On Wednesdays, we wear pink. On Sundays, we watch Max Verstappen fly from seventeenth to first place in the blink of an eye. 

Formula One is not just about cars going in circles—it is billion-dollar machines, inflated egos, and drivers willing to risk everything for a tenth of a second. The high-stakes sport features 20 of the world’s best drivers, 24 races spanning from Saudi Arabia to Miami, Florida and iconic teams that have lasted generations.

But what is it about this sport in particular that has people so hooked?

Spectacle

What makes F1 so compelling is not just the thrilling cars; it is passionate fans, expert commentary, and a daunting atmosphere that makes the sport truly unique from all others. 

“[F1 has] a lot of action in it,” junior Eduardo Perez said. “Anything can happen at any moment, [so] the race is very exciting.”

This unpredictability comes with high stakes. Every second on the track carries real risk, pushing drivers to the edge both physically and mentally. 

“So much can go wrong, so fast,” freshman Vik Rajakumar said. “It’s a very fast-paced sport, [where] skill or not, things always switch up.”

Additionally, these races take place in some of the most stunning cities around the world, adding to the beauty of the sport. Some of the most notable are the Monaco, Montreal (Canada), and Suzuka (Japan) races.

In July, senior Carmon Chitty traveled to Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium to see the Belgian Grand Prix live. 

This was not just any race—it was a cherished family tradition. Her brother and father have attended races in the past, including in Belgium, and now it was her turn to experience the excitement. Chitty and her family stayed in a villa with a stunning view of the track, and attended every race, from the practice sessions to the main event, across several days of high-speed action.

“The city was really pretty, [with] lots of old historic buildings,” Chitty said. “It was nice to hear the race cars actually driving by you rather than seeing it from the screen.”

Senior Vanessa Sanchez recently went to the practice races and sprint qualifying race in Miami, Florida. Sprint qualifying is a very crucial race in determining which drivers get to start up front, an advantage that can make or break the outcome of the race.

“When you hear the cars going by for the very first time, and when you smell the gas and the tires burning, it’s really a surreal experience,” Sanchez said.

Technical Brilliance

With cars traveling at lightning speeds, F1 has constantly pushed the limits of technology, possessing some of the most advanced vehicles in the world. 

“The sport has evolved [with] technology over time to make these cars so fast, so easily fixable, to have tires that can be changed in less than two seconds,” senior Aline Bittar Peres said. 

When F1 began in 1950, the fastest car hit 180 mph. Today, McLaren’s top car exceeds 220 mph. 

The inherent innovation in F1 is especially appreciated by those interested in the mechanics behind the machines.

Senior Annabella Reyes was introduced to F1 through her dad and brother, having grown up watching the races with them.

“[My father and brother] have always been really into F1, so I was exposed to all the races since I was really little, [and have] been watching them for a long time,” Reyes said.“[They] both love to work on cars and know a lot about the mechanics, how they work and how to drive them. They have lots of comments when drivers go into [the] pit lane or when they switch tires.” 

Drama

One of the biggest factors that sets F1 apart from other sports is the drama.

With 20 drivers, 10 teams, and very opinionated team principles, there are bound to be some disputes on the track. For a lot of viewers, that is exactly what gets them watching.

“Some of the drama is pretty interesting,” Bittar Peres said. “Lewis Hamilton and his partner Nico Rosberg ended up having essentially a public divorce in front of millions of people.”

This infamous rivalry is known as the ‘Brocedes’ scandal, in which childhood best friends and Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg saw their friendship collapse due to some unfortunate incidents on the track and a brutal battle for World Champion (of which Lewis went on to win 7, while Nico 1).

Drive to Survive

One of the biggest catalysts behind F1’s recent popularity, especially with teen viewers, is Netflix’s docuseries “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” Premiering in 2019, the show peaks backstage into the world of F1, offering a look into the rivalries, drama, and personalities that fuel the sport. It transformed F1 from a niche motorsport into a global obsession overnight. The show has drawn in 700 million viewers in the few years it has been on Netflix.

“Part of the reason why I love ‘Drive to Survive’ is because they dramatize a lot of the events, especially any bad blood between drivers or sponsors,” Reyes said. “I thought it was really interesting to know more about the drivers and their personal lives, rather than just their places on the podium.”

Social Media 

Social Media has also been a large facilitator to F1’s growth in popularity. From viral commentary to trending memes, the sport is showing up more than ever online, bringing in a whole new wave of fans.

“I follow the Williams [and] Mercedes YouTube channel,” Sanchez said. “[They] offer a fun way to learn more about the drivers and the current lineup, like their relationships with each other. I have the F1 app, [too]. So I know the drama.”

The drivers do many different challenges and games that show their real personalities and how well they know each other. The annual “Grill the Grid” Series features drivers failing to recognize their own teammate in “Driver Mashup” videos, eager to beat their teammates and previous winners. A lot of new fans began watching F1 from these videos, finding them enjoyable and easy to follow along with.

In addition to YouTube, all 20 of the current grid drivers have an official Instagram account with a total following of over 140 million. 

“I’ve been seeing [F1 content] a lot more, [like] highlight clips on TikTok and Instagram,” Rajakumar said. “I regularly get recommended F1 racers to follow.”

Culture & Community

The current grid of drivers for the 2025 season represents 13 different nationalities. This diversity is part of what makes F1 appealing to its fans. Unlike football or hockey, F1 stems from 21 different countries in 5 continents.

“One thing that I love about F1 is its diversity and how international it is,” Bittar Peres said. “You have drivers [and] races from all around the world. You can have [races] that are in the same country on different dates that will have completely different outcomes.”

A lot of fans support drivers from their home country, feeling a strong sense of nationalism when they win. For example, Bittar Peres and her family are from Brazil, the home country of who many consider the greatest race driver of all time: Ayrton Senna. 

“Ayrton Senna was an inspiration to a bunch of people,” Bittar Peres said. “I also really like Gabriel Bortoleto, the current Brazilian on the grid. We haven’t had a Brazilian [in F1] in a while, so it’s nice to see that kind of representation.”

Many have even compared F1 races to pop concerts due to the surplus of friendship bracelets, decorated signs, and carefully thought-out outfits in the crowds at each race.

“The fans were amazing,” Chitty said “There was an entire [group] of Verstappen fans gathered around, and cheering the loudest. They were always on the fan cam.”

At the end of the day, fans feel a shared love for the sport, and a genuine appreciation for all drivers.

“Yeah, we have different teams, but we’re all unified by the love for the motorsport,” Sanchez said. “We want to see our drivers do [well], [and] our teams do [well]. We just want to see everybody be safe. And we always want to have fun.”