Francomania, Permanent Stewards, and F1's It Girl!!
Hi there! Welcome to Track Limits, a weekly F1 newsletter where we break down the major headlines and dive into the questions, trends, and topics that spark our collective curiosity. Nothing is off-topic and a little fun is always part of the mix!
Good Afternoon!! Interlagos proved once again why it’s an iconic track, delivering one of the season's most chaotic and thrilling races!!!
With both qualifying and the race taking place in the early hours of Sunday morning, drivers had to navigate changing weather conditions, multiple crashes, safety cars, penalties, red flags, and even a disqualification. Yet, the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix will be remembered as the race where Verstappen demonstrated why he’s a multiple world champion and an undisputed master of wet races. No ifs, ands, or buts!
The weekend’s race recap wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out to Alpine! A double podium with their all-French lineup must feel like a bright light at the end of the long and dark tunnel that has been the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The team morale needed it, and their performance absolutely merited it!!
This week, it was the women in Formula One who made the headlines!! Alexandra Saint Mleux, Leclerc’s girlfriend, turned heads by becoming the face of Rhode's fall collection for the cult-classic lip case. The beauty brand was rumored to have offered several products to multiple WAGs earlier in the season, but no one really paid much attention to it - especially since many of us were unaware that any of them, including Saint Mleux had name recognition beyond F1. Well, that assumption turned out to be very very wrong when she was suddenly plastered all over the brand’s communication channels!!
After a bit of digging, I discovered she’s the most followed F1 WAG on social media (all of them combined), and from the countless videos, posts and articles about her, it's clear she's an inspiration for many girls - not just F1 fangirls - when it comes to beauty and fashion. Honestly, I couldn’t agree more as her colorful, classic, yet youthful fashion style never ceases to amaze me!!
This clearly caught Rhode’s attention, as well as Norris’ viral video of him holding a lip case - which the brand actually reposted on their TikTok!!
All of this, combined with the fact that Saint Mleux is incredibly well-liked for her soft and friendly demeanor, yet uninterested in the public spotlight, gives an authentic feel to her partnership with Rhode. It’s probably also why so many people have claimed to have been influenced by Saint Mleux and actually purchased the fall colour lip case - I have to confess, I was very very tempted!!
And although I haven’t seen the campaign data, the buzz online makes it undeniable that Saint Mleux is F1’s “It Girl” of the moment. She is proving that WAGs can wield tremendous commercial power but also that brands willing to connect with sports’ fangirls are tapping into a huge market. Also, touché, Rhode - great move tapping into F1’s cultural zeitgeist without the need to spend millions and slap a boring sticker on a car!!
Another woman who caused quite a stir this weekend was Canadian singer Tate McRae. She posted a video of herself driving an orange kart with the number 4, captioned ‘F1 hit me up.’ To say people lost their minds would be an understatement!! Suddenly, TikTok was flooded with theories about what it could mean. Out of all of them, my bet is on Norris appearing in one of her music videos, as rumored a while back. What do you think?!
Perhaps a lesser-known figure who caught people off guard in the Interlagos paddock was Adrianne Galisteu. She was Senna’s girlfriend at the time of his passing, and her relationship with his family has been anything but amicable. The Senna family famously kicked her out of his funeral, and rumors have circulated that they negotiated with Netflix to minimize her role in the upcoming Senna series. Why she was at Interlagos or why their relationship has been so sour, I don’t know, but it certainly sparked some fascinating conversations!
Turning our attention to all the shenanigans from the drivers and men of the paddock, I have to mention my surprise at hearing Norris and Gasly speak Portuguese! As a Portuguese speaker myself, I was super impressed they were able to say a couple of sentences with almost no accent. It goes to show that the best way to learn a new language is through a romantic partner!! Verstappen is the exception to this rule, but he admitted he needs to take some lessons and even suggested joining Gasly in his effort to learn Portuguese!!
Another wow moment - though less positive this time - was the fact that Hamilton and the Las Vegas Grand Prix teamed up for a special 44% discount on grandstand tickets for this year’s race. Along with Albon’s AA23 organizing a giveaway for a “Vegas Race Experience” and the numerous fluff pieces in the media, it suggests that Sin City might be struggling to sell tickets. Sure, it's the second year of the event, which is typically when you find out if you're going to make it or break it. But if two weeks before the race you still haven’t sold out a grandstand and only just sold out a couple of the general admission packages, that’s trouble, if I’ve ever seen it.
