How I Became Obsessed with Formula 1

Like many others during the global shutdown of 2020, I was looking for something to watch on Netflix and stumbled across Drive to Survive. I’d never been into Formula 1, nor had much interest, so the show didn’t immediately appeal — but it was top of the charts, so we gave it a go.

Fast forward a few days, and 2 seasons had been completely binge watched (yes we were in lockdown but still)…  As a result, I started to become curious who was winning races and how the personalities I had come to known were faring.  What initially became results checking, turned into highlight watching and ultimately, to full on commitment to consuming most qualifying sessions and every race in that thrilling 2022 season (with that chaotic end of season Max vs Lewis). From there on out, I was hocked. Fast forward to 2025, I am actively watching practice sessions, listening to podcasts, clicking on hot news stories faster than pilots taking corners.  I feel sad in August (my birthday month) as there is no Formula 1. It has taken over a part of my brain, living absolutely rent free, and I love it!

Considering I was a member of the general population who ‘just didn’t get it’, to where I am now.  I need to ask the question.  How did this happen?

Without a doubt, the Netflix docu-series played a large factor, the educational marketing was executed to perfection, drawing me in, and I became fascinated as soon as it ‘clicked’.  This Formula 1 stuff, it's a game of 4D chess, the engineering, data analysis, engineering team, pitstops, race strategy, tire management, politics and of course the personality of the pilots (drivers) themselves.  There is so much in flux that needs to work correctly when it matters, to allow the right ‘balance’ to be achieved. When it does, it is beautiful.  This in a nutshell, is why I love it. 

All this said, I think I have realised why it connects on a deeper level to my personality and ultimately why I love my career working in product design.  All the moving parts coming together and understanding my role within the larger game is what drives me forward.

If we think of how the various elements of a Formula 1 team makeup could be connected with the product development process and business as a whole, we can formulate a chart like this, and being honest it makes sense. Deep down I think that the data-driven side of Formula 1 is what I connect with as a product designer who is ultimately focused on the same ideals, and aims to increase speed and optimisation constantly, in order to streamline the user process.

This chart helps explain some of this thinking (chat GPT helped for speed)

What really clicked for me was seeing the driver not just as a character in the show, but as the end user in disguise. They’re the ones feeling every twitch of the wheel, every delay in response, every moment of friction, the overall product flow if you like. When everything is working — the strategy, the engineering, the pit team, the car setup — the driver becomes almost superhuman. That’s exactly what great product design should enable. If we’ve done our job well, the user barely notices the effort behind it. They simply move faster, with clarity and confidence. And just like in F1, the ultimate goal is to create conditions where someone can perform at their best, effortlessly, without thinking, in complete sync with the process of the product.

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As I write this, the Bahrain 2025 race weekend is in progress and the McLaren team is looking strong (‘gowan the gingers’), lets see how the season unfolds…