The date was May 10, 2022. I was at a Phoenix Suns game, and during the second quarter, I got a text from a friend: “Dude, Lando Norris is at the game.” My first thought was, “What is a Lando Norris?” Well, my friend’s brother knew what (and who) he was, as we found him, got a picture, and went about our night. Of course, having met the guy, I had to do some research. Turned out he’s a Formula 1 driver for McLaren. Now, I’ve never really gotten into F1. I’ve just never been a fan of cars driving around in circles. However, I soon learned that they weren’t driving in circles, but rather, varying race tracks across the world in many shapes and sizes. At that point, my interest was piqued. From there, I learned everything a Formula 1 fan needed to know. From circuits, to tires, to drivers, to bizarre scandals, F1 truly is a sport like no other. Let’s cover the basics, before I make my full sales pitch. Keep in mind, I’ve only been a fan for a year, and I’m limiting this to the very basics.
The Basics:
Q: Why is it called Formula 1?
A: Each team, when designing their car, needs to follow a “formula,” or the year’s regulations. Major regulation changes are every 4 years or so, but there are still tweaks yearly. The goal for Formula 1 regulations oftentimes isn’t to make the fastest car on the planet, but rather make for competitive racing.
Q: How long are the races and how many laps are there?
The races are no more than 2 hours in length (usually an hour and 30 minutes), and the number of laps depends on how long the circuit is — from 43 laps all the way up to 78.
Q: How many teams and drivers are there, and how does scoring work?
A: There are 20 drivers and 10 teams. The team names change sometimes for sponsorship reasons, and teams do go in and out of the sport. There has not been a new team to enter the sport since 2016 — but that’ll likely change in 2026. You get 25 points for winning a race, 18 points for second place, 15 for third place, making up the “podium,” and it decrements down to 1 point for 10th place. You also get a bonus point for getting the fastest lap of the race if you’re in the top 10. There’s a Constructor’s Championship for teams based off points, and that’s where the money is made. Teams get certain amounts of money based on where they place in the championship. The Driver’s Championship is where most of the publicity is though, and the scoring system is the same, just for individual drivers and not teams.
Q: Who are the important drivers and people to know?
A: Considering there are only 20 drivers, you’ll get to know them pretty well. However, some main ones are Max Verstappen, who drives for Red Bull Racing and wins almost every race, Charles Leclerc who drives for Ferrari and his team causes him immense pain by screwing him over at every potential opportunity, and Lewis Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes and is the most popular driver on the grid — a 7-time World Champion who dominated the 2010s. There are a lot more I could go through, and these are not the three best drivers on the grid. This is just an introduction. There’s a driver out there for everyone. The other people to know are the team principals — think of them as a head coach/general manager hybrid in today’s American sports landscape. Toto Wolff is Mercedes’ team principal, he’s cool and worth like a billion dollars. Christian Horner is Red Bull’s team principal, and he married a Spice Girl. Guenther Steiner is the only reason the Haas F1 Team is afloat. Everyone loves Guenther, mainly due to his appearances on “Drive to Survive,” the F1 Netflix series. I highly, highly, recommend the podcast Choosing Sides: F1 to dig into this topic.
Q: Is it true that the same driver wins every race?
A: Mostly, yes. Max Verstappen has been dominant for the past year, winning almost every race. The car is more important than the driver though, and Red Bull has done a phenomenal job providing him with a rocket ship that blasts through the field when necessary.
Q: I don’t know anything about cars, what parts of these cars are important?
A: I didn’t know anything about cars either! And I still don’t. Just know that there’s a front wing, engine, and chassis (the outside). The underfloor of the cars is quite important as well. They have engines, too, that can sometimes explode. Really, anything in the car can explode if it really wants to.
So, now that we’ve covered the basics of Formula 1, let me dive into why you should become a fan of this unique sport. Formula 1 offers an variety of captivating elements that cater to numerous interests, making it a sport that almost anyone can get in to. Whether you’re a car guy, engineering enthusiast, or crave the drama of intense competition, F1 has something for everyone.
1. The Cars
F1 cars are closer to rocket ships than your run-of-the-mill street cars, allowing them to hit insane speeds of 200+ miles per hour all while zooming around the wildest of circuits ranging from the curvy streets of Monaco to the blazing fast Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Who doesn’t want a little vroom vroom action?
2. The Engineering
As mentioned before, Formula 1 cars are extremely complex. They have numerous parts that are measured to precision, and the way they run so close to the ground is remarkable. The aerodynamics and internal structures of these cars are way too complicated for me, but if engineering is your thing, you have to look into Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport.
