Why Only LEGO’s Red Bull F1 Cars (RB20 & VCARB 01) Are Adults-Only LEGO Speed Champions F1 Kits
LEGO’s Speed Champions F1 series has exploded in popularity, with 2025 marking the first time the brand has offered a buildable version of every car on the Formula 1 grid. Whether you’re into Ferrari’s scarlet red, McLaren’s papaya, or Mercedes’ silver arrows, there’s something for every F1 fan.
But if you look closely at the boxes, you’ll notice something unusual: while most cars are rated 10+, two sets stand out with a bold 18+ label. The exceptions? LEGO’s Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 and the Visa Cash App RB VCARB 01, are which are unique within the LEGO Speed Champions F1 collection.
So why are these Red Bull kits restricted to adults when Ferrari, McLaren, and the rest of the grid aren’t? The answer has nothing to do with building complexity—and everything to do with sponsorship and advertising rules.
The Real Reason Red Bull LEGO Sets Are Rated 18+
It’s Not the Pieces or Difficulty
Both the Red Bull RB20 and the RB VCARB 01 have roughly the same piece counts as Ferrari, Mercedes, or Aston Martin sets. Build time averages about 1–2 hours, with 250–300 pieces—right in line with the rest of the Speed Champions lineup.
So why the adult-only rating?
Energy Drink Branding Restrictions
The culprit is Red Bull’s sponsorship portfolio. Energy drinks like Red Bull are age-restricted products in many countries:
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In much of Europe, sales to minors (under 16 or even 18) are restricted.
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Advertising rules ban direct marketing of these products to children.
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Formula 1’s Red Bull Racing team is essentially one giant marketing platform for the brand.
Since LEGO prides itself on authentic details, removing Red Bull’s logos would make the model feel incomplete. Instead of stripping the branding, LEGO chose to keep the full livery intact but add an 18+ age label to comply with advertising regulations.
A LEGO spokesperson explained it simply: where sponsors aren’t appropriate for children, LEGO either leaves them out—or, in this case, reflects it in the set’s recommended age rating.
Why Ferrari and Others Stay at 10+
Ferrari’s SF-24, McLaren’s MCL38, and most other F1 Speed Champions cars carry the standard 10+ rating. That’s because their primary sponsors are:
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Automotive companies (Shell, Mercedes-Benz, Honda)
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Technology firms (AWS, Dell, Qualcomm)
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Luxury and fashion brands (Tommy Hilfiger, Richard Mille)
While some cars do carry alcohol or betting sponsors in real life, LEGO either:
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Removes or modifies those logos (e.g., Ferrari’s Peroni branding isn’t on the LEGO version), or
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Uses neutral designs that still look authentic without breaching marketing laws.
As a result, Ferrari and other non-Red Bull kits can remain in the 10+ range, making them accessible to kids while still appealing to adult collectors.
What This Means for Buyers
For Parents
If your child wants a Ferrari or Mercedes F1 car, the 10+ sets are perfectly fine and designed for kids. The 18+ label on Red Bull’s cars doesn’t mean they’re harder—it just means LEGO legally can’t market them to children.
For Collectors
Don’t let the 18+ badge mislead you. The Red Bull RB20 and VCARB 01 are just as approachable as the Ferrari SF-24 or McLaren MCL38. The difference is in branding compliance, not build quality or complexity.
Many collectors still seek out the 18+ Red Bull sets because they come closest to replicating the real F1 cars’ iconic liveries—complete with the famous charging bull logo.
Build & Display Comparison
Across the lineup, you can expect:
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Piece Count: ~250–300 pieces per set
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Build Time: 1–2 hours
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Skill Level: Intermediate (perfect for ages 10 and up)
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Display Value: Highly detailed, accurate proportions, authentic sponsor branding where possible
In other words, the building experience is nearly identical across Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, and others.
The Bottom Line
The reason LEGO’s Red Bull RB20 and Visa Cash App RB VCARB 01 are rated 18+ has nothing to do with difficulty—it’s entirely due to energy drink branding restrictions. Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and the rest of the grid stay at 10+ because their sponsors don’t trigger the same legal limitations.
So whether you’re buying for a young F1 fan or growing your display collection, the choice comes down to team loyalty and livery preference—not the number on the box.
Ready to build your grid? Shop the full LEGO Speed Champions F1 Collection here