Formula One or Formula 1, whichever way you want to name it, is a very popular motorsport, the most popular sport for open wheel formula racing. Formula 1 has always been a rather popular motorsport, namely because of the speed and the adrenaline-infused action that is associated with every race.
It is a very fast motorsport where a single bad turn or shift can lead to a crash and serious injuries. We like to watch daring events and Formula 1 is at the top of the list of the most daring sports of all time.
But, what is the sport’s popularity with women? Is it as popular as it is with men? Most likely not, but the statistics have been improving lately and here is why.
Drama – Everyone Likes Drama
Drama is what most people enjoy, in sports and otherwise. This is why so many shows are based around friction between the participants, like reality shows. When you have friction and drama, you can be sure that a show is going to be more popular than another. Formula 1 had a Netflix show released in 2019, called Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The name is very ominous and the show takes a deep dive into the rather serious and brutally competitive nature of Formula 1. The behind the scenes is what most people were into and is certainly what attracted a lot of women. The drama that takes place over the course of a season is a great way to attract new fans, women or men.
Popular Drivers – Every Sport Has Stars
Just like Messi and Ronaldo are popular in association football, or LeBron and Curry are popular in basketball, there are popular drivers in Formula 1. F1 has always had its stars and that would change based on their performance in the recent races and of course, the World Championship.
At the moment, the most popular drivers are the recent winner, Max Verstappen, the ever so popular Lewis Hamilton and of course, Lando Norris. Everyone likes a winner, and they absolutely adore competitive drivers or athletes, in general. This can attract lots of fans, including women.
When some of the athletes are also easy on the eyes, not to mention that they perform at the highest level, fans are bound to be attracted.
The Pandemic Helped
What changed most sports and motorsports in recent years was the global pandemic that has been a problem since 2020. This meant that more people were locked indoors and couldn’t do much about it. When indoors, people turned to entertainment and even though there are a plethora of genres, shows and movies to choose from, some women decided that F1 was the right choice. And of course, it is, F1 is great and what better way to spend time indoors than watching a ridiculously fast and dangerous race?
While more popular with men than with women, F1’s popularity has steadily been rising with women in the past couple of years. The trajectory is looking promising.
