In recent years, Formula One racing has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, and through impressive marketing, the sport has established itself as a fixture in pop culture. Many new fans like junior Emma Lipp have been entranced by the sport.

“One of my close friends kept posting about it on Instagram and TikTok, so I just got interested in it,” she said. “(That) got me into watching races. Then I got into it and kept talking about it with my friends.”

Lipp first watched “Drive to Survive”, a Netflix series documenting the behind-the-scenes of the races. She explains that the series, displaying the drama of F1, has introduced many people to racing.

“It helps explain more of the sides you don’t see through just watching races,” she said. In the show, viewers learn about the unique personalities of each driver. This media strategy has propelled drivers to a celebrity status, which Lipp believes has helped draw more fans in.

“What I thought was really interesting was the strategies they have for every race, because (each circuit) is different,” she said. “Then also, (there are) two drivers being in the same (kind of) car, but both of them perform so differently. I think a lot of it has to do with the drivers (themselves), but I think it’s just a cool sport.”