How To Become an F1 Fan Without the Billionaire’s Yacht or Engineer’s Book

So You’re Curious About Formula 1…

Maybe you saw a TikTok of a Ferrari’s fastest pit stop, or your friend won’t stop talking about ‘DRS,’ or someone yelled ‘FORZA FERRARI!’ a little too loudly at brunch. Or maybe you’ve been watching Drive to Survive and you’re suddenly emotionally invested in people you didn’t know existed 10 minutes ago. Whatever brought you here, you’re welcome!

This isn’t about knowing every team principal or what tyre compound is best for a damp Q2. Being an F1 fan isn’t about being rich or an engineer—it’s about curiosity, connection, and loving the drama of humans pushing machines (and each other) to the edge. Want to be a part of that? Here is how.

TL;DR — Your Beginner’s Grid Strategy: Key Takeaways

1. Watch a recent race (don’t start with history)
2. Watch Drive to Survive—but only after a real race
3. Dive into podcasts, YouTube & socials to meet the drivers
4. Let your favorite driver find you
5. Download the F1 app for news, standings, and updates
6. You can attend a race for under $200 (and you should!)
7. Join a simple, fun F1 online community
8. Learn terms as you go—don’t sweat it
9. Keep exploring what YOU love about the sport
10. 📊Check out the infographic!

A Step-by-step Guide On How To Become A Formula 1 Fan

Step 1: Watch a Race!

You don’t need a glossary of racing terms or a deep dive into the turbo-hybrid era. Just pick a race—recent ones are better, trust me—and start watching.

Some great ‘jump-in-now’ races:

1. 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (controversy and chaos galore)
2. 2023 São Paulo GP (wheel-to-wheel madness)
3. 2024 Silverstone GP (pure racing joy)
4. 2025 Canadian GP (thrilling battles)

Watching qualifying and pre-race coverage helps, but the Grand Prix itself is where the real stories unfold. So, just keep your eyes open and let the questions come.

Step 2: Modern F1 is Your Starting Line

Most guides will tell you to start with history. We say: not yet.
Today’s Formula 1 is faster, flashier, and brasher. The hard rock time of James Hunt is long gone. The sport has evolved—both on and off the track. So why start with black-and-white footage when you can start with side-by-side battles in 4K?
Later, if you’re hooked, go back and meet Senna, Lauda, and Fangio. But for now, stick with Verstappen, Norris, and Hamilton.

Step 3: Get to Know the People

It’s not just about who’s fastest. It’s about why they race, what fuels them, and how they crack—or thrive—under pressure.
You’ll start asking:
Why is Max Verstappen so fearless?
Is Charles Leclerc really that emotional?
Why is George Russell so stubborn?

Where to start for personality & drama:

YouTube: F1’s Driver Briefings, WTF1,Driver interviews, Josh Revell, F1 Nation,Nico Rosberg’s YouTube (Former champ turned YouTuber. Surprisingly good)
Podcasts: Beyond the Grid, P1 with Matt & Tommy, The Race F1 Podcasts
However, these help you see the rivalries, bromances, mental strength—and yes, petty feuds—that make F1 totally consume-worthy.

Step 4: You Don’t Need to Pick a Team or Driver

Here’s the thing: your favorite driver will find you. After two or three races, you’ll notice yourself rooting for someone. Maybe it’s the underdog who pulled off a wild overtake. Or, it’s the team that keeps messing up pit stops but never gives up. Perhaps it’s the guy who gives the best post-race interviews. Whatever!

Try this: watch interviews, scroll Formula 1 Paddock’s socials, and read up on their racing styles. Put yourself in their racing boots. Whose mindset clicks with yours? Who would you want to race alongside—or against?
That’s your driver.

How do you choose which F1 Team to support? So, go with your gut. Or even your fashion sense. Or who has the best suit design? No wrong answers. I like Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff, for example, for his messy hairstyle and a look as if he is about to make a decision that would change the world.

