Fashion on the F1 Paddock
By: Charlotte Cebula
What you likely do not know about me is that I’m an avid fan of Formula 1 racing. This surprises most people, as I am the type to describe the Met Gala as my “personal Super Bowl,” and have not played an organized sport in years. Nevertheless, Formula 1 has quickly become a part of my life, as I check race results every Sunday and keep up to date with the news. Before you ask, my favorite team is Ferrari.
Perhaps the reason why I love F1 is because it sits at the nexus of fashion, sports, and culture. GQ, a men’s fashion magazine, is hooked on F1. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has recently stolen the hearts of many on TikTok. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen turned heads with his watch collection, sporting the exclusive Kith x TAG Heuer Formula 1. Seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton is perhaps the most emblematic of this intersection of fashion and sports. (Yes, he is knighted.) He is known for wearing bold prints, designer apparel, and the occasional bucket hat. Paparazzi flock to him—rightly so— as he enters every Grand Prix race. He even has his own lifestyle capsule collection with Dior. Not only is he one of the most decorated drivers in F1 history, but he is also one of this generation’s style icons.
Hamilton’s style is representative of a larger cultural shift, of which F1 is on the vanguard. Granted, F1 has always been associated with the glitz and glamour of the global elite. It’s an outrageously expensive (and dangerous) sport that has for decades attracted fans from the upper echelons of society. Now, though, F1 has garnered a renewed notoriety with the help of social media, its acquisition by Liberty Media, superstar
drivers like Hamilton, and Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries. Celebrities and influencers flock to various races, such as the Monaco Grand Prix, to catch a glimpse of the cars zipping through the streets at top speed. Some visitors consider the race to be only a mere offshoot of the event, as Monaco is known for exclusive parties, frequent celebrity spotting, and style.
At almost every race (of which there are 24 each year), there is a celebrity sighting. Some famous actor, musician, or athlete will be photographed cheering on a team or waving the checkered flag. Some die-hard fans resent the changing landscape of F1, arguing that the flashiness of the event obscures the real content: the racing. To an extent, I understand this concern. But the celebrity of F1 has brought new viewers, like myself, into the sport. Sure, I have always loved cars, but organized sporting events have never been my thing. What F1 offers is an experience that transcends pure athleticism. It has become a hotbed of pop culture. F1 is simply everywhere, and I’m here for it.