An exclusive interview with racing legend Nigel Mansell
In 1992, British driver Nigel Mansell won nine Grands Prix from 14 pole positions and roared to the Formula One™ World Drivers' Championship with five races remaining of the season.
On that day he became a legend. Now, he has become a LEGO® Minifigure.
To celebrate the release of the new LEGO® Icons Williams Racing FW14B & Nigel Mansell set based on the car that won the title, we spoke to the man himself about his life, career and how he worked with our team to design the set.
The perfect partnership
It’s a few years ago now, but when we asked Nigel if he remembered seeing the new car for the first time, he remembered it exactly.
“It was fast, reliable and with cutting-edge technology that suited my style of driving perfectly,” he says. “And if you were fully committed and had absolute trust in the car, it was capable of delivering unbelievable results. I just felt something and knew together with a little luck, we could do something special.”
Well, he was certainly right about that.
Nigel won 31 Grands Prix across 15 seasons driving a number of different cars, but this one stands out for him.
“I’ve had a special relationship with every car I’ve driven, but the FW14B will always be my favorite.”
A champion car becomes a winning new set
The LEGO® Icons Williams Racing FW14B & Nigel Mansell is a detailed replica of the legendary F1 race car that propelled Nigel Mansell to victory in the 1992 season.
The set features working steering, wide rear slick tyres with printed Goodyear lettering and a detailed engine, plus a display stand with vehicle details and stats.
What are his memories of that Championship season?
“So, so many memories!” he says. “Starting the season with five straight wins created a feeling that just maybe this would be my year.”
And so it was. Do any races stand out in particular?
“Silverstone will always be special to me,” he says. “I was on pole position, led every lap, set the fastest lap of the race and won the race. The perfect weekend!”
Three generations of memories with LEGO sets
Cars might have been his lifelong obsession, but it turns out that Nigel is no stranger to LEGO bricks. “Everyone has a special memory of LEGO sets, I remember playing with them as a kid and have such fun memories of building things with my own kids and grandchildren.”
So, he must be delighted to see two of his passions coming together?
“It’s great to see the LEGO Group and F1 working together to keep young people involved in the sport.”
After the design process, Nigel was invited to Silverstone to see the model for the first time. “When I arrived at Silverstone and saw the finished product, I was delighted with the accuracy,” he says. “Hopefully, the fans who buy the model will really see the detail that has gone into recreating the Williams Racing FW14B.”
The champion. The legend. The Minifigure.
We couldn’t release a set based on the car without including its champion driver, and so this set comes with a Nigel Mansell Minifigure, complete with his trademark moustache, a helmet and a podium-style display stand featuring a photo and a quote from the legendary driver.
We asked him how it felt seeing himself as a LEGO Minifigure.
“Strange!” he says. “I’m not someone who enjoys seeing themselves on TV, but the Minifigure just looked so right beside the car. The old team was back together!”
And did we capture his famous likeness?
“The team captured my likeness perfectly!”
We aim to please!
A new set that will Formula One fans will love
Nigel Mansell’s career was packed with iconic moments and huge accomplishments. We asked where having his own LEGO set ranked amongst all of his many achievements. “It’s up there with the best,” he says. “I’m delighted that my fans and F1 fans new and old have the chance to own a little piece of racing history. Hopefully, the Williams Racing FW14B and Nigel Mansell will be remembered in years to come.”