Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025: F1 Legends, Cars, Innovation
Legendary drivers and riders converged on the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard for an unforgettable weekend that celebrated motorsport excellence. The 2025 theme, ‘The Winning Formula – Champions & Challengers,’ honoured the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship and inspired the festival’s most extensive tribute yet.
Crowds roared on Saturday afternoon when the Balcony of Goodwood House welcomed Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972, 1974), Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973), Jacques Villeneuve (1997), Mario Andretti (1978), Mika Häkkinen (1998, 1999) and Nigel Mansell (1992) alongside Bernie Ecclestone, Karun Chandhok and The Duke of Richmond.
More than one hundred Formula 1 cars filled the expanded F1 Pit Lane paddocks, bringing every era of the championship to life. The Prologue revisited the inaugural AIACR Manufacturers’ World Championship of 1925, the Pioneers captured Formula 1’s first decade, and the Innovators, curated by Adrian Newey, highlighted ground-breaking engineering. The Underdogs celebrated unlikely challengers, the Champions honoured title-winning heroes, and the Teams showcased today’s grid, with representatives from Formula 1 and nine current squads enhancing the spectacle.
Atlassian Williams Racing, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG Petronas, MoneyGram Haas, Oracle Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari HP, Stake F1 Team, Kick Sauber and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls all appeared. Haas fielded Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, while Liam Lawson and Valtteri Bottas joined their teams. Team principals Ayao Komatsu and James Vowles tackled the Hill, and Gene Haas drove one of his cars for the first time.
The Central Feature outside Goodwood House saluted Gordon Murray Automotive, with a striking sculpture uniting the Brabham BT52 and GMA T.50. Across the estate, GMA celebrated Professor Gordon Murray CBE’s six-decade career, and Dario Franchitti opened the hillclimb in a T.50 on Thursday morning.
Festival organisers honoured several icons. Le Mans legend Derek Bell enjoyed a Balcony Moment and drove the Porsche 962C that carried him to one of his five victories at La Sarthe. The event also revisited the sizzling summer of 1995, marking 30 years since Carl Fogarty’s second WorldSBK crown and Colin McRae’s World Rally Championship. Fogarty reunited with his Ducati 916, and McRae’s Subaru Impreza 555 returned to the Hill.
Other luminaries included Damon Hill, Dario Franchitti, Emanuele Pirro, Jacky Ickx, Jamie Chadwick, John McGuinness, Karen Gillard, Karun Chandhok, Lia Block, Travis Pastrana and Sarah Bovy, each adding star power to the Sussex celebration.
Global marques chose Goodwood to reveal headline models such as the Alpine A290 Rallye, Aston Martin DB12 Volante, Audi e-tron GT Quattro, BMW Vision Driving Experience, Defender 110 Trophy Edition, Denza Z9 GT, Ferrari F80, Honda Civic Type R Ultimate Edition, Hyundai IONIQ 6 N, Jaecoo 5, Lamborghini Temerario, Lanzante 95-59, McLaren W1 and the Praga Bohema.
FOS Future Lab, presented by Randox, showcased breakthroughs in robotics, maritime technology, spatial computing, and eco-conscious mobility. Visitors met Ameca, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, examined a detailed 3D-printed model of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance and explored cutting-edge healthcare innovations with Randox.
STEM Lab by EDB featured Atlassian Williams Racing’s interactive display, inviting visitors to test Formula 1 equipment, study a wind-tunnel model and tackle hands-on engineering challenges before posing on the podium.
The Cartier Style et Luxe Lawn marked its 30th edition with over forty exquisite vehicles across seven classes. Judges, including fashion designer Alice Temperley, Rolls-Royce CEO Chris Brownridge and Sir Jony Ive, awarded ‘Best of Show’ to the 1951 Facel Bentley Cresta II.
Friday’s Bonhams|Cars auction saw the 2023 Mercedes-AMG ONE Coupé fetch £2,456,600, the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster achieve £866,200, and the 2007 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Coupé realise £1,527,000, underlining Goodwood’s status as a premier sales stage.
Throughout the weekend, the festival supported King’s Trust International, the charity founded by His Majesty King Charles III to combat global youth unemployment. Volunteers collected donations and highlighted programmes that equip young people with life-changing skills and confidence.
