How social media and online communities are driving the rise of female Formula 1 fans

Formula 1’s growing fanbase includes an increasing number of women. Photo: Sylvia Freda

Research from Formula 1’s 2025 Global Fan Survey revealed that three in four new fans of the sport are female. This growth has resulted in more social media content dedicated to women and girls, and the creation of communities such as Girls Off Track, Girls Across the Grid and Females in Motorsport.

This evident boom is partly due to the motorsport becoming more mainstream, with the popularity of Netflix series’ Drive to Survive and F1 Academy which provide a closer look at the behind the scenes.

Marine, founder of Girls Off Track, started an online community for new fangirls of Formula 1 who wanted to learn the basics, but also to create a space for longtime fans who never had anyone to talk about the sport with.

Marine said: “Fangirls have been a huge economic force. They’ve shaped the internet as it is.”

Girls Off Track offers a variety of content including a podcast, a book club and a private community — connecting fans from across the world. Inclusive communities such as this provide a mostly safe space for fangirls who can be prone to experiencing stigma.

“Fangirls are not a special audience but let’s not take them for idiots,” added Marine.

“They can understand engineering stuff, they can understand the rules of Formula 1, they can understand pretty much anything if you explain it.”

There are some stereotypes, particularly from male fans, which claim that female fans don’t understand the rules behind the sport. But even if women and girls are only interested in watching the races without background knowledge, they should not be treated as fans who are less worthy.

Social media and online communities have been a positive driving force but they have their downsides.

Stigma and stereotyping can be especially rife online, with women and girls feeling like they have to prove themselves which can discourage them from getting involved.

Kimberley Wyllie, researcher into online abuse in motorsport (funded by the FIA and United Against Online Abuse), said that the market wasn’t prepared to deal with the increase of female Formula 1 fans.

Her research shows that while a single instance of online abuse does not alter a fangirl’s identity, prolonged exposure can.

Kimberley said: “Having women-only spaces is great but you’re not actually addressing the problem.”

Although she added that the communities “have their place and they are really important, especially for someone who’s perhaps new to the sport”.

Perrine Pauliat, a Girls Off Track member, believes that social media has helped female fans be more welcome in motorsport.

She said: “We can speak to each other and we can help each other out.”

While she sees negative comments about female fans and drivers every day, she pointed out that thanks to online communities “you have girls who will help you fight those comments”.

She also said that Formula 1 organisations are trying to do things for women and girls but “I don’t know if I would like them to do specific content for female fans”.

“The sport is not only for men.” Photo: Perrine Pauliat

Sky Sports’ failed attempt to engage female fans in sport is a great example of what the media and companies should not do. Their TikTok account ‘Halo’ was deleted after only three days as the content was seen as “patronising” and “sexist”.

Erin Fisher, another member of Girls Off Track, has not experienced many bad experiences online but she has noticed the sexualisation and marginalisation which exists.

She said organisations should not “march [women] in glitter and sparkles” like Sky Sports. Adding that organisations can prioritise branding campaigns and marketing focuses without trying to pander.

Erin started seeking out women-based online communities in the past year, after growing up having Formula 1 weekends with her family.

She said: “Being a girl interested in Formula 1 in any capacity is pretty hard so finding other girls and more inspiration beyond talking about it in very familial situations has been awesome.”

Erin’s advice to other female fans: “Take up space, make yourself known, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”