These days Formula 1 feels not just like a sport, but a pop culture. Nowadays it is Louis Vuitton fits, TAG Heuer watches and ultra-cool sports cars as private vehicles. But the story begins far more simply — a field of front-engined cars, minimal safety gear, and a royal audience watching on a blustery British airfield.

The first World Championship Grand Prix was held at Silverstone on May 13, 1950. Giuseppe “Nino” Farina won in an Alfa Romeo, and the new series was off and running. That single afternoon set the template for a championship that now spans five continents.

Early F1 was raw. Drivers raced with no seatbelts, aluminium fuel tanks and rudimentary crash protection — fatalities were tragically common.

In the 50s–60s, the core audience was motorsport enthusiasts and wealthy elites. Many early Grands Prix were held at old airfields or on dangerous road circuits, and the people attending were either local fans fascinated by the speed and oddness, or well-heeled travellers who treated races as social events. Royalty and aristocrats frequently appeared in the paddock, especially at Monaco and Silverstone.

This was more of a gladiator thing, with lots of blood, sweat, and tears to it. So, it was cool, but to call it ‘popular’ would have been an exaggeration, considering a high entry barrier and the need for a strong stomach.

As the sport grew, the crowd widened slightly to include a bigger fan base particularly in Britain, Italy, and later Brazil, where homegrown heroes like James Hunt and Niki Lauda (there was a whole drama between these two by the way, watch the Rush, 2013) inspired national followings.

To put it shortly, it all changes with the name familiar to everyone — Michael Schumacher. He was like Max Verstappen multiplied by Lewis Hamilton and a pinch of Charles Leclerc. The 1990s and early 2000s were a time of a true ‘Schumacher Effect,’ starting the history of F1 drivers as pop-icons.

Michael Schumacher’s dominance with Ferrari (2000–2004) created a surge of international interest. Ferrari’s brand power helped turn casual viewers into committed fans — and if you have ever seen the match of an Italian national football team, you know the level of commitment is real).

More than that, races expanded beyond Europe into Asia and the Americas, making F1 a global property. Television and sponsorship deals grew enormously, transforming F1 into a billion-dollar business.

The Middle East was (and still is) a huge deal for F1.

Formula 1’s arrival in the Middle East began with Bahrain’s debut race in 2004, the region’s first Grand Prix. This was still during the Schumacher era, obviously he won that race.

Abu Dhabi followed in 2009 with the glamorous Yas Marina Circuit, famed for its day-to-night racing, super-yacht marina and after-race concerts (remember last year’s Peggy Gou?).

Together these turned the Gulf into a dream-hub for Formula 1, soon joined by Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

The Gulf races gave Formula 1 three things at once — prime-time television slots; architected entertainment; and state-of-the-art facilities. So all three spices one needs for a proper show online and offline.

So, to wrap this up, what we have:

As a result we get attention. But how did it turn into masses? — Netflix.

Yes, we all can’t deny that the drama of Drive to Survive (2019 –...) series didn’t touch us. It was a huge success and became a part of contemporary pop culture.

Nowadays, Formula 1 is an elite thing open for everyone. F1 league is a collection of icons, like rock stars, that are being broadcasted and supported worldwide.

Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, George Russel, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc — all these pilots became true pop stars with huge fan bases. You might not even know who Hamilton is, but you definitely saw his fits.

Nowadays we all watch the season, then watch the series, read news on all the drama, buy products. We see world celebrities at F1 — it is like a VIP zone that is actually reserved only for people that are ‘Leo Dicaprio level,’ but with the help of media and actual tickets being sold — you can get there and become a part of it. Like with Wimbledon.

With all the growing success and interest, contemporary F1 got the honour of something that resembles its true relevance with the modern audiences — a Hollywood film.

The 2025 blockbuster F1: The Movie has raced into the record books as one of the year’s biggest cultural phenomena, grossing more than $614 million globally. It even outpaced Superman at the box office.

F1: The Movie was a high-octane collaboration between Apple Studios, Formula 1 Management, the FIA and all ten F1 teams, with Abu Dhabi providing one of its most spectacular backdrops.

Starring Brad Pitt as a veteran driver guiding a rising star, the film’s allure lies in its rare authenticity: director Joseph Kosinski filmed at 14 real Grands Prix across three continents, seamlessly inserting the fictional APXGP team into live events at Silverstone, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas.

Filming took place across 29 days and three separate visits, with scenes captured at Yas Marina Circuit, Zayed International Airport, and twofour54 Studios in the Yas Creative Hub — supported by Epic Films and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission. Crucially, major sequences were shot live during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, allowing Brad Pitt and co-star Damson Idris to race alongside the roar of real crowds.

Lewis Hamilton (yes, the actual Lewis Hamilton), took the role of an executive producer, and was deeply involved in ensuring the film’s credibility. He advised on script details, worked with director to shape realistic storylines, and personally coached Brad Pitt in racecraft, from handling the G-forces to the nuances of track etiquette. His influence extended to production design too, ensuring that the sport’s culture — its rituals, rivalries and rhythm — was faithfully portrayed.

But probably the best part of the film is the shooting of the actual pilot’s pov during the race. Incredible feeling.

To capture the sensation of driving at 290 km/h on real circuits, the crew developed a groundbreaking camera system. Specially modified F2 chassis were fitted with 16 integrated camera mounts hidden in the car’s nose, cockpit and under-tray.

These ultra-light mounts housed transmitters, battery packs and recorders without upsetting performance or safety. The result was unprecedented: audiences see Pitt and Idris racing wheel-to-wheel from perspectives normally impossible, yet filmed with the realism of live track action.

Beyond its action, the film has tapped into F1’s growing reputation as a lifestyle brand. They even have a whole discussion inside the film about the influence of PR and its growing role in modern racing.

A high-octane soundtrack featuring Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Hans Zimmer and Rosé has broadened its cultural footprint, while collaborations with Tommy Hilfiger and limited-edition merchandise — watches, clothing and even branded popcorn buckets — reinforced the centrality of fashion and style to modern Formula 1’s identity.

Because this show has it all — high-quality sport, charismatic drivers, drama, beautiful sights, amazing style and an opportunity to be welcomed into this world via Netflix and cinemas.

This used to be something reserved for royals, but these days we all can be a part of this elevated lifestyle, wearing Tommy Hilfiger and TAG Heuer.