The most comprehensive exhibition on the rolling circus landed in Amsterdam, and we took the first opportunity to pay a visit. The exhibition opened in April and will remain on display for the weeks to come (update: the announced date of closure is 7 September). For more info, see their website. The venue is provided by the Kromhouthal, on the outskirts of Amsterdam (the address is Gedempt Hamerkanaal 231). The exhibition centre offered several halls, filling our visit with informative, pleasant and, at times, exciting experiences.
The first hall is titled Once Upon a Time in Formula 1, honouring three iconic F1 constructors. The list includes Enzo Ferrari, Peter Sauber and Sir Frank Williams, with one of their creations.
The 2010 Ferrari was not the most successful car from the Scuderia, though Alonso just missed his third title by a few points. Also, the 1998 Sauber is a car that did not leave significant traces in racing history (finishing sixth in the constructor’s championship, with Jean Alesi and Johnny Herbert behind the wheel). Despite the brilliance of Adrian Newey, the FW13B could not live up to the glorious past or future of Williams F1 cars with the blue-yellow-white livery, as both FW11 and FW14 managed to secure the contractor’s title.
The three cars, however, illustrate well their respective decades, and the organisers managed to gather rare artefacts and interviews. Not bad for a start.
The next hall focuses on the drivers’ duels and is inspired by the sport’s many champions lining up almost 100 helmets and dozens of uniforms from every period, offering a unique collection of historic memorabilia. This is the part where the exhibition gets more interactive, with games to test your skills.
The next hall is called Design Lab, a factory-themed room offering insight into how Formula 1 teams develop the various elements for each season’s new car.
In addition to a Red Bull Racing RB16B, the room features a range of individual parts and components courtesy of Red Bull Racing, Williams Racing, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, McLaren and Pirelli.
The RB16B is another interesting choice for the exhibition. It was designed and constructed by Red Bull Racing to compete in the 2021 Formula One World Championships season. While the 2021 season saw Max Verstappen claim the first driver’s title via a somewhat controversial final race, the RB16B actually finished second behind Mercedes.
The next hall is dedicated to revolutionary designs, honouring breakthrough innovations in the sport and exploring the new technologies that lie ahead, with contributions from McLaren, Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes Petronas F1 Team, Classic Team Lotus, and many more.
The first featured car is a Lotus 33 from 1965, driven by Jim Clark to victory at the 1965 Dutch Grand Prix and secure the world championship. Looking at these cars, we noticed that they differ from previous exhibitions, and most of them have a connection to the Netherlands.
The next car will undoubtedly warm the hearts of the Dutch audience, as this was the car in which reigning world champion Max Verstappen completed his first laps in F-1. A 17-year-old Max drove the Toro Rosso STR9 during free practice at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2014.
The next segment shows the frightening accident of Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. After colliding with another car, his Haas hit the barrier at high speed, splitting the car in half and igniting the fuel, engulfing him in flames. It was the most frightening crash of the past decades. However, it also demonstrated how far passive safety systems developed in Formula 1 as Grosjean emerged with minimal injuries.
The front half of the wreckage of Grosjean’s car is now on display since 2023, making its way to Amsterdam.
The last spectacle is an audiovisual finale that enacts a pit wall, aiming to provide a climax with a six-minute extravaganza of light and sound honouring past legends.
Altogether, we spent a good hour there and left with a positive impression. The exhibition is highly interactive, offering a variety of games and experiments. It is also truly four-dimensional, featuring audiovisual illustrations, especially in the finale with its immersive projections. The venue also features a souvenir shop and a lineup of simulators, available for an extra fee, of course.
The cars cover nearly every decade of F1 from several iconic teams. Most artefacts seemed originals. If you live in the area, we highly recommend passing by, it is definitely worth the trip. In case you live far away, however, there is a chance that the exhibition will come near you in the future, as it has already been hosted by several cities in the continent and worldwide.
