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Phenomenal F1 Mobility Scooter by Ferrari Fan Steals the Show at Silverstone
As Formula 1 cars roared down the track, one man stole the show off-track: Simon Tutte, an avid Ferrari fan who spectacularly transformed his mobility scooter into a detailed F1 replica.
By Lesley - 2026-07-08T12:59:49.000Z - 3 min read
Standing out at the legendary Silverstone circuit is quite an art, but during the British Grand Prix weekend, the biggest crowd-puller was not to be found on the asphalt. All eyes were glued to a vehicle that looked remarkably like a Ferrari Formula 1 car, except it was not driven by Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton, but by Simon Tutte from Grimsby—a man who had transformed his mobility scooter into an SF-26 replica with unmatched dedication.
Tutte's creation is breathtakingly complete, equipped with smoke effects at the brakes, safety lights, every imaginable sponsor logo, and even active front and rear wings—including Ferrari's distinctive 'macarena' rear wing. Although its top speed currently sits at around 13 km/h, Tutte assures us that upgrades are already planned. What started years ago as a few Ferrari-inspired modifications has evolved into an all-encompassing passion project that draws attention wherever it goes.
For Tutte, this is more than just a hobby. 'I've always had a passion for Ferraris,' he shared. 'I'll probably never own one myself, so this is the closest I'll ever get.' Furthermore, his mobility scooter is a necessity; following a severe back injury, he can no longer walk long distances. A sprawling circuit like Silverstone, spanning 5.891 kilometers, is an insurmountable obstacle without the scooter. The overwhelmingly positive reactions to a previous, less ambitious creation encouraged him to push even further this year.
This latest version was built from the ground up, starting with a brand-new mobility scooter. 'You strip it all the way down to the bare chassis,' Tutte explained. After designing the desired shape, he cut and welded the frame into a lowered structure and replaced the batteries with lighter lithium variants. The process continued with sketching the bodywork, constructing a mold, fabricating the shell from fiberglass and aluminum, painting it, and getting all the decals printed. Aside from a 3D-printed front wing, Tutte completed virtually every part himself, despite having no formal engineering background. He laughingly describes himself as 'a jack of all trades, master of none.'
The build took about four months, though physical limitations forced Tutte to work in short, intensive bursts. Despite the complexity—particularly the active rear wing, which required specific motors and programming—Tutte estimates the cost at around £1,300. This surprised many who admired him at Silverstone. 'A lot of people were saying: 'You should build and sell them!'' he laughs. Last year, he even sold his previous creation to a man for his son. For Tutte, however, the greatest joy lies in the building itself, although the overwhelming attention is a welcome bonus.
As a lifelong Ferrari supporter and huge fan of Charles Leclerc, Leclerc's victory at Silverstone was the perfect crowning touch to a fantastic weekend. However, there was another moment that was almost even more special: Ferrari itself reached out. The team tried to arrange a meeting with Leclerc and invited Tutte to the inner paddock area, but due to access restrictions and a lack of available passes, it unfortunately fell through. 'I was absolutely gutted,' he admitted.
Nevertheless, Ferrari promised to stay in touch and hoped to arrange something special for the 2027 British Grand Prix. For a fan who spent months working with such passion to recreate his favorite team's F1 car, that recognition alone felt like a victory. And with plans for next year already in the works, chances are Ferrari won't be the only ones keeping an eye on Simon Tutte when the race returns to Silverstone.