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As Formula 1 continues to expand its US audience post-pandemic, Friends Select students illustrate the appeal, and exhaustion, of following a global sport with midnight start times.

Netflix’s F1 docuseries Drive to Survive has played a role in introducing new fans to the sport, even if its dramatization of the sport has sparked controversy. In the Global F1 Fan Survey, a survey of Formula 1 fans conducted by Formula 1 and Motorsport Network, 1 in 10 new American fans said that “Drive to Survive” was their point of entry into the F1 fandom. When speaking on the show’s impact, Theo Stanlev-Potts ‘26 said, “I mean, it’s debatable whether they’re actually real fans if they just watch the show and then treat it like a drama movie. But I think that’s gotten a lot of interest in the sport.” While Netflix brought many fans into the sport, the sport itself has kept them watching. 

What grabs new fans to Formula 1 is the speed and chaos; it’s flashy, faster, and often less predictable than other sports. For US fans, the F1 Fan Global Survey found that 30% of fans follow F1 because of the “Thrill of the Races and the Speed.” This trend is seen at FSS as Abby Davenport ‘27 said, “I was scrolling through channels on the TV and I saw highlights from the 2024 Baku GP… I was drawn to the speed,” when explaining what got her into Formula 1. “For me, it is so different from the other popular sports — it was unlike anything I’d seen.”

One of the harder parts of being an American F1 fan for FSS students is the time difference, because most races are on other continents, watching races live can be challenging with races starting as early as 3 am. In the Global F1 Fan Survey, 72% of Americans watched at least 20 races live in 2024. Even though most races start before 10 am on Sundays, Americans still tune in to watch. “I have had to stay up until 3 am for some races,” said Theo.

When FSS students get into F1, they become invested, not just watching casually, but diving fully into the sport. “Monaco needs to be revamped, or regulations on car size need to be altered,” said Seamus Houser ‘28. 

Abby explains, “Papaya Rules” (a nickname given to McLaren’s team strategy) sort of gives Norris an advantage… I’m really excited about the rookies and can’t wait to see Checo and Bottas next year.” 

At Friends Select, the passion for F1 mirrors the 44% of US fans who say that Formula 1 is the most exciting sport in the world.