Equally concerning was the circulation of pictures showing Nelson Piquet in the paddock. While it might seem ordinary for a former driver, world champion, and father-in-law of the defending champion to be there, it contradicts F1's stance following Piquet's 2021 fine by the Brazilian court for using a racial slur in an interview about Hamilton. At the time, it was understood that he had been banned from the paddock. However, it seems this either wasn’t the case or the ban was temporary and has since expired. Either way, fans weren’t happy about it.
Finally, the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association) launched a social media account at the start of the week. It might not have been newsworthy, but given that the organization has largely stayed out of the public eye and every current F1 driver follows it, something clearly was brewing. Lo and behold, they made their first post yesterday, and let's just say they didn’t hold back in expressing their discontentment with the FIA, their main concerns, and who they believe is at the root of these problems. It’s definitely an unprecedented move by the drivers - now let’s see how this face-to-face will unfold!!
Before we wrap up I leave you with some random but fun shenanigans!! Ricciardo spent the weekend in Buffalo supporting his quarterback friend Josh Allen. Hamilton drove Senna’s MP4/5B, played bossa nova on his guitar and attended the inaugural fundraising gala of Mission 44! Guanyu rated Halloween costumes - he was way too harsh! Vettel teamed up with artists Matthias Garff and Mundano to create a giant Senna helmet. Norris’ favorite movie apparently is Finding Nemo! Red Bull jumped on the “Suspect challenge” trend with a very accurate depiction of Verstappen. Williams shared a heartfelt “Message to…” video for Colapinto and we found out what scares the Pirelli team the most - I can give you a hint, it’s not the drivers!
Francomania!!
Relatively unknown Williams Academy driver Franco Colapinto stepped into the spotlight nearly two months ago when Williams announced its official split with American driver Logan Sargeant. Initially dismissed as a pay driver and a questionable replacement, Colapinto quickly proved his critics wrong - scoring points from his debut and bringing in a fresh energy into the team and paddock.
Since then, the young Argentinian has not only sparked a new wave of young Latin American fans but has also reshaped Latin America's representation in Formula One, through the rise of an unexpected phenomenon: Francomania!
THE CONTEXT:
Latin American drivers have been a part of Formula One’s legacy since its inception. From Fangio, Senna, and Fittipaldi to Piquet, Montoya, and Pérez, each of them has left a significant mark on the sport. But despite F1’s international scope, the way these and other drivers have represented their home countries has undoubtedly been influenced by the sport’s European establishment and its reluctance to make space for and emphasize the diverse cultures within it.
Although most major sports leagues aren’t European-based, this tendency to minimize the display of an athlete's individuality, including their cultural heritage, has been prevalent in many, if not all, of them. This, however, is shifting, as younger athletes increasingly want to show their personalities and share their lives and interests off the field or track, which inherently means offering a glimpse into their culture.
Colapinto is a great example of this, as he appears uninterested in conforming to anyone's idea of what a driver should be or how they should behave. He is outgoing, witty, flirty, “overly excited”, "talks too much”, chronically online, insists on speaking Spanish - incl. slang - even in official settings, and proudly shares his Argentinian culture with the team, fans, and media.
He let us in on his obsession with mate, his support for Club Atlético Boca Juniors, his friendship with DJ Bizarrap, and his love for Argentinian asado! But he's also acutely aware of the economic struggles his country is facing, with inflation soaring to 250% and an estimated 52.9% of the population living in poverty. Reason why he urged fans not to buy the official Williams merch, but instead purchase "truchas" (dupes) if they still want to show their support.
This resonates particularly with younger fans, especially the millions in Latin American who, for the first time, can truly connect with a driver as he actively participates in the youth culture they are a part of and understands their shared experiences. Combined with his charismatic personality, boyish good looks, and exceptional on-track performance, it’s no surprise that Colapinto’s once grassroots fanbase quickly grew into mainstream recognition in his home country and across Latin America making him a main character in F1’s global fanbase - and even within the paddock.
