Beyond the Checkered Flag: What F1 Tells Us about Sport and Society

Formula 1: A Global Sport

• Tony Cohen Brown, a Formula 1 commentator, was introduced to the sport through his family and living near the famous Spa racetrack in Belgium.
• Brown believes that the appeal of F1 lies in its global nature, with races held in 20 different countries, and the clash of cultures and languages among the drivers and teams.
• Formula 1 is a global sport that can make a government or area look better than it is because it creates credibility and showcases the country in the best possible light.
• The Gulf regions are pouring so much money into sports, including F1, that it raises questions about whether the sport can exist without this money.
• Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is investing heavily in sports, including F1, and sees it as a way to increase GDP and diversify income streams.
• There is a tension in Formula 1 between keeping the sport pure and making money.
• Formula 1 has been criticized for racing in countries with poor human rights records.
• Formula 1 fans are bothered by the sport's lack of concern for social issues, but they continue to watch the races.
• Formula 1, as a global sport, has a limited reach with only 1% of fans attending races in person.
• The sport is not doing enough to represent society as a whole, and the burden of creating diverse and inclusive communities often falls on the fans.

Sports and Politics

• Sports have always been political, and the athletes' voices and activism can create conflicts and discussions about politics in sports.
• Sports organizations have a greater responsibility due to the emotional attachment of fans and the community impact they have.
• F1, as a traveling circus, has to respect the rules and values of the countries it visits and treat its hosts with respect.
• Fandoms are very committed to their interests and are often aware of and willing to discuss the hard conversations and questions surrounding them.
• Formula 1 fans are more vocal about social issues than Star Wars fans.
• The younger generation of Formula 1 fans is more vocal about social issues.
• It is unfair to put the burden of boycotting the sport solely on the fans.
• Formula 1 organizations should take responsibility for addressing social issues.
• The responsibility of fandoms is to be willing to have difficult conversations and see the full picture.
• Fans should be allowed to enjoy the sport without the burden of social responsibility, but they also have the option to use their collective voice to speak up on important issues.
• The burden of promoting social change should not solely fall on the athletes or the fans; the organization and regulators also have a responsibility to address these issues.

The Olympics and Mega Sporting Events

• The Olympics were created with two main purposes: national pride and helping countries reframe their narratives and regain a presence on the global stage.
• The significant difference in modern Olympics is the immense amount of money involved.
• While governments have traditionally used mega sporting events to their advantage, there is now an opportunity for athletes to use the same platform to speak their minds and potentially for fandoms to do the same.
• The speaker is not worried about the historical dynamic between sports and governments but is concerned about the sport's survival without the influx of money and the challenges of regulating it effectively.
• The speaker is excited about the potential for athletes to use these events to their advantage and sees a shift in the pendulum in that direction.