2025 Automotive Anniversaries: Celebrating F1, Audi, VW Polo, and More

2025 brings with it a year packed full of significant automotive milestones that are worthy of celebration. From Formula One’s diamond jubilee to the golden anniversaries of icons like the VW Polo, these celebrations honour the history and ingenuity that have driven the automotive world forward. And if you’re an Audi fan, well, you’re in luck, because they have a lot to celebrate. But first, let us begin with the pinnacle of motorsport - F1. 

Seventy-Five Years of Formula One

Formula 1’s 75th birthday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the sport’s long history in the UK. It’s a British success story, with seven out of 10 teams based here, and the Driver’s World Championship has been won by drivers from the UK 20 times between 10 different drivers, more than any other nation. Those drivers are of course Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. 

Silverstone hosted the very first round of the Drivers’ World Championship in May 1950 and will remain home to the British Grand Prix for at least the next decade. The anniversary will also be the focus point for celebrations at the Silverstone Festival in August (check out our 2025 Calendar of events here). 

100 Years of Alfa Romeo and the World Manufacturers' Championship

Before Formula 1, there existed the World Manufacturers’ Championship. It was the first World Championship of its kind and ran from 1925 to 1930. It was organised by the AIACR, which was the forerunner of the FIA. 

Alfa Romeo won the inaugural World Championship with the mighty P2, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening race at Montlhery.

Although 1925 brought drastic changes of regulations, from 1924 to 1930 the P2 was victorious in 14 Grands Prix and major events including the Targa Florio. It was one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the 1920s. A century later, the brand’s heart still beats with the same passion. Expect Alfa’s centenary celebrations to be a mixture of nostalgia, glamour, and the kind of charm that only Italy can muster.

25th Anniversary of Audi’s First Victory at Le Mans 

Having finished 3rd in their first outing at Le Mans in 1999, Audi rocked up in 2000 with a vengeance. They finished 1-2-3 with their Audi R8 sports prototype, a car that would go onto win 63 out of the 80 sports car races it entered. Their win at Le Mans would also go on to mark the beginning of two dynasties, Audi’s dominance of Le Mans throughout the noughties and Tom Kristensen's record breaking number of Le Mans victories (nine!), six of which were consecutive from 2000 - 2005. 

Next year will be another one for Audi to add to the history books as they will compete in their first ever F1 World Championship. 

90th Anniversary of Audi’s Speed Record

Ninety years ago, in February 1935, a spectacular attempt to break speed records took place in Italy. After record-breaking runs on Berlin's Avus track in October 1934, Auto Union began developing the "Lucca Car," refined with aerodynamic testing at Berlin-Adlershof. Powered by a 4,951 cc V16 mid-engine producing 343 hp, the car reached a top speed of 320 km/h. Initially, record attempts were planned in Hungary but moved to a five-kilometre stretch near Lucca, Italy, due to weather and unsuitable roads. On February 15, 1935, Hans Stuck (great name for a racing driver) drove it to a speed of 326.975 km/h (203.173 mph), earning the title of the "fastest road racing car in the world" and breaking 26 world and 13 international class records.

If you’re an Audi aficionado you may be interested in this document that Audi have created which outlines all of their notable anniversaries for 2025. It’s 38 pages long which is a testament to everything they have achieved over the years. 

50th Anniversary of the Volkswagen Polo 

First launched in 1975, the VW Polo quickly earned its stripes as a car that was small in stature but big on practicality, charm, and reliability. Whether ferrying students to lectures or serving as a reliable grocery-getter, the Polo became the unsung hero of countless lives. As it hits its half-century, Volkswagen is likely to remind us why the Polo’s blend of humility and capability remains its enduring appeal.

Other notable models to hit the 50 year mark include the BMW 3 Series (the E21) - a milestone that will be celebrated by the company at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este. It is also the 50th year of the Ford Escort, which was first introduced in 1975!