In recent years, Formula 1 motor racing has accelerated in popularity, captivating fans worldwide. The roaring engines, fierce rivalries, and the glamour of the sport have found new audiences, partly thanks to the Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive.” This surge in enthusiasm has extended to the world of collecting, with F1 trading cards gaining traction among aficionados.
If you’re new to the world of F1 card collecting or looking to explore this exciting hobby, you’ve come to the right place. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll navigate the expanding F1 trading card market, introducing you to the key players, the most sought-after drivers, and the card sets that fuel this thriving community.
The Manufacturer Behind F1 Cards: Topps
In 2020, Topps solidified its partnership with Formula 1, marking the first year of the modern era of F1 cards. This collaboration established Topps as the exclusive manufacturer of Formula 1 trading cards. Under this worldwide pact, Topps holds the title of the “Official Sticker and Trading Card Licensee of Formula 1,” covering all physical and digital card and sticker offerings for active F1 teams.
Rookie Cards (RC)
When it comes to F1 driver cards, there are two names that shine the brightest: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Topps released its first F1 cards in 2020, and therefore, the 2020 product range is seen in the modern era as their Topps ‘Rookie Cards,’ alongside the other drivers on the grid in that first year of release. This makes the 2020 collection the most desired (and expensive) due to its presumed Rookie Card status. Later releases contained true Rookie Cards stamped with an RC logo on them for those who entered the paddock since 2020, such as Yuki Tsunoda & Mick Schumacher in 2021, Zhou Guanyu in 2022, or the highly anticipated Oscar Piastri in 2023.
Exploring the F1 Card Sets
Topps introduced three sets of Formula 1 trading cards in 2020: Topps Chrome, Topps Dynasty, and Topps Chrome Sapphire. Chrome remains the most popular set, while Dynasty is considered the premium offering, and Sapphire is a premium version of Chrome. These have also been released in 2021, 2022 & 2023.
Starting in 2021, Topps added a paper-stock set named simply “Topps Formula 1” also known in the hobby as “Flagship” analogous to the annual Topps Baseball Series 1. Additionally, Topps launched “Lights Out”. Lights Out is a 40-card set featuring all current-season drivers.
F1 card collecting is not just a hobby; it’s a passion that connects fans with their favourite sport in a tangible way.
F1 Card Sets – Checklists
To learn more about individual products head on over to our Collections Section where we provide in-depth overviews and photos of each product coupled with a checklist of the entire collection for you to learn more and track where you are against the chase of the collection.