How did you become an F1 fan?

Question

I used to watch F1 now and again because the speed and power excited me, and Michael Schumacher was interesting to watch from time to time. Honestly though, the prospect of Lewis Hamilton got me watching full-on, and I've been hooked since.

So how did you become a fan of F1, and how long have you been a fan? Who's been your favourite constructor, and the one driver that got you hooked, if any?

The most interesting (true) story will get the points, or we'll put it to group vote if I can't pick a winner myself. Be as detailed as you wish.

Great responses so far. I know we're all F1 fans, but it's really nice to read how others got hooked into the awesome world that is Formula 1.

As I read these responses, I keep thinking of additional questions to ask, so you'll probably see more from me before we head to Istanbul for the next round!

Thanks everyone!

This is tough, as there are several answers I like. I'm putting this to group vote.

May the most selected response win!

Thanks to everyone for responding, and for the stars as well!

Answer 1

I'd rather see real car's, from of the street racing.

Answer 2

I've been aware of F1 for a long time, the earliest I can remember is Mansell in the Ferrari. They're only Vague memories and I can't recall much.
I do remember him Winning the title in 1992 and I suppose that was that. I'd officialy become interested.
The following year Damon Hill was in the Williams and I began watching on and off but it wouldn't be until 1994 that I'd become a real fan.
I suppose, like a lot of other English people, Schumacher's actions at the Australian GP were unforgivable but that provided the catalyst for religious viewing.
I've watched it ever since then and have been lucky enough to attend 2 Gps and would love to see more.
It was quite funny when I went to the Australian GP. The customs lady asked what I'd see of Australia in just 5 days. I was a bit miffed at her being so nosey so I just snapped back "I'm only here cos the F1 is here!"
Over 24 hours travelling just for one race. Worth it? The strange thing is, when I landed and we missed our coach from the airport to the hotel along with the lack of sleep I thought no.
As soon as we got to track and heard an F1 car again I thought yes!
Amazing vehicles. If anyone get's the chance to go then do. Even if you have to spend all day standing round in the freezing rain (like I did at the 2000 British GP (best birthday I ever had that one)) it'll be worth it. It really is phenomenal.

Answer 3

The first Grand Prix I remember watching was the 1982 Long Beach race which was won by Niki Lauda. Sadly, not long after, we Canucks were saddened when Gilles Villeneuve was killed at Zolder.

The first driver I cheered for was in fact Lauda when I really got into following F1 in 1984.

By 1984, of course, Lauda was probably well past his peak in F1, but benefitted from the superiority of that McLaren Porsche and his wily race driving. Here was a guy who in his five wins in 1984 never started better than 3rd, and when he won in France started 9th! That same season along came a guy in a yellow helmet in an also-ran car called a Toleman... and my next racing hero was set.

All along, I consider myself a McLaren fan first, but honestly don't dislike the teams or drivers. What sometimes seems as dislike is that I think some don't belong (Spyker right now).

The first GP I attended was the 1988 Canadian GP and I have since been to 15 of them up to and including 2004. The best GP I went to was at Indy in 2000. At least for pure personal enjoyment. It is Indy afterall. Among other things, having the seats in the Grandstand B penthouse and the skill the police have at getting traffic away from the Speedway on race day, wow!

I have wanted to become more involved since 2003 when I met an aspiring driver (who still is not much racing because of money woes). In 2005 we were guests at the Minardi factory, had a tour of the place, and spent a visit in Gian Carlo Minardi's office talking about racing and what he could do to help us make connections to get good racing seats. That offer still stands... if we only had a buck.

Along the way, my interest could be said to have ebbed and flowed. Now and then there has been a season where silly things have gone on (the team orders bit in 2002), various accusations of cheating, and so on.

The worst year for me was 1994, because I admired Ayrton Senna a great deal.

This year, F1 is pretty good. It is a shame for this spy bit though.

RP

Answer 4

i like F1 followers. they do no longer combat one yet another and reason riots after their communities lost. no person dies after an F1 race. F1 has been a multi million dollar activities. each and every little thing is at stake. team survival relies upon on sponsors, and sponsors anticipate to get something out of the huge sum of money they're going to pay each and every twelve months. Then there is that this technologies that is being push to the barriers. F1 vehicles are the main advance automobile in the finished international, and by ability of a few distance from the subsequent superb automobile. The technologies at the back of that is complicated. overall performance comes on the cost of risk-free practices. for this reason all this complicated regulations to make certain that communities does not push their automobile previous the risk-free practices limits. yet because of fact of ways complicated the technologies is, regulations that governs them additionally turns into very complicated. This reasons what's called "gray section" between the regulations. and because F1 isn't in basic terms a race heading in the right direction, even nonetheless it is likewise a technological race astray, the huge sum of money involves is inevitable. What i'm asserting is that, the clarification why F1 is so complicated is because of character of the activities itself. It can't be prevented. The politics, media, its all unavoidable.

Answer 5

Was channel surfing in '93, saw the slo-mo replay of a McLaren bottoming and then being monstered into the next corner, the rear wingtips churning massive contrails showing the aerodynamic forces. And a few laps later a pit stop, quite a shocker for a first timer, had to see several other pit stops to really believe that they changed all the four tyres in less than 6 seconds! F1 weekends were seldom missed afterwards...

