60 replies to this topic

[H0R]

Obviously it is usually a combination of several aspects, but which one is the most important one for you to support a particular driver?

[IrvTheSwerve]

None of the above - I haven’t been a true fan of any driver for a while, but I’ve always been attracted by kind of fairly mediocre-to-promising midfield drivers, namely Irvine and Fisichella during my time…it made it so sweet when they actually then got a drive at a top team and won some races.

[loki0420]

None of the above if we are talking about F1 drivers as all they have to do to be my favorites is to drive for McLaren. Same for every category in which McLaren involved.

 

But in MotoGP i became Marquez fan in second half of 2011 because he amazed me with his spirit after difficult start to season. It was good choice in the aftermath.

[jradicals]

I've struggled to attach myself to drivers for a long time now.

 

I've followed Williams since I was 9, so I've always supported whoever is driving for them - but most of them I don't have much interest in once they leave. Rosberg was probably an exception who I actively supported after he moved to Mercedes in 2010. Villeneuve too I sort of followed at BAR as a kid, but supporting him during his time at Williams was what attached me to the team in the first place.

 

I was on the Alonso bandwagon in his first Renault stint after he won his first race in '03 and then two titles, so I've always had a soft spot for him, probably the first driver in a Ferrari I've really backed (during that 2010-2012 time especially). But I wouldn't say I am a dedicated fan. 

 

Last year probably two of the happiest moments I had watching were when Leclerc won at Monaco and Monza - I thought, maybe I am becoming a Leclerc fan? But I guess it was just the emotion of those two wins, I just haven't found myself continuing to follow him naturally.

 

This year I am trying again and jumping on the Antonelli bandwagon, so we will see how it goes.

[Sterzo]

It's all very subjective, and quite complicated, but for me, being a driver's "fan" is like switching off from appreciating the whole scene. It also carries the uncomfortable implication of making it all about "me" and "my driver" which is rather embarrassing. Having said all that, yes of course I take more interest in some drivers than others. Typically they're the ones I've noticed in junior formulae for whatever reason, perhaps having seen them from trackside or read something interesting about them.

[Ruusperi]

Compatriot. 

When I started following F1, I was Häkkinen fan. Then I became Räikkönen fan. And then Bottas fan.

 

Currently I don't have any favorite driver. They are all indifferent to me...well, I guess I have a soft-spot for Alonso since he's the last of the mohicans of the bygone era.

I do remember liking underdogs like Frentzen, Barrichello, Trulli, Kubica and Kobayashi. In other words, drivers who are overshadowed by better teams or teammates, so their occasional success is always a nice surprise and shared joy. For that reason I still hope Hülkenberg gets his podium. That would be so awesome.

Edited by Ruusperi, Yesterday, 10:40.

[DW46]

I see myself as more of a team fan these days, drivers I was more into when I was younger and tbh it had more to do with them being one to watch when I was developing my love for the sport.

If I had to choose it might be character, I like the never say die JPM/JV style but also like IrvetheSwerve have a soft spot for a modified overachiever especially Fisico.

Odd one out was Nico, I was really happy to see him win a title, a proper grafter and an underrated talent.

[Joseki]

I like very fast assholes, preferably with a bit of a tendency to get dirty on track.

Alonso, Verstappen, Schumacher...

 

I can't stand the pretty faced "good guys".

Edited by Joseki, Yesterday, 10:44.

[pdac]

I'm not one to go wild about any one particular driver, but it's got to be racecraft all the way. So much so that, even though I dislike almost every other aspect about him, I admire Max for the his skill and ability (although, there's still a level of disappointment when he displays what I feel is unsportsmanlike behaviour to his fellow opponents).

[pacificquay]

That they drive for McLaren.

 

Loved Alonso at McLaren - hated him at Ferrari.

 

Loved Hamilton at McLaren - indifferent to him at Mercedes.

 

Etc etc.

[BelievableNonsense]

The first driver I would say I supported was JPM but that was only because he happened to win the first race I ever attended in person. You could say I was a bit of a glory hunter  . That then made me a bit of a McLaren supporter - again, glory hunting...

 

Then Lewis joined and it was sort of a double whammy because he was driving for Mclaren who I had already liked thanks to JPM but I would be a liar if I said it had nothing to do with him looking like me. 

