Article: Which F1 Car Should You Collect in 1:64? Hot Wheels, Mini GT and Bburago Compared
Which F1 Car Should You Collect in 1:64? Hot Wheels, Mini GT and Bburago Compared
The 2026 Formula 1 season is close to its end: the Mexico City Grand Prix is scheduled for 30 October to 1 November 2026, and that tends to be when new fans start looking for a model of a car they just watched. Search for a 1:64 F1 car and you will find three brands that keep coming up: Hot Wheels, Mini GT and Bburago. They are not interchangeable. Each makes different trade-offs, and picking the wrong one for your goal is the most common regret.
This guide compares them on what actually matters to a collector: licensing, build and detail, track compatibility, and price. A note on method: several retail sites and publications could not be opened while researching this piece, so where the evidence is a retailer listing or a single reviewer's opinion, we say so.
The short answer
- Hot Wheels: best for official F1 branding across many teams, and for cars that run on Hot Wheels track.
- Mini GT: best for fine detail and weight, according to reviewers, but its F1 range appears focused on Red Bull and related cars.
- Bburago: best for budget and for Ferrari fans, with livery printing that one reviewer rated above Hot Wheels.
Hot Wheels: the newest and widest F1 line
Mattel and Formula 1 announced a partnership in October 2024, beginning with a limited-edition collector die-cast through Mattel Creations. The regular 1:64 range followed: according to Mattel's October 2025 announcement, Premium Formula 1 cars went on sale from December 2025 with additional waves through 2026. Each Premium car has a metal body and chassis and Real Riders rubber tyres.
Hot Wheels sells the F1 cars in two tiers. Basic single cars are priced far below the Premium line (Mattel listed singles at $1.25 and Premium at $8 in the US), and a 10-pack covering all ten teams of the 2025 season was listed for August 2026 at $13.99. Early coverage described the range as eight 2025-grid cars, while Mattel's later pack covers ten teams, so the line has clearly grown. Note that the 2026 grid has 11 teams and 22 cars, including the newcomer Cadillac; we could not confirm which 2026 teams Hot Wheels has covered so far.
Strengths: official licensing, recognisable sponsors and Pirelli-branded tyres, and compatibility with Hot Wheels track for kids and casual collectors.
Weaknesses: reviewers compare the detail unfavourably to Mini GT, and one reviewer found the livery graphics blurrier than Bburago's. Some buyers have also reported quality-control problems with mixed-up cars, so inspect the card before buying.
Mini GT: detail first
Mini GT is the brand collectors usually name when they want the most accurate 1:64 model. In a February 2026 comparison, Lamley Group's reviewer described Mini GT's detail as a step above the other two and noted that its construction mixes metal and plastic, whereas Hot Wheels is all metal. Mini GT's own heft comes from the metal parts it does use.
The catch is range. Retailer listings show officially licensed Mini GT 1:64 Oracle Red Bull Racing cars (RB16B, RB18 and RB19 in specific race-winner liveries) and a 2024 RB VCARB 01. We found no Mini GT Ferrari F1 listing, so a Ferrari-only collector may find nothing here. Mini GT's F1 releases are also tied to specific race results rather than a full-grid line-up.
Bburago: the Ferrari and budget route
Bburago, now part of the Maisto group (see The Maisto Story), has long held Ferrari licences, and its 1:64 F1 cars include the Ferrari SF-25 for Charles Leclerc (#16) and Lewis Hamilton (#44). Retailer listings describe the model as an official Ferrari replica of roughly 8.5 cm in length, and overseas prices we saw ranged from about €7 to €14. The Lamley comparison judged its livery printing better than Hot Wheels' and its value strong for the price.
For context on the brand, our history of Bburago and Ferrari explains why the Ferrari link is so strong.
Side-by-side comparison
| Hot Wheels | Mini GT | Bburago | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team coverage | Multiple teams, growing | Red Bull-focused (per listings) | Ferrari confirmed; other teams exist |
| Construction | All-metal body and chassis (Premium) | Metal and plastic mix | Not confirmed in sources found |
| Detail (reviewer view) | Good, behind the other two | Highest | High, strong livery print |
| Track play | Built for Hot Wheels track | Display-focused | Display-focused |
| Price tier | Low to mid | Highest | Low to mid |
Collector Perspective
The honest framing is that these brands answer different questions. Hot Wheels asks, "Can I own the whole grid cheaply?" Mini GT asks, "Can I own one car that looks exactly right?" Bburago asks, "Can I own my team's car without overspending?" Experienced collectors often mix brands on one shelf, but they commit to one for a given team so liveries and proportions stay consistent. If you are curious how scale affects display, our guide to 1:64 vs 1:43 vs 1:18 is a useful companion, and our piece on loose vs carded value covers whether to open a model at all.
Practical Takeaway
- Support one team? Check which brand has that team's current car before anything else. Ferrari points to Bburago; Red Bull points to Mini GT or Hot Wheels.
- Want the whole grid? Hot Wheels is the only one of the three with a multi-team pack approach.
- Buying for a child who will play? Choose Hot Wheels or a durable budget model, not a detail-focused piece.
- Want a showpiece? Pick Mini GT and display it in a case.
You can browse our Official Die Cast collection, the Bburago 1:64 range, Mini GT and Hot Wheels. Stock of specific F1 liveries changes, so check availability before planning around a particular car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which brand makes the best 1:64 F1 cars?
Mini GT is generally rated highest for detail, Hot Wheels for official licensing and track play, and Bburago for value. "Best" depends on whether you prioritise accuracy, range or price.
Are Hot Wheels F1 cars officially licensed?
Yes. Hot Wheels and Formula 1 announced a partnership in October 2024, and the packaging credits the F1 marks to Formula One Licensing BV.
Is Hot Wheels or Mini GT better for F1 cars?
For detail, reviewers prefer Mini GT. For team variety and price, Hot Wheels wins. Mini GT's F1 range we found is mostly Red Bull-related.
Does Bburago make 1:64 F1 cars?
Yes. Retailer listings show Bburago 1:64 Ferrari SF-25 models for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, among other F1 cars.
Do 1:64 F1 cars fit Hot Wheels track?
Hot Wheels' F1 cars are designed for its own track. We did not find confirmation for the other brands, so treat them as display pieces.
Is a Hot Wheels Premium F1 car worth the extra over a basic one?
Premium cars have a metal body and chassis and rubber tyres; basic cars are cheaper and aimed at play. Collectors who display cars usually prefer Premium.
Sources
- Mattel / Business Wire, Hot Wheels and Formula 1 partnership announcement (October 2024) and 2025 Formula 1 product release (October 2025): businesswire.com
- Lamley Group, "Quick look: How do Bburago's F1 cars measure up to the competition?" (20 February 2026): lamleygroup.com
- The Toy Insider, Hot Wheels Formula 1 expansion news: thetoyinsider.com
- AutoGuide and The Drive coverage of the Hot Wheels F1 launch: autoguide.com, thedrive.com
- Retailer listings for Mini GT Oracle Red Bull Racing 1:64 models (modelcarshouston.com, weyemodelcars.com) and Bburago Ferrari SF-25 1:64 (hobbyco.com.au, diecarz.com)
- 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix dates: f1-fansite.com
