LEGO APX Review: The APXGP Team Race Car Is LEGO’s Smartest Movie F1 Move Yet| Mark's Magic

After covering the entire Formula 1 Speed Champions lineup this year, LEGO surprised fans with something slightly different — and slightly smarter. The LEGO APXGP Team Race Car (77252) arrives not as a real-world F1 machine, but as a movie car from F1: The Movie. Officially launching on January 1st, the set marks one of the first Speed Champions releases of the new season. And yet, after a closer look, this LEGO APX review shows that it might be one of the most interesting and strategically positioned Speed Champions cars LEGO has released in recent years.

LEGO APX Set Overview

The LEGO APX (77252) includes 268 pieces, carries a price tag of $27.99, and launches on January 1st. At first glance, it fits right in with the rest of the Speed Champions F1 cars — same scale, same overall proportions, and the familiar modern F1 silhouette.

However, this is not a real Formula 1 car. The movie cars used during filming were heavily modified F2 cars, which immediately raises an important question in any APX review: how would LEGO translate those differences into a Speed Champions build?

Box Contents & Stickers

Inside the box, you’ll find:

• 4 numbered bags

• 1 unnumbered bag containing the wheels and main chassis

• Instruction manual

• Sticker sheet

With 27 stickers, the LEGO APX avoids becoming overly sticker-heavy — a welcome change compared to many F1-style Speed Champions sets.

Building Experience: Familiar Yet Distinct

If you’ve built recent Speed Champions F1 cars, parts of the LEGO APX will feel familiar.

Shared Architecture

• Rear axle structure built using studded Technic bricks, similar to several 2025 F1 sets (including Mercedes-AMG)

• Front wing and nose assembly identical across the Speed Champions F1 range

• Printed wheels with different front and rear sizes, now standard for the theme

Unique LEGO APX GP Elements

Where this LEGO APX review becomes interesting is in the areas LEGO chose to redesign:

• Sidepods feature a completely different layout, including a noticeable gap not seen on other Speed Champions F1 cars

• Engine cover and rear section are genuinely unique, not simple recolors

• While some parts are shared with the McLaren set, the extensions and proportions are clearly different

Structurally, the LEGO APX is also one of the sturdiest Speed Champions F1 builds. The floor is solid, side elements stay firmly attached, and the model feels surprisingly playable.

Parts, Prints & Design Details

The set includes a generous selection of pearl gold elements, including some parts that are new in this color. LEGO also makes several clever design choices:

• Rearview mirrors built using minifigure spoon elements

• A gold minifigure ski piece running down the center of the engine cover

• A balanced mix of printed parts and stickers

One minor drawback worth mentioning in this APX review is the gold color consistency. While the gold used in prints and stickers matches well, it does not perfectly align with the pearl gold plastic pieces. In areas where the gold lines should visually connect, the difference can be noticeable.

Minifigures: A Major LEGO APX Advantage

One of the biggest surprises in the LEGO APX set is the inclusion of two named minifigures:

• Sonny Hayes

• Joshua Pearce

This immediately sets the LEGO APX apart from the official F1 Speed Champions lineup, which generally includes only one generic driver per car.

Minifigure highlights:

• Nicely printed torsos (identical designs)

• No arm or leg printing

• Brand-new dual-expression head prints

• Printed helmets featuring signatures

• Extra hair pieces for both characters

For collectors, these minifigures significantly increase the value of the LEGO APX.

Price, Value & Identity

At $28, the LEGO APX is slightly more expensive than the 2025 Speed Champions F1 cars, but this reflects the new 2026 pricing standard. Even the upcoming F1 Academy car, with fewer pieces and only one minifigure, will cost the same.

This creates an interesting contradiction:
The LEGO APX is not a real F1 car, yet visually it blends seamlessly into an F1 Speed Champions display.

By including two exclusive, named characters, LEGO turns the APXGP Team Race Car into one of the best value sets in the lineup. You are essentially buying a solid Speed Champions F1 car — and unexpectedly getting a major movie tie-in at the same time.

Final Thoughts: LEGO APX Review Verdict 

Wrapping up this LEGO APX review, it’s clear why the comments section is so split—in a good way. A lot of fans are calling the LEGO APX (77252 APXGP Team Race Car) an easy “buy,” and the most repeated reason is simple: the two named minifigures. Multiple viewers said the dual minifigs instantly boost value, and it also makes sense thematically—people pointed out it would feel weirder if a movie car shipped with a generic driver. On top of that, the black-and-gold livery is getting huge praise, with several commenters comparing it to the iconic John Player Special–style vintage look, even saying it looks better than many real F1 liveries.

That said, not everyone’s rushing to grab it day one. A common “real fan” take is: “I already have enough F1 cars”, so some plan to wait for discounts or prioritize other 2026 sets (like the Delorean, or the colorful F1 Academy/F4-style car). A few also nitpicked details—like wishing for an alternate helmet color—while others joked about the rear area looking like two Duracell batteries lined up, which basically confirms the design is memorable enough for people to meme.

Overall, the vibe is: if you like the movie, want standout minifigs, or love black-and-gold cars, LEGO APX is a strong pick—possibly one of the best “value-per-box” entries in the Speed Champions lineup. If you’re already deep into the 2025 F1 collection, you might be a “wait for sale” person, but even then, most commenters still agree: the livery and minifigs make this one hard to ignore.

Check to get your premium display case for Lego APX GP!