The F1 Experience You Can't Miss (But Probably Did): Highlights from the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Goodwood Festival of Speed stands as a truly unique spectacle on the motorsport calendar, transforming West Sussex into a celebration of automotive history and exciting fans about the future of the motorsport industry. This year, there was a significant spotlight on the F1-75 celebrations happening throughout 2025, highlighting key moments in Formula 1's rich history. Through five distinct categories – Prologue, Pioneers, Innovators, Underdogs, and Champions – the event aimed to showcase the sport's origins, the revolutionary designs that raced its courses, and the unlikely heroes and iconic figures who etched their names into the history books.

Goodwood is always an amazing opportunity for fans to get up close with cars and drivers, experiencing the sights, sounds, and stories that define motorsport. And although this year it offered an unparalleled glimpse into why Formula 1 has captivated audiences for decades and how the sport continues to push the boundaries of technology, accessing it required planning and travel to Europe, much like attending a Formula 1 race. That’s where our team comes in. We traveled to Goodwood Festival of Speed to report on all the action so you don’t miss a thing (even if you did).

Prologue

The Prologue category at the Goodwood Festival of Speed served as an opening chapter in the F1-75 celebration, transporting attendees back to the early years of motorsport. This was the era before the official Formula 1 World Championship, and the event highlights the stages of international racing dating back all the way to the 1920s. It’s important for fans of the sport to have an understanding of where the motorsport industry evolved from, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed was able to meticulously showcase these earlier years. The 1920s saw events like the World Manufacturers' Championship that featured iconic teams and vehicles such as Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, and Delage.

Goodwood's inclusion of the Prologue aimed to showcase the remarkable technical progress and fierce rivalries that defined these formative decades, from the advent of supercharging by Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Maserati, to the dominance of German giants like the 650PS Mercedes W125 in the European Drivers’ Championship. By featuring cars like the Mercedes MB-W125 running up the famous hill, the event provided a tangible link to these early engineering masterpieces. This segment was crucial for illustrating that, while F1 officially began in 1950, its roots run much deeper and is built on the innovations, daring drivers, and competitive spirit that emerged from these pre-war battles, laying the essential groundwork for the global phenomenon F1 would soon become.

Pioneers

Shifting from the Prologue segment, Goodwood's Pioneers category spotlighted the resurgence of motorsport after World War II, highlighting where and when Formula 1 emerged. This segment was an essential cornerstone of the F1-75 celebration, recounting the establishment of the FIA World Championship in 1950 and Giuseppe “Nino” Farina's historic victory at Silverstone that year. Fans were able to witness the raw power of machines like the Ferrari 500/625 and the iconic Ferrari 156 Sharknose as they ascended the iconic hill. Also on display were the early cars that brought to life the Italian dominance with teams like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati, championed by legends like Ascari and Fangio.

More than just showcasing powerful cars, Pioneers aimed to meticulously showcase the transformative "rear-engine revolution" of the late 1950s, pioneered by Cooper and figures like Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham that fundamentally reshaped the F1 car design. By presenting these pivotal vehicles, including the magnificent Mercedes W196 Streamliner, the Goodwood Festival of Speed portrayed the engineering brilliance that characterized F1's emergence, and showcased the groundwork for the sport's enduring legacy of innovation.

Champions

Champions was one of the more important categories at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as it provided fans with powerful examples of legends who have shaped Formula 1's 75-year legacy. Its inclusion in the Goodwood Festival of Speed immersed fans in the sheer glory of the sport's greatest achievements, bringing them face-to-face the icons and machines that defined eras. From the early dominance of Fangio and Farina, represented by cars like the Ferrari 312T driven by Jacques Villeneuve, to the intense rivalries of Prost, Senna, and Mansell, epitomized by McLaren's MP4-4 and Williams' FW14/B, the hillclimb roared with history.

