LEGO City's F1 range is welcoming the new Audi team just in time, proving that pint-sized fans still have a place in LEGO Formula 1.
Audi's Formula 1 debut in the 2026 season is being mirrored across City and Speed Champions this March, as the LEGO Group is quick off the mark with the latest update to the grid. Differences in detail and audiences mean that 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car may not seem as appealing as the Speed Champions version, but those fans may just be outside the target demographic.
60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car is the only Formula 1 model in 2026 for City so far, essentially acting as an update to the theme's racing range in the same sense that 77259 Audi Revolut F1 Team R26 is an F1 update for Speed Champions. Both serve to bring Audi in, lining up with the 2026 season.
Where 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car differs from 77259 Audi Revolut F1 Team R26 is the contents. Collectors of either theme will only need the new Audi vehicle to complete the range, but City's set comes with a hefty truck model that increases the price in comparison. That fact doesn't reflect the quality of the City model, but it raises expectations for the set, and in turn brings up the question of how many collectors there are for the City sets, which are less detailed and slightly more expensive to collect.
All 11 LEGO Speed Champions F1 models would set you back £252.89 without any discount, while the City builds come to £278.93. They are, however, intended for a younger audience who simply may not be interested in collecting every team, but just their favourites. It was reported in August last year that 43% of F1 fans are under 35, up from 30% in 2018, and while LEGO City's traditional target audience is very much at the bottom end of that scale, we're starting to see Formula 1 skew younger.
This context has shaped 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car, ensuring that the City set can be a substantial standalone update, though one that comes at a higher cost than that of Speed Champions. At £39.99 / $44.99 / €44.99 for over 500 pieces, it's not terrible value, though it may come across as expensive for what is initially perceived as an update to the theme's F1 range. The fact is that 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car is much more than this, though.
60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car comes across as a surprisingly noteworthy model. The building experience is approachable but in-depth. From the steps for minifigures to get into the truck to the different designs for the front and back wheels, it's one of LEGO City's most complex vehicles in recent memory, but it is by no means impossible for younger fans to tackle.
The truck isn't the main attraction here, of course; that honour goes to the timely F1 car. This is where the LEGO City set is ultimately lacking, thanks to the simplistic style already set out in the theme. The new Speed Champions Audi F1 car has an updated design to reflect the changes to the vehicles in the new season of the motorsport. The City model, by comparison, is nearly identical to any other recent F1 car in the theme.
On the one hand, it perfectly matches the other City F1 cars. On the other hand, it's not as up-to-date as it could be. This probably won't matter much to a younger audience, though. For any smaller Formula 1 fans, just having Audi on their track as they see in the races on TV is likely going to be enough. That ethos is the driving force behind all of 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car – play first, visuals second.
While the car has only the reliable function of rolling along, the truck is notably jam-packed from front to back. At the front, you'll find a removable engine under the hood ready to make repairs. Behind the driver's cabin, there are two doors with room to hold all of the accessories and tools for when the team gets to the track. These two functions greatly accommodate the set's included minifigures, ready to re-enact scenes from race day.
It's all capped off with the primary feature of the loading function. Building this aspect of 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car was a sufficient learning experience, even for this older LEGO fan. It's incredibly well designed and fluid. Most importantly, it works in the sense that younger F1 fans can drive the car up the ramp, lift the platform on to the truck and drive away.
Such a necessary function has been achieved excellently, though some kind of connection to keep the Audi car secure on the platform would have been a great bonus. As it stands, its rear tyres are prone to slipping off, yet it doesn't ruin the experience. The fact that the other features are also included in the model helps to elevate this set beyond our initial expectations.
You can even remove the few black printed F1 liveries and have a standard truck to transport any kind of vehicle in your City. It's not too specific to Formula 1, giving the set a sense of versatility as well.
The minifigures in 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car are good, but nothing to write home about. That can be said about Speed Champions minifigures as well, since the car is almost always the main attraction. The three included minifigures are just enough to have some fun with the set's contents, and any more wouldn't have been able to fit within the vehicles. Getting two more of the orange F1 jackets is also useful for anyone building up a crew in their collection.
Of the two sets in the LEGO Group's March 2026 Audi F1 update, 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car is starkly different to 77259 Audi Revolut F1 Team R26. It prioritises play over display, even at the cost of no updates to the car. While Speed Champions tends to skew towards an older audience, City is keeping its focus on kids. It's a smart move and makes certain that children are still included in the necessary Audi update.
60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car is certainly more expensive than it needs to be. But the additional builds beyond the Audi vehicle are well-designed and, most importantly, immensely playable. It's also nice to see that the LEGO Group is still covering all bases as the F1 partnership continues, even if the F1 Academy aspect has yet to reach City's shores.
Older F1 enthusiasts don't have much reason to pick up 60493 F1 Display Truck with Audi F1 Race Car over 77259 Audi Revolut F1 Team R26, and the set simply isn't designed for them. Instead, the LEGO City model is great for smaller hands and anyone looking for a transport truck at a reasonable price.
Our honest opinion: There's enough novelty here for younger Formula 1 fans to justify a purchase, but everyone else should instead look to LEGO Speed Champions.
This LEGO set was provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes.
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