The Fangirlification of Formula 1

In recent years, the pinnacle of motorsports has gained an unlikely audience of new enthusiasts.

Photo-Illustration: The Cut; Photos: cooltext.com, Getty As Las Vegas prepares to become the new epicenter of Formula 1 racing, the Cut is revisiting our coverage of F1 drivers and their loyal followers. This story was originally published March 3, 2023. POV: You’re dating a Formula 1 driver. Images from the paddock flash before your eyes. A 23-second long TikTok , viewed over 88,000 times, slows only to show WAGs ruffling the lush, curly hair of their beloveds: handsome, thick-necked, accented athletes at the apex of their careers. Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” is the soundtrack. These kinds

related reading

• The K-popification of F1: How a New Generation Is Rewriting the Rules of Motorsport Fandom | Teen Vogueteenvogue.com
• Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, & 'The Idea Of You' Prove We Live In A Fan Economybustle.com
• What the NBA Can Learn From Formula 1 – Stratechery by Ben Thompsonstratechery.com
• The Technium: 1,000 True Fanskk.org
• The Monks in the Casino - Derek Thompsonderekthompson.org
• #95: The Speed culturemanyonepercents.substack.com
• The effect of fan-themed apparel products’ signal explicitness on fans’ perceptions: the moderating effect of fanshipfashionandtextiles.springeropen.com
• Haterspaulgraham.com
• New Media is Insider Mediaworkingtheorys.com
• Who gets shipped and why?pudding.cool
• 05. Self Under Self, a Pile of Selves I Stand - by Emactivefaults.substack.com
• Founders: #395 How Geniuses and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World's Fastest-Growing Sportpod.wave.co