Step 5: Your Phone Is a Pit Lane Pass

The F1 app gives you live timing, driver standings, news updates, and team radios. You’ll feel like you’re in the garage without getting brake dust in your eyes.
Can you become an F1 fan from your couch, clutching snacks and scrolling TikTok? Absolutely.
But… there’s one experience that will cement your love for the sport:

Step 6: Attend a Live Race

No screen can prepare you for the sound of those engines screaming down the main straight. Or the energy of 100,000 people gasping at a last-lap overtake.

You don’t need a yacht in Monaco. You need a plan and about $200 (yes, seriously). For more ideas on affordable races in Formula 1, check the F1 destinations’ guide for the 2025 season.

You can snag general admission tickets for many races, like the Austrian, Hungarian, or U.S. Grand Prix, for under $200. It’s not the life of a VIP, but it’s enough to start your F1 story.
 
This is how it happened for my friend Alex and his family. They showed up confused, left obsessed—and now, they never miss a race.

Pro Tip:
If you are stuck, here is our comprehensive note on buying the F1 tickets that makes your choice simpler and faster.
Last but not least, looking comfortable and trendy at the Formula 1 race also requires time, so you can read this guide on F1 outfits to find your own ideas on what to wear to the race.

Step 7: Learn the Lingo

Pro Tip:
Every Formula 1 season has the calmest period in terms of on-track action and the most intense time in the drivers’ market. These three weeks are known as the summer break, and they are the ideal time to delve into technical jargon and prepare for the next race. For the 2025 Formula 1 season, the summer break takes place between the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix, from August 4th to 28th. Want to fill this gap? We have many ideas for Formula 1 summer break plans to help you make the most of this time.

STEP 8: Find Your F1 People

There’s a massive community out there. Reddit threads, Twitter memes, Discord servers, Instagram reels, and TikTok edits with 2 million likes. It can be overwhelming.

So don’t try to follow everyone.

Instead, start small:

Pick one or two creators you vibe with
Join one Discord (some teams even host them!) or subreddit, lurk on r/Formula1 for an example.
Follow the official @F1 on TikTok for light, fun content
Try social media accounts like @f1trol, @thef1friend, @f1struggle or @f1humour for a meme-level entry point.

Just find your flavor—humor, insights, fashion, strategy. Ask questions. Share memes. Get into debates about who deserved the win and let that guide your scroll.

STEP 9: Keep Building Your F1 Brain

You’ll never stop learning in F1. That’s part of the fun.
When you’re ready, try these movies:

• Rush (2013) – Niki Lauda vs James Hunt. A classic.
• Senna (2010) – A heart-wrenching, must-watch documentary.
• Ferrari (2023) – Adam Driver + fast cars = yes, please.
• F1 (2025) – Brad Pitt’s acting + Lewis Hamilton’s producing = the Formula 1 movie can’t be better.

Or these sources:

• RaceFans.net, TheRace.com, or F1 Unlocked for deep-dive content. Also, you can check our guide through the good websites on Formula 1 that transform every beginner into an F1 expert.
• For those, who like virtual reality, there are sim racing and fantasy leagues to get even more involved.
• Books like Aussie Grit (by Mark Webber) or The Mechanic (by Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley) give you the behind-the-scenes juice you never knew you needed.

Every new thing you watch, read, or scroll through brings you deeper into the Paddock. However, follow the same rule: take them one at a time. If you feel confused, switch to another source.

F1 Beginner’s Journey: Infographic

You’re Already on the Grid

If you made it this far, congrats—you’re already part of the F1 family. The only difference between you and that die-hard fan in the grandstand? Time.

You don’t need a trust fund. You don’t need encyclopedic knowledge. All you need is curiosity, a screen (for now), and the courage to jump into the fast lane.

Start watching. Start asking questions. And who knows—your favorite driver might be fighting for the championship this year. Or your new best friend might be someone you met in a Twitter thread arguing about tire strategy.

That’s the magic of F1.