Review: The story of an F1 legend through a multiplayer VR experience

Alberto Ascari belongs among Formula 1's all-time greats, even if he isn't as instantly recognisable these days as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher or Lewis Hamilton. Perhaps that's because his success came so long ago, or because his remarkable career was tragically cut short. Yet despite recording his final Formula 1 victory in 1953, Ascari remains Italy's most recent Formula 1 World Champion.

His legacy lives on, but many modern F1 fans know little about the man behind the records. That's where Black Cats & Chequered Flags comes in.

Created by the Multiverse Institute for Arts and Technology in 2025, the mixed-reality experience debuted at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival before making its way to British soil. The experience will be on show at the Silverstone Museum until June 2027.

What the experience is

Black Cats & Chequered Flags tells the story of Alberto Ascari, from his childhood and the influence of his father Antonio through to his rise as one of Formula 1's earliest world champions.

Ascari, who tragically lost his life at Monza in 1955, was immortalised by the circuit's Variante Ascari, named that way in his honour in 1972 - with the chicane you know as Variante Ascari these days replacing the corner where he had lost his life.

What makes Black Cats & Chequered Flags particularly cool is the way it brings Ascari's story to life. Rather than presenting a straightforward documentary, the experience combines animation, archival footage, interviews, and interactive elements to guide visitors through the key moments of his life and career. Along the way, it also explores the personal side of Ascari - including the superstitions that became synonymous with him, from his fear of the number 26 to his trademark blue helmet, and, of course, the black cats referenced in the name.

Before that journey begins, however, the four participants are thrown straight into the world of 1950s Grand Prix racing. Players are fitted with a comfortable headset and headphones. If you are a glasses-wearer, don’t fret. The headsets also fit comfortably over a pair of specs.

Although the experience is mainly done solo, at the beginning, you and three others are tasked with a virtual pitstop a la 1950s F1. This was possibly the most fun part of the experience - as you work together to change the tires, fill up the oil and gas and clean the windshield for the racing Ascari.

The CEO and marketing department of the museum were roped in to complete our four-person pit crew. A cool side of it was, although you have a headset on and are seeing a car that actually isn’t there, what you can also see is the other people in the room running around like headless chickens servicing this invisible car. The aim is to be the fastest team to complete the pit stop and our team achieved a respectable 1:52 - far off the times of modern F1 but not too shabby for 70 years ago.

Once the pit stop is complete, the experience shifts into a solo journey through Ascari's life and career.

From there, visitors are guided through key moments in his story using a combination of animation, archival footage, photographs, and interviews. Along the way, participants interact with the environment: patting a black cat, reading newspapers, taking photographs, and engaging with various objects that help bring the story to life.

One of the most interesting aspects of the experience is its exploration of Ascari's superstitions. You learn about his fear of the number 26, his attachment to his distinctive blue helmet, and the beliefs that followed him throughout his career - hence the "Black Cats" in the title.

The technical side

For many people, the mention of virtual reality immediately brings motion sickness to mind. As someone who suffers from it quite badly, I was curious to see how well I would cope. 

Thankfully, I can report it wasn’t bad at all. There was only one moment where I felt slightly unsteady, during a sequence featuring Ascari's daughter Patrizia. However, I quickly regained my bearings by looking down and orientating myself by focusing at the actual floor, using a small gap between the headset and my face.

One thing I was worried about with the experience was accidentally walking into someone else or, worse, a wall. When you've got a headset on and you're focused on what's happening around you in the virtual world, it's easy to lose track of where you actually are. 

Fortunately, that wasn't much of a problem. When you start the experience, you are placed on a numbered spot on the floor that feels slightly different to the carpet. I spent most of the experience standing in roughly the same place, able to feel the spot under my feet and just turn around to see what was happening around me.

For those technophobes that worry the experience may be beyond them, don't worry. Before the experience begins, visitors are given a thorough introduction by Catherine, who runs the attraction. From explaining how the headset works to demonstrating the hand-tracking controls and outlining what to expect, the briefing does a good job of putting first-time VR users at ease.

One feature I particularly enjoyed was the hand tracking. Rather than relying on controllers, the experience uses your own hands to interact with the world around you. By making a small pinching gesture with your fingers, a bit like a crab claw, your virtual hands appear, allowing you to pick up and interact with objects and take part in different moments throughout the story. It's a simple addition, but one that helps make the experience feel far more natural and immersive.

The 360-degree aspect is one of the best parts of Black Cats & Chequered Flags. Instead of feeling like you're watching Ascari's story, you feel like you're inside it, making the story even more engaging.

The verdict

Black Cats & Chequered Flags is an imaginative way to learn about a fascinating chapter of F1 history. Few fans can be expected to know every story from the sport's early years, and this experience succeeds in making Ascari's story accessible, memorable, and entertaining.

Before doing the experience, thoughts from the office about it were along the lines of 'why Ascari?', 'Ascari is an odd choice'. But I now know his story is one worth knowing.

What makes it especially compelling is that Ascari's status as Italy's most recent Formula 1 World Champion could soon come under threat, making his story feel surprisingly timely.

Whether you're a dedicated F1 fan, a motorsport enthusiast, or part of the Tifosi, Black Cats & Chequered Flags is well worth experiencing.

Some key details

• Tickets cost £20 per person or £65 for a group of four. A valid Silverstone Museum admission ticket is also required
• The run-time of the experience is approximately 45 minutes but the time passes remarkably quickly thanks to the variety of storytelling techniques and constant interaction
• The experience is recommended for visitors aged 13 and over due to themes surrounding death and loss
• For Italian-speaking visitors, the experience can also be enjoyed in Ascari's native language
• The experience is wheelchair-accessible, although there are a variety of conditions that this experience is not recommended for so make sure to check the website