It’s lights out and away we go!
The wait is finally over – the highly-anticipated first full set of the 2025 formula 1 calendar has dropped: Lights Out 2025. With two guaranteed parallels per box (/99 or lower), autograph chases and all the hottest rookies featured in one set, it’s easy to see why this product is so hyped. Here, we’ll go beyond the hype to give you a breakdown on Topps’ latest release, what to expect, and a look at what cards we will be chasing.
Back with a bang we can see why this year's edition of Lights Out is already a hit amongst collectors. Featuring slick, futuristic base card designs and subsets, this launch feels fresh and different to anything we’ve seen before in F1 products. Bright colours, neon lights and dynamic backgrounds alongside some of the best driver imagery of the season so far, come together to create a stunning 57 card base set that you won’t want to miss. And with some lucky boxes featuring 1/1 gold bar variations and driver autographs this set truly lives up to the hype.
Breaking down the set
Alongside the usual 20 driver cards, this set offers unique subsets and designs that are collectable in themselves. Keep scrolling for our first thoughts on the new subset designs and an overview of what to expect.
Driver Cards
Featuring all 20 drivers from the grid, driver cards make up the base of the set. With a first look at Lewis in Ferrari red and all five of this year's top rookies, there’s tons to chase even in the base set. Available in coloured parallels and with driver autograph chases these cards will be highly sought after by people collecting their favourite drivers. Who wouldn’t love a colour-match parallel signed by Lewis Hamilton?
Team Cards
One of the coolest-looking inserts in the set, the team cards feature a futuristic, sci-fi-inspired design with drivers, team principles and cars set amongst team colour-matched neon hues. These designs wouldn’t look out of place in a new Star Wars Chrome set, and we love everything about them.
Next Gen
If you’re looking to find the brightest stars of the future before they even make it to the Formula 1 grid, then this is the subset for you. The six best drivers of the current Formula 2 circuit are literally put into the spotlight with these card designs. Featuring the upcoming drivers Leonardo Fornaroli, Josep María Martí, Richard Verschoor, Alexander Dunne, Victor Martins and Gabriele Minì this set is stacked with the best prospects. With numbered parallels and autograph variations available, this is set to be one of the biggest chases amongst collectors looking for an investment for the future.
Records
A five-card subset recognizing prolific F1 records of some of the grid's finest current talent. Colour-matched backgrounds and dynamic dual imagery feature alongside details of each record and where they were achieved. Guinness World Record meets F1 card collecting – what’s not to love?
Nero
A returning favourite from previous lights out sets, Nero is back with a new bold, refreshed design; and good news for binder collectors, this year we’re keeping it portrait. The numbered parallels of this subset are definitely amongst our favourite designs this year, with neon-style driver numbers set behind terminator-like driver imagery. Topps knew exactly what they were doing when designing this one.
Bright Future
The ones we’ve all been waiting for: the first official hobby cards of this year's top rookies, featuring all 5 top prospects, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto and Oliver Bearman. Although the drivers featured in this year's event-exclusive FFNY set, this is the first time collectors everywhere have a chance to get their hands on these drivers' first rookie cards. With drivers like Kimi and Isack already showing impressive talent on the grid, the future is looking bright not only for their careers but also for their card values. Add in the chances of autographs, gold bar 1/1’s and numbered parallels and it’s easy to see why everyone is chasing this dynamic subset.
And there you have it, the first official hobby set of 2025 is live. Available now online and in-store, pick yours up today, and let us know who you’re chasing and your best pulls by tagging us on social @Sportscardsdirectofficial.
Good luck and happy autograph hunting!
