I never expected Formula 1 to become my favorite sport. In fact, if you had asked me a year ago what DRS or parc ferme meant, I'd have stared blankly and assumes it had something to do with video games or fancy cheese.
But then came the TikTok
One Random night, I was scrolling through my feed when I stumbled across that Max Verstappen "Tu Tu Du Du" meme. If you know, you know. I found it hilarious-so much so that I started watching more and more F1 memes. At first, I didn't understand half of what was going on. I didn't know who the drivers were or why people kept yelling "box, box!" But something clicked
A few days later, while browsing Netflix, I came across Drive to Survive. and although I now rarely admit to watching it, that show was the real spark. It gave me just enough drama, chaos, and helmet hair to get hooked. After binge-watching a few episodes, I found myself on the official F1 YouTube channel, watching last season's race highlights, learning about the drivers, the rivalries, and-of course-the memes in context.
From the start, Max Verstappen stood out to me as a favorite. But it didn't take long before I was fully on board with the Smooth Operator himself, Carlos Sainz. And yes, I also became an instant fan of F1's ultimate rookie (or should I say veteran?), Fernando Alonso. It was chaotic, unpredictable, and completely addictive.
By total coincidence, just as my obsession was hitting full speed, the 2025 Australian Grand Prix was happening. I still remember it clearly: staying up at midnight just to watch my very first live race. The excitement, the strategy, the overtakes-I was in. What I thought was just a two week phase quickly became a full blown passion.
Now, Formula 1 is more than just a passing interest. It's my favorite sport. Every race weekend is like a mini holiday, and I've developed my own opinions, rivalries, and favorite moments.
Currently, here's where I stand as a fan:
Favorite Team: Williams (Yes, I believe in the Albon agenda.)
Favorite Driver: Still Max Verstappen, but it's complicated.
Other Favorites: Carlos Sainz (my smooth king), Alex Albon (Icon), Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and Isack Hadjar (best performing rookie).
It's wild to think that one silly TikTok sent me down this rabbit hole. But that's the beauty of F1, you don't have to grow up with it to fall in love with it. Sometimes, all it takes is a beat drop, a race at midnight, and a whole lot of YouTube.
