Pop culture is constantly changing and people are persistently in pursuit of the next “viral” topic. It’s no secret that people’s interests in sports, specifically, are always changing. You could be someone who never watches soccer in your free time, then suddenly become enraptured by the World Cup, or not know a single winter sport, but consistently watch star athletes during the Olympics. People will gain and lose interest as time goes on; one specific sport that has been subject to this flow is the rise of motorsports, specifically, Formula 1.

Formula 1 started in 1950 as the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition and continues to be the world’s most popular premier automotive racing series around the globe. Formula 1 is the highest level of single-seat, open-wheel, and open-cockpit professional motor racing contests. Each season consists of a series of races, or as they are called, Grand Prix, where teams earn points that will allow them to compete in the World Championship Season. With forty-two participating countries, it’s no surprise that F1 has an extensive fanbase. Countries like Italy, Germany, and the entire United Kingdom have a great interest in the sport, and viewership for the races is immense. The US, on the other hand, is not well known for its F1 participation. This may be tied to the fact that until this new season in 2023, F1 hasn’t had an American driver since 2007, but that hasn't stopped the premier sport from trying to increase popularity in the States. They’ve been quite successful in piquing people’s interest, as the sport has seen rapid growth in recent years. This could be due to the fact that Liberty Media Inc. purchased F1 in 2017 and made a deal with ESPN to increase viewership in America, or it could be because of the new generation of drivers entering the scene. These new drivers are bringing both new talents and increased visibility into their lives, allowing their fans to connect with them more easily. F1’s newfound popularity could also be because of increased accessibility. In the past, races were often behind paywalls or specialty sports channels. Now, F1 is making an effort to increase its visibility and reach a broader audience. In doing so, F1 utilized social media and their promotions and engagement were quickly able to surpass leagues such as the NBA, NFL, UFC, and more. Formula 1 is moving deeper into mainstream media and its popularity is spreading to all new demographics.

As F1 becomes more well known, its impact grows not only in the motorsports scene, but in people's lives as well. Formula 1’s influence is spreading far and wide and interest in the sport is at an all-time high. This heightened interest in motorsports can be seen all around the world. However, people are not only attracted to motorsports by the professional teams racing on TV, but also by the manufacturing and logistics that allow the teams to compete the way they do. There is serious manpower behind the scenes that enable motorsports to be as entertaining and fast-paced as they are. For instance, all F1 cars are built to accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in under five seconds, without the engineers working behind them, these teams wouldn’t be able to perform at as high a level as they do now. These factors that make motorsports so great also play a big role in why people are so attracted to the sport in general.

Interests in F1 can be seen spreading outside of the premier sports bubble as far as university student-run clubs. Texas A&M has its own Formula Electric team that designs, builds, and competes with its very own cars every year. Texas A&M’s Formula E team is a branch of the international Society of Automotive Engineers. The electric counterpart was established in 2021 and competed for the first time this past year in 2022. The team of thirty students consists of a variety of engineers that are collaborating to raise the standard for North American collegiate electric racing as compared to the expectation set by European teams. Formula E works meticulously to be impactful and uses racing as a vehicle for interdisciplinary educational activity for students studying engineering, business, marketing, and communications.

The Formula Electric (FE) team goes through an entire design cycle each year, starting from scratch to design a car, manufacture, validate, and finally test their build. The team is working hard to gain recognition within the industry and connect students to career opportunities. In doing this, a significant objective for the team is expanding its outreach to more than just engineers. FE hopes to grow and have teams for business, marketing, and public relations. This being said, one of Formula E’s biggest obstacles right now is funding. With minimal university help, the team relies on sponsors and fundraisers to be able to procure the necessary materials required for their builds. This issue puts FE at a disadvantage when competing against schools from abroad with a greater interest in the sport like those in Italy and Germany, but that hasn’t stopped FE from putting out quality work that has attracted the attention of the best around. FE is currently working on hosting a racing event here in Texas. Right now, the only event FE can take their car to compete in is in Michigan. While FE expects great results to come from this, by hosting an event, FE can earn more prominent accreditation in their field and gain an additional way to test and compete with their vehicle. Until then, Formula Electric will continue to run and showcase its work for the world to see. If you want to support the Formula Electric team, they have a GoFundMe for donations, and this Saturday on April 15th, at 11 AM, the FE team will host their 2023 Rollout at Rudder Plaza where you can see the unveiling of their new car alongside all of Society of Automotive Engineer’s cars.

Written by Lauren Carmona, Photographer: Tyler Pfeil, Social Media: Kate Puckett

Behind the Track with Formula Electric