Mattel launches global search for first Hot Wheels ‘Tiniest Team Principal’

Mattel has announced a global search for the first-ever Hot Wheels ‘Tiniest Team Principal’, with one winner to be selected from each of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mexico.

The winners will also be flown, with their families, to Hot Wheels headquarters in El Segundo, California, where they will meet the design and executive teams behind Hot Wheels and Formula 1, and take part in picking and designing their own Hot Wheels F1 die-cast car.

Each ‘Tiniest Team Principal’ will step into an official ambassador role for the Hot Wheels brand and receive VIP access to a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The entry period is open now and will run through June 16. Parents or legal guardians of children aged five to ten can submit an entry video on TikTok or Instagram, with official rules available here. Winners will be announced on June 23

Submissions can include custom trackset builds, race predictions, original designs, or a passionate explanation of how they would run an F1 team.

Entries will be reviewed by a judging panel that includes Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, 2009 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Champion and F1 Ambassador Jenson Button, Mattel’s General Manager and Head of Vehicles and Building Sets Ted Wu, and Hot Wheels designer Kristina Albrecht.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “In Formula 1, you must be ready to make the big decisions when it matters most. This is a fantastic way to put our youngest fans right at the heart of the action, giving them a unique chance to go behind the scenes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing this evolution of this partnership and the incredible creativity and passion they bring to running their own team… I think some of our current Team Principals might even need to watch out!”

Jenson Button, 2009 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Champion, added: “In Formula 1, the difference between winning and losing can come down to one decision. Kids make those kinds of calls every time they play with Hot Wheels. I know the Hot Wheels Tiniest Team Principal will keep the rest of the paddock on their toes.”

Ted Wu, General Manager and Global Head of Vehicles and Building Sets at Mattel said: “The task is simple. We are looking for someone who builds, rebuilds, and takes on every challenge. A kid with strong opinions on what makes a car faster, cooler, and more fun. The Tiniest Team Principal might even take my job for the day… as long as I get it back.”

One winner will be named the first-ever Hot Wheels Tiniest Team Principal, and will receive:

• An all-expenses-paid trip to either FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2026, FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2026 or FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2026 (depending on the market)
• Behind-the-scenes access to Formula 1 and Hot Wheels
• Custom Team Hot Wheels race gear
• A chance to work with Hot Wheels designers to create a one-of-a-kind Hot Wheels F1 car and preview what comes next
• A voice in future Hot Wheels F1 liveries
• A reserved parking spot during an exclusive visit at Hot Wheels headquarters labelled “Hot Wheels Team Principal”
• The full Hot Wheels F1 product line of die-cast cars and track sets

For official rules, submission guidelines, and eligibility requirements, visit mattel.com/hot-wheels-f1.