crash in Bahrain in 2020, featuring the remnants of his Haas car and a video installation with unpublished interviews.

The exhibition ends with a spectacular finale. Pit Wall is an immersive multimedia experience that brings the greatest and most captivating moments in F1 history to life once again.

The exhibition also pays tribute to some of the impressive women who have played a key role in the success and popularity of motorsport and Formula 1, and offers visitors the unique opportunity to take a photo with the Hockenheim trophy won by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 1999.

The Formula 1 Exhibition offers a variety of interactive and educational elements for all ages, including state-of-the-art F1 racing simulators.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said: “We are excited to bring the F1 Exhibition to Germany. Since our first show in Madrid, the Exhibition has been a great success in showcasing Formula 1’s history.

"Germany as a country is integral to the sport’s story with iconic tracks such as the Nürburgring and great champions including Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, whose legacies we still feel today. We cannot wait for fans in Germany to delve deeper into F1 and learn more about the sport they love.”