3. The Competition
While Max Verstappen may currently dominate the podium, the fierce battles for midfield positions and podium finishes ensure that there is always something to watch for. Strategic duels and unexpected twists keep you on the edge of your seat (sometimes — I can’t guarantee every race is a good one).
4. The Controversies
Formula 1 is no stranger to controversies and rule disputes. With different stewards at each race making subjective calls, the sport is prone to heated debates and constant contradictions. Make sure to bully other F1 fans online and have no facts to backup that your opinion is correct. This is the most fun way to do it, in my experience.
5. The On-Track Tension
Some drivers love each other, while others hate each other. This makes for great content, especially over the radio when they’re going wheel-to-wheel at 200 miles per hour. Some of the team radio messages are genuinely hilarious, because in order to send one, the driver has to physically hold a button on the steering wheel. Yuki Tsunoda could have just yelled “NOOOOOO,” but he decided to let the people at home listen in on that. It’s always for the content.
6. The F1 Fandom
Now, this is where it gets a little weird. People on the internet are strangely fascinated with drivers’ personal lives. With only 20 drivers in the entire sport, I guess you get some free time to really get to know the drivers. Social media content has led us to the F1 fandom that we know today. Yes, I know this description is broad, but you’ll know what I am talking about once you see it. This article, which describes it as a “cult fandom,” does a better job explaining it in detail.
8. The Unpredictability of the Season
Yes, while races are often predictable, an entire season is not. In the summer months, there is something called “Silly Season” where a lot of the drivers on the grid decide which team they are driving for in the following season. Last year, we saw a wild silly season, involving 1 iconic tweet, a lawsuit, and a 40 year-old driver making the best decision of his career by jumping from the fourth-best team to the ninth-best in the standings. Also, the FIA (the International Automobile Federation in English) likes to change the rules of a season randomly, so that’s fun.
9. The Circuits
You may think the circuits are a minor part of F1, but they are in fact the opposite. Cars are geared towards specific tracks, and you can learn a lot from a circuit’s design. For example, a lower-level team like Williams Racing puts most of their focus on straight-line speed and not downforce. Although they may get last place in races like Monaco, there is potential for them to sneak into the points at tracks like Monza or Spa. This can prove to be a better strategy than some teams who try to balance their car and just end up in 15th place every race. Also, the circuits are simply beautiful from a visual standpoint. The Red Bull Ring in Austria is placed perfectly in the Styrian Alps, and although a race hasn’t happened there yet, the Vegas Grand Prix will certainly be a spectacle.
In general, Formula 1 is more than just a race. It’s a comprehensive entertainment package. You can engage with the sport through films, interviews, team radio highlights, and behind-the-scenes footage, allowing you to appreciate the sport’s multifaceted nature without even watching a race. I think I carry an unpopular opinion when I say this, but I wholeheartedly believe that you can be a Formula 1 fan without watching the races. There’s so much other content to immerse yourself in the world of F1. I’ve left some resources below for you to learn more about the sport, the basics, and what makes it so special. I’m not saying it’s the best — and it’s not my favorite, but it has qualities that I don’t think any other sport has in its arsenal.
Resources:
Podcasts:
- Choosing Sides: F1, by Michael Costa and Lily Herman (would be my first listen)
- The Late Braking F1 Podcast (quality race recaps with fun segments and listener interactions through a community of dedicated listeners)
- Donut Racing Show (MUST for Off-Track Drama)
- The Race F1 Podcast (leans towards the technical side of F1, F1 Tech Show is also on their site if you want more of that)
- The Parc Fermé F1 Podcast (Negative Camber has been podcasting about F1 since 2004, which is just mind-blowing to me. Always great race recaps and a fun listen with great guests.)
Movies/TV Shows
- Rush (2013)
- Senna (2010)
- Drive to Survive (2018–2023) (Of course, Drive to Survive is massive for getting to know the drivers. It is heavily dramatized and out of order, so be wary of that going into it.)
Books/Other:
- How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey
- Racing with Rich Energy by Elizabeth Blackstock and Alanis King
- Grand Prix Gastronomy by Elizabeth Blackstock (email list)
- Engine Failure: a formula 1 culture newsletter (email list)
Good Races to Watch (I wanted to choose ones with many drivers that are currently on the grid):
- 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- 2018 German Grand Prix
- 2022 British Grand Prix
- 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix
- The entire 2021 season, pretty much
Some Accounts to Follow, for News and the Like. (These are Twitter links, but I assume these people are also on Instagram):