 

It gets a bit awkward though because when Carlos and Max joined TR I remember there being a huge fanfare around Max and not that much around Carlos so I took a warming to him and said once Lewis leaves F1 I'll likely back him. I didn't foresee Lewis nabbing his seat though! 

 

I'd like to support a British driver but for some reason Lando (who is only about an hour from where I am from) rubs me the wrong way and I don't dislike George but neither am I drawn to him. Had hoped Bearman may get my support but I'm not sure. 

 

Now I find myself hoping Oscar can have some success and I'm back to liking McLaren as a team. 

 

 

A notable driver would also be Mark Webber because what isn't to like about him!

[le chat noir]

Character, whether displayed in person or via racecraft. Might be arrogant, might not be, it’s how they carry themselves.

Like the plain talkers and people with attitude and something to say -

Piastri
Verstappen
Leclerc
Think I might like Antonelli in time
Alonso
Albon
Colapinto
Hulk
Tsunoda
Hadjar
Bearman

Dislike those that give me the ick
Norris - handwringing
Hamilton - first I’d like to thank the fans, best fans in the world, sycophant
Russell - accent, mannerisms, entitlement
Lawson - thinks too highly
Ocon - a mix of Russell and Lawson
Indifferent
Sainz
Stroll
Gasly
Hulk
Bortoleto

Liked in the past
Vettel
Schumacher
Irvine
Villeneuve
Alesi
Berger
Button
Räikkönen
Fisi

It’s all about the person really. I don’t know why you’d cheer for someone whose character you didn’t like just because they win. Or why you wouldn’t be happier to see someone win whose character you did like more than the next guy’s even if they’re slower in raw pace.

Rosberg was therefore always more interesting than Hamilton. He worked harder as his base level was lower and he was happy to admit as much.

Alonso went from bad to good when he had to start working at it that much more. Hamilton has always made me queasy. Seems uncomfortable in himself even now.

[F1Frog]

Good question.

 

Sometimes it is character. I like Lewis Hamilton because he's a likeable character. I didn't support him when he was winning but the class with which he acted after Abu Dhabi 2021 made me a fan.

 

Sometimes it is feeling they are underrated by fans in general. I think George Russell and Esteban Ocon are much better drivers than they are given credit for so I like it when they do well, probably because I like being proven right.

 

Sometimes it is that they are exciting to watch. In BTCC, I like Ash Sutton because of his excellent racecraft and just being good to watch.

 

But most of all, I think it is about what makes for the best season narrative. Last season, I was supporting Lando Norris over Max Verstappen because it would have been far more exciting if they had taken the championship further into the season. This season, I support Max Verstappen over Lando Norris because it would make for a brilliant story in Formula 1 history if Verstappen wins the title against two far superior McLarens. That can change season-by-season, and even race-by-race, so I don't think it necessarily makes me a fan of that driver. This can cause glory-supporting because one driver being far better than the rest makes for a good narrative, but also underdog wins do that as well.

[Anderis]

I feel like the poll has too few options for this. At the very least let us vote for "something else".

 

For me there have been two main factors:

1. The sound of the driver's name. I'm an audile and I just find some names have a nice ring to them. Especially when I was younger it seemed to have a lot of impact on who I was rooting for. I also preferred some nationalities over others but since I come from a country that have always had very few drivers at the top level of racing, it was not really the "compatriot" factor.

2. I usually root for drivers whom I find underrated. If I was constantly hearing or reading opinions about the driver that I was finding unreasonably harsh or felt the driver was not being given enough credit for their performances, I was like "show them how wrong they are!".

 

Having been a Williams driver in the past, especially when Williams was their first F1 team was albo a bonus a lot of the time but not necessarily a guarantee that I would root for them.

[Dara]

It's just a feeling. I Don't have any rational reasons to say why I'm rooting driver X or team Y.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Generally I also find myself clinging to the past and supporting the 'old guys' who have been around for 10, 15+ years...even ones that I was indifferent about for a long time. 

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

I believe it is about chemistry.

[1player]

I chose to become a fan of Lando Norris because of his humble and self-critical character, and the candid way he discusses the stresses of working in an high-performance environment. Although we idolize drivers behind a screen, they are not machines, so when one has moments of self-doubts or feeling like an impostor like many of us do, they are relatable.

 

So although he might not be the fastest or most ruthless driver on the grid, he seems like a decent and good-natured lad and not a god descended on Earth.

