PRIYA COOPER / SPORTS EDITOR

Recently, there has been a rise in popularity around the sport of  Formula 1, often referred  to as “F1.” Formula 1 has been associated with higher risk, but the sport has grown to many more audiences as of late. The sport has gained a lot of traction among younger fans globally  and  in the United States.

According to a USA Today survey, 70% of Gen Z  F1 fans said they engage with Formula 1 content daily, while 40% of American  respondents  reported following individual drivers rather than specific teams. Toreros  have shared their experiences and engagement  with the sport, from fashion to merchandise — and attending the events altogether.

USD senior Madi Wuest discussed how she got into F1, as someone who tries to keep up with most of the races.

“I kind of started paying attention to races because of my younger sister and then once I really learned how it worked, I got a lot more into it and it made watching way more entertaining,” Quest said. “It takes a second to understand because there are so many rules and regulations, but I found it really fun after getting to know the technicalities.”

Formula 1 is a global motorsport series made up of 22 races held across multiple countries. This season, however, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix have been canceled due to political tensions in the Middle East, slightly reshaping the official race calendar. 

Each race contributes to the overall standings through a points system. Drivers must finish in the top 11 positions to earn points, and the number of points decreases the further a driver finishes from first place. These points matter because Formula 1 operates with two separate championships: the Drivers’ Championship, which rewards the individual racer with the most points, and the Constructors’ Championship, which rewards the team whose two drivers collectively earn the most points. Because of this structure, a driver can win the Drivers’ Championship even if their team does not win the Constructors’ title.

Formula 1 is different from NASCAR. While the two organizations do have some similarities, their differences are far more pronounced. Both companies represent different types of motorsport and are different styles of racing. The most obvious distinction lies in the cars themselves used for each race. NASCAR features heavier, stock-style vehicles while F1 uses much lighter, highly aerodynamic open-wheel cars that prioritize speed. 

USD first-year student Parker Brown watches NASCAR and shares why he believes it to be more engaging than F1. 

“NASCAR has more close races, when cautions happen they bring the field closer together  so the races are tighter, it’s always a good race,” Brown explained. “F1 has a lot more technical things going and it’s interesting logistically. But I’ll always choose NASCAR.”

Overall, the growing popularity of Formula 1 shows how quickly the sport is expanding   beyond   its    traditional image. Whether students are drawn in by the technical strategy, the personalities of drivers or the fashion and lifestyle surrounding the sport, F1 has found a new audience.

Formula 1 cars are built for speed compared to NASCAR cars. Photo Courtesy @F1/Instagram