Elaborate podium festivities are typical in Formula 1, featuring the leading trio exchanging acknowledgements with esteemed figures, spraying sparkling wine, and accepting their accolades after each grand prix. However, the conceptualization and construction of the accolades they hoist commences many months before the illuminated signals mark the commencement of an F1 event.
Accolades have been integral to F1 from its inception, exemplified by the Mervyn O’Gorman accolade presented to Giuseppe Farina upon his triumph at the 1950 British Grand Prix. Progressing forward, accolades have evolved into more complex and elaborate creations, encompassing diverse presentations from track replications and promotional insignia to uniquely crafted awards.
When initiating the design process for an F1 accolade, a key determination involves selecting the designer. According to representatives from the Japanese race at Suzuka, the design authority can be delegated among three entities, granting priority to the race’s primary sponsor, followed by the national motor sports authority (the Japan Automobile Federation), and lastly, the circuit management itself.
Following the designation of the design authority, a spectrum of stipulations is outlined within F1’s accolade guidelines, ensuring adherence to predetermined standards.
“Specified dimensions and weight restrictions are in place to enable victorious racers to raise the accolades without undue physical strain,” explained Ken Ozawa, creative director at Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc.
F1 mandates size differentials between accolades for first, second, and third positions, alongside regulations specifying logo and designation requirements.
Outside of these constraints, Ozawa conveys, “design possibilities remain virtually unlimited”.
Dutch GP trophy
For locales such as Zandvoort, this resulted in drawing upon the history intrinsic to the event, mirroring a design that debuted in 1939. Similarly, venues like Albert Park retain historically significant accolades awarded annually, such as the Sir Jack Brabham Accolade, while Silverstone’s Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Gold Cup serves as a perpetual accolade conferred upon each British Grand Prix victor.
In Las Vegas, event planners introduced a completely new accolade to bestow upon its winners.
“Formula 1 encourages designers to craft accolades reflecting the host city’s distinct culture and ethos,” Ozawa elaborates. “Having been raised in Las Vegas, I was thrilled to leverage my local insights to define the accolade’s visual character.”
Beginning with the 2023 Las Vegas race, the accolade encompasses geological elements from the surrounding landscape, complementing Las Vegas’s vibrant identity, with the upper section illuminated to echo the city’s distinctive neon lighting.
“The integration of lighting heightened both the design’s complexity and production costs; however, it proved essential for capturing the city’s nighttime ambiance,” Ozawa explained. “The linear chrome formations and integrated lights aim to convey the visual perspective of an F1 driver traversing the second-longest straightaway on the calendar at speeds reaching 220mph.”
Upon finalizing the accolade’s design, Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Emily Prazer provided authorization, ensuring compliance with F1’s established guidelines before initiating fabrication.
Ozawa notes that the assemblage of accolades commences roughly three months prior to the race commencement. The initial phase involves fabricating a base casting, starting with 3D printing, succeeded by bronze manufacturing and ferric nitrate treatment for sandstone-like texturing.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
To realize the principal structure, 3D-printed resin components are chrome-plated, and a series of LEDs emit illumination through neon-tinted lenses. Rechargeable battery sets provide the necessary power to the integrated lights.
Following completion, the accolade is housed within a protective casing crafted from aircraft-grade aluminium, securing it until its presentation on the F1 podium.
The Las Vegas race adopted the same accolade configuration across its initial three stagings, with Ozawa expressing hesitancy to implement redesigns prematurely.
“I believe a triumphant design should maintain continuity for several years, enabling it to represent the race visually,” he elucidated. “External pressures, such as a main sponsor desiring accolades reflecting their brand, could influence modifications.”
“Additionally, I would consider revisiting design concepts if the current rendition fails to resonate with drivers and enthusiasts or appears outdated.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