 

Also, because he's proven over the years that drivers don't fossilize as soon as they reach F1, but they grow up as people and in their skillset. I wouldn't bet again him any time soon.

[Spillage]

I love the drivers who are just naturally fast, even if they're lacking in other areas. There is no greater thrill than watching an F1 car ont he limit.

[AlexPrime]

I don't know. Gut feeling. Same with the drivers I dislike. And it's different with different drivers I support.
Max, I admire Max and I'm a fan, because he is too bloody good. I usually don't like people who are as blunt as him, but the way he drives makes anything else irrelevant.
Leclerc is also very good, but seems like a really nice person. For similar reasons I like Piastri, great driver and for me a likeable character, quite cool with his relaxed attitude. 
The guys I have mixed feelings, Lando can make me very irritated, but I feel empathy for him when he is bashed relentlessly, as I know he may read such things. Usually I like when Sainz is cheeky, sometimes I'm annoyed, but rarely. I kind of like George, although I don't like his mind games. Kimi seems like a great person, but he is in F1 for less than half an year, I am not yet sure.
Alonso usually I like, although at times I didn't. Great driver and very unlucky. He also supports Bulgarian talent Tsolov, so that's another reason to support him. 
I never warmed to Lewis and never will, don't like the attitude, the media fawning since he was a kid, etc. But when he is old he is less aggravating for me. Probably because he hasn't won much recently. I warmed towards MSC at the very end of his Ferrari career and later when he struggled at Merc as well. During his prime I liked Hill and Hakkinen, occasionally Montoya. Mixed feelings towards JV, although he is cool. 
In other sports, I like Marquez the way I like Max. Not exactly the type of character I usually support, but the talent is immense. But I hated Vale. Liked Loeb, disliked Ogier and don't like Kale. 
These things are I feel in their core irrational. You just find some people cool and not others.

Edited by AlexPrime, Yesterday, 11:44.

[JHSingo]

Being exciting to watch has always been a big part of it for me - as a kid I was a big fan of the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya and Colin McRae (it helped that the former had an exotic sounding name too) - and I still like drivers wo aren't afraid to go for a divebomb, get it a bit sideways, or fight to the bitter end in defense. There's something really captivating about the sort of driver you never know what's coming next, whether it's a breathtaking overtake or a crash - and those sorts of guys tend to be quite a rare breed too, which makes them more special.

 

Having some personality and charisma is another aspect - one of the reasons I became a fan of Valentino Rossi was because (particularly in his early days) he brought a sense of fun and mischief to a sport that often takes itself too seriously. You could always sense that he was having fun - and often with a lot of drivers and riders it seems like they're only enjoying it if they're winning. Sebastian Vettel was similar in some ways in his early Red Bull days too. 

 

I've never been one for supporting just based on nationality, I've always felt that's quite lazy. I suspect it also goes back to the days of me being drawn to cool sounding names - British names always sounded so boring in comparison. 

 

I've not really had a clear favourite driver for quite a while now, although I am finding myself rooting for Antonelli more and more. It's exciting to be able to follow someone right from the start of their career - and I do have a soft spot for the Italian language and accent. 

Edited by JHSingo, Yesterday, 11:44.

[Claudius]

For me the most important thing is racecraft. Even if they are midfield drivers, if a driver shows good racecraft, including w2w, I will warm up to them.

To be honest, I don´t understande becoming a fan because of the looks or style or something similair. I like drivers that have some kind of charisma but racecraft comes first. I want to see good racing, not charismatic people driving around.

 

Nowadays I have a few favorites but I´m not a fan per se. It´s great to watch a race and appreciate it without being constricted by fandom. Otoh there are drivers that one dislikes for some reason and I´m not always happy when they get a good result.

Never been a team fan though and I don´t think I ever will. 

[PlatenGlass]

I wouldn't say I'm a fan of any drivers like I might have been when I was growing up. E.g. Prost drove a yellow car and was doing a lot better than Cheever or Winkelhock so was the obvious choice, and then I stuck with him for 1984 rather than going for Warwick/Tambay.

 

Nowadays, I prefer some drivers over others for various reasons but this can ebb and flow, so wanting someone to win one race or season doesn't mean it will happen the following year.

[GlenWatkins]

None of the above. Never have and never will be a driver fan.

