F1 EXHIBITION IS GO GO GO

Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill shows us around a celebration of the greatest sport on Earth

- Tom Jervis

AT its core, the essence of Formula One has changed little since the first World Championship Grand Prix took place at Silverstone in 1950. Even after more than 70 years, it is still all about the fastest drivers in the swiftest cars competing to get around a racetrack quickest.

Yet, just as all the teams race to develop their cars each season, the sport of F1 has undergone its own progression over the years, evolving from a wealthy gentleman's pastime to a culture-crossing phenomenon that showcases some of the greatest minds, the most talented drivers and the most cutting-edge technology the world has ever seen.

This is a story that spans decades, and making it approachable to modern audiences is the job of the new Formula One Exhibition, which has just opened its doors at ExCeL in London.

Taking in six themed spaces, the touring show has already made stops in Spain and Austria, and it's also currently running in Canada. We've been granted early access to take a look at the legendary items on display - many of which are exclusively part of the London exhibition.

Co-curator and motorsport pundit Peter Windsor explains how "the unifying theme is that every team, in effect, is a mini-NASA operation".

He adds: "Sir Frank Williams told me that it's not about racing, it's about engineering. Me? Well I'd say it's about people - people so brilliant that every conversation I have with them, I come away feeling like a bit of a dunce. They're all so bright and you always come away having learned something."