And that day I saw young Michael race to his victory and Mika do something that the Lewis Hamilton fans of today should have seen before they post all the superlative stuff about Lewis. It was Mika's McLaren debut and he outqualified and outperformed the legendary Ayrton Senna.

Answer 6

I can't remember my first race (I'm only 15- so It must have been quite long ago!). It was when I was very young- so young, in fact, that I don't think I could even see properly!
The first name I heard was the name "Michael Schumacher", and then a mention of his sister Sonja (Thats probably why I was interested- my Cousins name is Sonia!).
When I was finally able to open my eyes, I kept on looking out for the name "M Schumacher"- something that wasn't too hard to do, seeing as he was first nearly all of the time!
Ever since, I have been a Schumi and Ferrari fan- but I whole-heartedly agree- Hamilton is a very exciting prospect- he seems to have everything that schumi had- and more!

Answer 7

when i was a kid i used to play with cars rather than the usual girly things like dolls etc. my dad bought me some racing cars and they were my favourite. F1 was always on in our house so i sought of grew up with it. i am a McLaren fan first and foremost. i used to love the battles between senna and prost. Nigel and Damon were heroes of mine too. i found it hard to get into it as much when my kids were young, but now they are older they mostly share my interest. our annual family holiday is to silverstone. camping come rain or shine, we love it. i plan on taking my grandchildren when they are a little bit older. my first experience of a real racing car was when i went to watch the testing at silverstone. the noise and the smell was just indescribable. from that day on i was totally hooked and i get there as often as funds let me. it is actually free to go to the testing but i don't live close and its a fortune in petrol lol. the way it is going i am going to have to get a mini bus as my grandkids love it too. i don't pretend to know all the technical stuff, half of it confuses the life out of me, but i do buy F1 Racing magazine every month so i can try lol. at the moment i think Lewis is doing brilliantly and i really hope Fernando stays. i think together they are a winning combination for McLaren.

Answer 8

I have been an F1 fanatic since 1988. As a young boy (10 years old) I was obsessed with the noise and power of the machinery and the wheel to wheel driving. No one in my family understood it and I would watch it on my own.

I remember watching Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost locking wheels in Suzuka and the controversy after, the following year when Senna took Prost OUT and won the championship! Mansell and Senna wheel to wheel with sparks flying, Mansell losing the championship with the blown tyre! So many memories!!!

I am British so have rooted for the Brits; Nigel Mansell (HE GOT ME HOOKED!), Damon Hill, a little bit for David Coulthard (not much though I admit), a little bit for Jenson Button (seeing him come from F3 to drive for Williams was a marking achievement but was too much too young I think) and now for Louie Hamilton!!! I remember seeing him when he was about 9 years old, signing for Mclaren with his go-cart. He was the future contender and we have waited for him and... well as you know, here he is!!

I was a Williams fan until they sacked Damon! I switched allegiance to Mclaren. I lived around the corner from Mclaren for a while in Woking, England. It was emotional to see the trucks leave for battle!

What seems to have made F1 in the past for me was the 'duals'. Senna/Prost, Senna/Mansell, Mansell/Piquet, Mansell/Prost, Hill/Scummer erm' I mean Schumacher, Hakkinen/Scummer 'oops'. Now it is good to watch the 2 Mclarens and Ferrari's battle it out!

Thank goodness the cars a safer now. I cried when I watched Ayrton Senna get killed and prayed for Wendlinger and Hakkinen after their big crashes. Controlled risk, that is what it is about. We all want the drivers to go home and race another day!

Good question, sorry I got carried away!!!!!

Answer 9

I firstf got into it about 15 years ago. i was just flipping through the stations and noticed these cars zipping around the road course and could not turn the channel. Being the huge car fan that I am, I was glued to it ever since.

The first driver that I followed was Ayrton Senna. I really like the McLaren team. The design of the cars, power and the fact their road courses are superb.

Answer 10

Well I used to watch F1 in the early 1999's and 2000's but the problem was that it didn't get my attention, i was quite young then about 7. So I stopped watching it. But over the years I still watched it but not often. Jenson Btuuon came onto TopGear and then I got interested and started to do research and I started to love f1, it started to become one of those things that if i get onto i cant get off. e.g. I love TopGear seen nearly all the series and know everything about it. My parents are always shouting at me to change the channel when it comes on!!! So then I done research on the drivers and teams and f1 and its past as some of you might have known for my some of my questions! And then I started to watch them and since I love speed and cars and the noise of supercars etc.., I loved f1 and its speed, noise, the teams and etc. I started to watch it. 2006 when jenson came onto TopGear. I saw his first win!! then on i love it and always will !!! oh yeah me 13 now going to be 14 sep 1st !!!!!!!!

Answer 11

Well, I used to watch NASCAR every sunday. And I had missed it because it had been saturday.... I turned it to speed channel and a formula 1 rerun was on and I got intrigued. I started asking my dad questions about Formula 1 and became more fascinated, and started pulling for Micheal Shumacher. I found myself watching F1 constantly. I love that I can watch two very different types of racing (F1 and NASCAR) and appreciate both kinds. Since Michael Shumacher retired, I now pull for Lewis Hamilton, and the ecitement keeps growing!