[Tsarwash]

Lol, seventeen have voted and not one has admitted to sucess being a factor in what makes then a fan. If that is true then why does Max and Fred and Lewis have so many fans when say Hulkenberg does not ?

[jensfan09]

As per my name, I started out as a Jenson Button fan, since 2000, basically when I started properly following F1.

 

I was a fan of Jenson through Williams, BAR, the terrible Honda years, the unbelievable Brawn championship year to his final seasons at McLaren.

 

I loved his smooth style, his quick thinking in wet races and his Dad's celebrations! lol

 

When Jenson finally retired, I switched to supporting Lando Norris, I seen him as the natural successor to Jenson at McLaren and I've followed him through the trials and tribulations over the last few years, and so glad to see that patience and determination pay off for him.

 

I still remember that first podium in Austria 2020, what an amazing final lap!

[PlatenGlass]

I like how looks and character are lumped together.

[DW46]

Lol, seventeen have voted and not one has admitted to sucess being a factor in what makes then a fan. If that is true then why does Max and Fred and Lewis have so many fans when say Hulkenberg does not ?

Personality perhaps? I couldn’t tell you anything about Hulkenberg outside his Le Mans win and failure to score a podium in a decade and a half.

[Ali623]

Without trying to sound too cynical.... I'm not really a fan of any F1 drivers, pretty much all of them are rich kids from high wealth families that basically got in due to that wealth + connections. I can't really identify with any of them and watch the sport purely for entertaiment.

 

Of the current drivers, I respect Verstappen purely because of how good he clearly is - also that despite his mental upbringing, he seems to be a respectable and honest person. Maybe also Ocon, because he seems to be one of the more 'normal' drivers, probably the one I'd choose to have a drink with if I had to pick.

[jonpollak]

I support humans not nation, team or tribe and especially not bits of metal.

So all of the categories except the Sato joke.
Jp

[eibyyz]

I rooted for Bill Elliott because he was from Georgia, like my mom.  I disliked Earnhardt and Wallace for the longest time because their successes to some extent came at the expense of Bill.  

[Anderis]

Personality perhaps? I couldn’t tell you anything about Hulkenberg outside his Le Mans win and failure to score a podium in a decade and a half.

Seems a bit of a rationalisation to put it down on personality. The drivers who are having the most success get the most attention from media, Internet discussions etc. and that's how people get to learn the most about their personalities.

 

The correlation between success and the number of fans is too overwhelming not to be of a causative nature at least to some extent IMO.

[DW46]

Seems a bit of a rationalisation to put it down on personality. The drivers who are having the most success get the most attention from media, Internet discussions etc. and that's how people get to learn the most about their personalities.

The correlation between success and the number of fans is too overwhelming not to be of a causative nature at least to some extent IMO.

Media coverage then, I don’t particularly root for Hulkenberg but to address the point made by Tsarwash I’d argue few people do, if pushed is suggest he’s perceived(portrayed?) as bland.

Success will impact obviously, for those who say Max/Lewis etc there attitudes would be roundly mocked if they weren’t consistently winning see Lawson, L.

[PayasYouRace]

I feel it’s a bit unfair lumping looks and character together in the poll as they’re at opposite ends of the shallow spectrum.

Anyway, I’ve reached a point that I am automatically a fan of every driver as long as they comport themselves well and show some exciting stuff on track. They then lose points for poor sportsmanship, blatant cheating, or generally being a four letter word. I tend to root for those who haven’t had as much success. It’s always fun to support the underdog. It’s no fun supporting a dominant driver.

So that should explain why there’s only one F1 driver that I dislike. No need to name names.

There is one exception to this rule and that’s Marcus Ericsson. I just can’t bring myself to like him at all. Indy at regulars will know this about me.

[mclarensmps]

You took the words right out of my mouht, Payas.

For me, I always start by liking any driver until they do something that makes me dislike them. I always prefer what I consider to be McLaren "academy" drivers, as in drivers that come through the ranks under or backed by McLaren, but it is very marginal. But drivers with good character makes me like them even more, which is why I am a fan of many drivers that were not outright fast (for example, Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson - who just happened to be teammates in the same team by coincidence).

[Radion]

I loved Kimi's fearlessness, coolness and speed.

Driving through the puff of smoke at full speed at Spa, almost winning the championship against Schumi in 2003, snatching pole from the Ferraris in Silverstone in 2004, driving around Fisi at Suzuka in 2005 in the last lap. 

