A group of female F1 fans at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. Photo credits to Robert Cianflone Source: [Robert Cianflone]

For decades, the Formula 1 scene was dominated by men. They controlled every aspect of the sport, both inside and outside the paddock. But in recent years, there has been a rising interest for the sport among young women, helped in part by the increased presence Formula 1 has had on social media and other video platforms. 

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated in November 2022 that around 40% of the Formula 1 fans were women, an 8% increase from 2017 statistics. That same year, ESPN reports revealed that an average of 352,000 women tuned into each race, making up 28% of total viewership and up 34% from the 2021 season [1][2]. 

It would not be ridiculous to assume that much of this newfound enjoyment among women comes from Formula 1’s hit Netflix docuseries, Drive to Survive. The show depicts the gritty behind-the-scenes action for our favorite pilots and teams, instantly getting new viewers hooked on the sport. 

A UK study done by YourGov Sports Whitepaper in 2022 found 46% of Drive to Survive viewers were women, and 31% of its 6.8 million total viewers were between the ages of 18 and 29 [3] This was slightly more balanced compared to the gender split of the sport itself, with the data showing 30% of avid F1 fans were women.  

Even McLaren star driver Lando Norris has noticed the shift, commenting that “At times, it feels like more girls than guys [are watching]” [4]. 

The presence of female fans, especially on social media platforms, has been difficult to miss. The image of Formula 1 pilots has been transformed into what some may describe as a teenage heartthrob boy-band, complete with flashy fancams and paparazzi pictures. 

All in all, the results have been relatively harmless -even positive. What has been created is simply a different way to enjoy the sport, a community where some fans may find they fit in better. However, with any introduction of a new group into an already-established community, there will be backlash. 

Make no mistake, female Formula 1 fans are no new phenomenon. They have pre-dated the existence of Drive to Survive and coexisted with male fans since the existence of the sport, albeit as the clear minority. It is simply the recent surge of their numbers that seems to have caused an imbalance in F1’s “boy’s club”.

When you stumble across a debate between a male and female Formula 1 fan on any social media site, you may find that the arguments, particularly on the male side, boil down to calling the women a “Drive to Survive fan”, or ridiculing her choice of a favorite driver because she simply “thinks he’s hot”. 

Though all these things may be true, they are clearly weaponized to be something negative against the female fan, minimizing her passion or commitment to the sport because of how she discovered it. 

One of the most egregious examples of the derogatory “Drive to Survive” label is its continued usage against the female fans of Scuderia Ferrari’s golden boy, Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque is often categorized alongside world champions such as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as the most popular faces in the paddock, despite only having 5 wins to his name. 

Leclerc’s fame is repeatedly attributed to the success of Drive to Survive, with his conventionally attractive looks and humble personality making him an easy favorite, especially among women. That charm, however, is ultimately used against female fans whenever they express their love for the pilot. 

Older fans have many gripes with the Drive to Survive series, claiming that it over-dramatizes the on-track racing, fabricating stories for the sake of a narrative, and overall is a disingenuous depiction of Formula 1 racing. To only come across the sport through such a fraudulent presentation, they say, makes someone not a “real fan”. 

However, the question then arises: what is the “proper” way to become a F1 fan? No one comes out of their mother’s womb well versed in the intricacies of any sport, much less one as complicated as Formula 1. Everyone has to start somewhere, and who decides which way is better than another? 

This attitude towards women is not restricted to the fanbase -it bleeds into the Formula 1 paddock as well. Notably, at the end of February, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was said to be under investigation for potential misconduct towards a female employee. 

While the case was initially dismissed and Horner was cleared of wrongdoing, a Google Drive containing various explicit WhatsApp messages and pictures was sent to various reporters and members of Formula 1’s governing body, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile [5]. 

The public outcry towards the investigation was not solely linked to the allegations themselves, rather it was the lack of transparency and respect displayed by the Red Bull team towards such a serious issue that got people talking. The fact that the female employee was reportedly suspended following the accusations coupled with women’s disrespect in the sport was too monumental to ignore [6]. 

It seems that wherever women go, they are faced with hurls of insults and degrading language from men that feel some sort of superiority by maintaining these male-only spaces. But time and time again, these ladies have shown that they can persevere in the face of adversity and opposition -a testament reflected in both history’s greatest turning points and the nichest of Internet communities. 

In the words of renowned F1 TV presenter, Laura Winter: “To the women and girls in motorsport, to the huge and growing numbers of female fans in this sport, here is a very good reminder for all of us. We are here to stay and we are right where we belong.”

Sources:

[1]https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2024/03/11/heres-why-formula-1-racing-is-growing-in-popularity-with-women/?sh=2d54667d137c

[2]https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2022/11/formula-1-season-smashes-u-s-television-viewership-records

[3]https://www.blackbookmotorsport.com/news/drive-to-survive-f1-docuseries-netflix-yougov-viewership-audience-2023

[4]https://www.today.com/news/sports/mclaren-f1-lando-norris-female-viewers-rcna125455

[5]https://www.vox.com/2024/3/8/24093296/formula-1-christian-horner-allegations-red-bull-investigation-verstappen-women

[6]https://news.sky.com/story/christian-horners-accuser-suspended-after-red-bulls-investigation-into-formula-one-boss-13089164

[7]https://au.news.yahoo.com/stay-f1-presenter-laura-winter-152556014.html?