Since its establishment in 1950, Formula One has had a very loyal fan base. Up until recently, the fan base has mainly consisted of men, however over the last couple years, Formula One has noticed a rising number of female fans. Now that’s not to say there weren’t female fans prior, I mean I myself have been an F1 fan since 2007. But due to the increasing popularity of Drive to Survive on Netflix, as well as the drivers gaining their much deserved place amongst some of the most popular athletes in the world, the number of female F1 fans has definitely risen exponentially. Unfortunately, being a female F1 fan has never been easy. And with the rise of social media, it has become even harder. My position as an F1 fan was never questioned when I was a child because most grown men in California had never even heard of F1, so it just impressed them that I was a fan of something like that. Nowadays, a female F1 fan can’t go anywhere without being quizzed or insulted by men. It seems as if men have forgotten that women are allowed to be fans of whatever they want to be.
Unfortunately some of the recent fan behavior has reflected horribly on the F1 fanbase as a whole. With mean comments directed at the drivers and their partners, booing and screaming rude things at the drivers during race weekend, as well as fans acting way out of turn towards drivers outside of the track. Many of the instances of mean comments towards drivers and their girlfriends have come from young girls who are fans of the drivers. Of course there are older women as well as men who make those comments as well, but the majority of the ones that people see are not. People will constantly hide behind an anonymous username and say whatever they want without fear of retribution.
It seems as if the modern F1 fan is all social media and spending loads of money to be able to see your favorite driver race. If you speak to F1 fans who have been F1 fans for decades are the most compelling evidence of how the fandom has changed.
My dad, who has been a fan of F1 since the 60s when he was growing up in England, has really seen a lot of change occur in the sport. He remembers the days where he would go to Brands Hatch or Donington, sneak into the circuit and paddock to watch the races. The stories he could tell about meeting some of the most famous F1 drivers of the time. He was a 10 year old boy who was getting the chance to chit chat with the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart and so many others. He still loves the sport and watches the races every Sunday. But he admits that F1 has lost part of what makes it special. He accepts that F1 has to change with the times or it will never flourish, but he also believes that F1 is way too accepting of the “Hollywood Glamor” as he puts it. He wishes that F1 wouldn’t give into the drama and everything else that comes with social media and internet popularity in general.
The modern F1 fan has every opportunity to keep this sport a safe and respectful place for everyone. And if F1 could make a good example by promoting respect and taking action against disrespect, the F1 community would be a much better place for everyone no matter their gender, race, or sexuality.
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