McLaren + Michelin + Kimi was something else.

Edited by Radion, Yesterday, 14:54.

[William Hunt]

Personality.

[garoidb]

I feel it’s a bit unfair lumping looks and character together in the poll as they’re at opposite ends of the shallow spectrum.

Anyway, I’ve reached a point that I am automatically a fan of every driver as long as they comport themselves well and show some exciting stuff on track. They then lose points for poor sportsmanship, blatant cheating, or generally being a four letter word. I tend to root for those who haven’t had as much success. It’s always fun to support the underdog. It’s no fun supporting a dominant driver.

So that should explain why there’s only one F1 driver that I dislike. No need to name names.

There is one exception to this rule and that’s Marcus Ericsson. I just can’t bring myself to like him at all. Indy at regulars will know this about me.

 

Lot's of people love it, and long for a return to the good old days  .

[Mc_Silver]

Never been a driver fan. They come and go but teams always remain.

If I have to choose one, I would choose character over anything.

Edited by Mc_Silver, Yesterday, 15:34.

[Brawn BGP 001]

When i was a child I used to be a driver fan, Hakkinen then Jenson Button I just loved their approach to racing but since Button retired I could never like a driver like I did them too as I turned older. Nowadays I'm just a team fan and support anybody who races for McLaren, when they leave the team I stop supporting them.

[PlatenGlass]

Lol, seventeen have voted and not one has admitted to sucess being a factor in what makes then a fan. If that is true then why does Max and Fred and Lewis have so many fans when say Hulkenberg does not ?

Success correlates with speed and racecraft so it's not necessarily the success. If Stroll found himself with Mazepin as his team-mate and the best car by miles would his wins and championships bring him loads of fans from this forum?

[JHSingo]

Never been a driver fan. They come and go but teams always remain.

If I have to choose one, I would choose character over anything.

 

I hate to be that guy...but on your profile page you've listed 'Lando Norris' under favourite driver/team. 

[DRSwing]

I’m always a driver fan rather than a team fan. 
 

To me, a team is a sum of its members and will change with time. The Ferrari of today is very different from the Ferrari of ten years ago, not just the drivers but the management and technical team as well, likewise McLaren or Williams or any other team.

 

I’m curious to know why some fans would unconditionally support a team? Is it just because of a name or its history or some other reason? Personally I can’t bring myself to support a team regardless of the drivers or key personnel, especially if they are someone whom I don’t particularly like. 

[PlatenGlass]

Teams don't really have the same sense of tradition in F1 as in e.g. football (soccer), and it sounds a lot stranger to hear an F1 fan saying "we" when talking about their favourite team than for a football fan. OK, I'll say it - they sound a bit unhinged.

[SophieB]

Lol, seventeen have voted and not one has admitted to sucess being a factor in what makes then a fan. If that is true then why does Max and Fred and Lewis have so many fans when say Hulkenberg does not ?

I became a fan of Lewis only during and after 2011 when things were going crap for him so I think it can be more complicated than that. More broadly, I can’t tell which I will like and why. Or rather I can distil it down to various characteristics but then I will ask myself do other drivers also seem to have the same characteristics and if they do, it doesn’t mean I like them.

[noikeee]

I tend to root for the lads that are less of an asshole than the other ones.

Though, retrospectively, I'm not entirely sure this holds up every time... I mean at some stage I didn't mind Jacques Villeneuve or JPM...

[jacdaniel]

I am a fan of Max because at a time when F1 was very very boring and predictable, he was the one driver that really excited me. He was so fast at times he’d win the odd race. He always seemed to maximise his result and compete with faster cars.

And of course sometimes there was drama. Some rookie mistakes etc. But you could just tell that he’d dominate F1 if he ever got a good car

[scheivlak]

Racecraft and character - which is a very different category than "looks"!

[Mc_Silver]

I hate to be that guy...but on your profile page you've listed 'Lando Norris' under favourite driver/team.

Because I had to choose one

[monolulu]

I’ve followed F1 on & off since the early sixties but never aligned myself with a particular team or driver until 2007. In 2006 Lewis’s driving in gp2 draw my attention. I have been a fan of Lewis ever since as the driver & the man he has become.

Edited by monolulu, Yesterday, 17:35.