The presence of F1’s most prominent characters like Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, and a breathtaking gathering of seven World Champions on the balcony, collectively boasting 14 titles, offered an unparalleled Champions’ moment. This segment brilliantly showcased not just the technical prowess of winning cars like the Ferrari F2002 or Brawn BGP001, but the human element of genius, grit, and rivalry. It was a heartfelt tribute to the drivers who have achieved motorsport immortality, ensuring their mark on F1's rich history was celebrated with the passion they deserve.

Innovators

Innovators served as a thrilling testament to Formula 1's relentless pursuit of the cutting edge, a crucial facet of the F1-75 anniversary. This segment wasn't just about speed; it was a celebration of the incredible minds and revolutionary designs that continually reshaped the sport. Goodwood aimed to showcase how F1 has consistently been pushing boundaries within the sport. From Cooper's pioneering rear-engine layout in the late 1950s to Lotus's groundbreaking monocoque chassis in 1962, and McLaren's introduction of the carbon-fibre monocoque in 1981, the event highlighted game-changing structural leaps.

Fans witnessed the daring aerodynamic experiments like Lotus's ground effect (Lotus 78) and Brabham's notorious "Fan Car" (BT46B). The roar of the Renault RS01 and RS10, marking the turbocharging revolution with engines reaching over 1,000PS, underscored F1's power evolution. Even radical ideas like the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 and the active suspension of the Williams FW14B, which delivered up to a 2-second per lap advantage, demonstrated the sport's fearless spirit. This category powerfully illustrated F1's role as a technological laboratory, where ingenuity has always been as vital as raw pace.

Underdogs

Beyond the giants, history and the champions, the Goodwood Festival of Speed also opted to celebrate the Underdogs, because at the end of the day, who doesn’t love a good Underdog story? This category paid an incredible homage to the teams and drivers who defied immense odds, reminding everyone that Formula 1's magic often lies in its most improbable triumphs. 

There were British outfits like Vanwall, Cooper, and BRM breaking through Italian dominance in the 1950s, and Dan Gurney's self-built Eagle winning in 1967. The ultimate Cinderella tale, Brawn GP's 2009 championship, was represented by the BGP001 roaring up the hill, driven by Karun Chandok. Even contemporary teams like Haas found their place in this batch, embodying the ongoing struggle and innovation from smaller budgets. With such a showing, Goodwood aimed to highlight that these Underdog sagas are not just footnotes but integral chapters.

Current Teams

The Goodwood F1-75 celebration seamlessly transitioned from its historical narrative to the present with the Current Teams segment of the event, which offered a dynamic look at the modern cars and characters within Formula 1. This segment was crucial for connecting F1's storied past with its current technical prowess, allowing fans to witness the cutting-edge technology and branding that define the sport today. Teams like Haas celebrated their 10th anniversary with engaging activations, even featuring Gene Haas himself alongside Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon on the hill, creating memorable moments and allowing fans an inside glimpse into their favorite teams to feel closer to the sport. 

Red Bull showcased their recent championship-winning cars in a paddock display, while McLaren captivated the audience with their MCL39 in a special livery and interactive fan experience. Ferrari, Mercedes, Alpine, and Williams also maintained significant presences, with some, like Mercedes, running modern machines like the W13 E-Performance up the iconic hill. Though some teams had more subdued activations, this collective display provided a tangible link between the legendary cars of the earlier decades to the engineering marvels battling on today's global stage, reaffirming F1's continuous evolution and immense fan appeal.

From the foundational Prologue that transported us to the very dawn of international racing, through the Pioneers who engineered F1's initial breakthroughs, to the Champions whose names are etched in legend, the event offered a comprehensive journey through history. The Innovators provide a testament to Formula 1's revolutionary designs while the Underdogs reminded us of the sport's capacity for improbable triumphs, while the Current Teams showcased the cutting-edge technology and vibrant personalities defining F1 today. This immersive experience, blending roaring engines with intimate fan interactions, vividly illustrated why Formula 1 has captivated generations. The Goodwood Festival of Speed didn't merely display cars; it brought to life the narratives of innovation, courage, and relentless competition, solidifying its place as a pivotal weekend celebrating F1's remarkable past, exhilarating present, and promising future.