In just two months, he has amassed millions of followers on social media, - nearly matching Williams’ own following - generated unprecedented levels of fan engagement for the team, and united the passionate but usually highly fragmented Latin American fanbase into large crowds rooting for him at every single race. His presence has also created commercial opportunities for Williams, with major Argentine companies like Globlant and Mercado Libre joining the Grove team as partners, while simultaneously boosting F1’s media coverage in the region and significantly increasing broadcast figures.
Beyond the numbers, Francomania has sparked important conversations about stereotypes and bias. It has ignited curiosity about the different cultures within the F1 community, and it has given fans worldwide a deeper understanding and appreciation of the richness and vibrancy of modern Latin American culture.
Altogether, it makes the case that fostering diversity and representation in sports does more than just fulfil sustainability targets. It’s a unique opportunity to bridge communities, enrich the fan experience, and positively impact profitability. Be it by boosting fan engagement, strengthening the brand image, expanding reach, attracting new talent, increasing participation in youth categories, and offering partnering brands a one-of-a-kind platform to connect with underserved markets.
Ultimately, Francomania highlights that to sustain F1’s long-term growth ambitions, it needs to be able to connect with different fanbases. This means the sport’s future inevitably lies in reimagining itself as a diverse and inclusive environment where athletes are empowered to drive the necessary change and their personalities are encouraged to shine.
Permanent Stewards
As the weekend kicked off, the racing guidelines and the penalties handed to Norris and Verstappen during the first two races of the triple-header remained a hot topic among drivers, journalists, and fans alike.
One idea that resurfaced as a potential solution to the ongoing inconsistency in steward rulings is the establishment of a permanent panel of stewards. While the proposal lacks widespread support, the fact that it is regularly brought forward raises questions about Formula One’s willingness to consider solutions beyond the officiating format itself.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Motorsport is dynamic, which means that as much as the FIA would like to predict behaviors and prepare for every possible scenario, it simply can’t. Rules and regulations are set up to create the boundaries within which athletes and teams can operate, but how they choose to do so is varied and unpredictable.
This variability presents a challenge for stewards when it comes to enforcing the rules and regulations, which is a big reason why inconsistencies arise in their decisions. No situation is truly the same, and a certain level of human judgment - which, by definition, is subjective - has to be applied to determine the appropriate course of action.
Over the years, the FIA has introduced technologies like VAR and continually refined rules and procedures to improve stewards' decisions. However, these as well as the proposed permanent panel, overlook a crucial point: while it’s important to put in place systems to minimize the need for subjectivity, it's equally essential to ensure that when human judgment is required, it upholds key values of officiating, such as impartiality.
Truth be told, Formula One’s officiating already faces accusations of bias, favoritism, and prejudice from athletes, teams, and fans that seriously undermine the sport's credibility and erode stakeholders' trust.
A key factor contributing to this perception is that the role of steward has remained largely unchanged since its inception. Stewards are still volunteers, unpaid, and often have ties to the sport - a structure that made sense fifty years ago. However, motorsport has evolved significantly since then, not only in complexity but also in its global reach and stakeholders’ standards. As a result, ethical expectations and reputational risks are now much higher, making it crucial for F1 to align with modern industry standards to protect its commercial opportunities and financial viability.
All of this suggests that, beyond rethinking the format of officiating, Formula One may need to redefine who is eligible to officiate races and how to professionalize them.
The specifics of how to achieve this are subject to debate, but F1 can draw inspiration from various other sports leagues such as European football, tennis, or the NBA. However, most of them agree on three key principles: officials should have no prior affiliations or financial interests within the sport; fair compensation helps mitigate the risk of corruption; and continuous training, mentorship, and development programs ensure that skilled individuals advance from junior categories to the pinnacle of their sport.
Would these changes eliminate situations where rulings are scrutinized, lack consistency, or are accused of bias? Probably not - no sport is immune to these issues. Nevertheless, they would provide a stronger foundation for balancing the pursuit of consistency with the need for fairness. Isn’t that a reasonable expectation for athletes and fans to have?
This week’s recommended content!!
🗞 READ
A behind the scenes look at the USGP through the lens of photographer Jakob Eckstein | Ricciardo shares what he loved about Senna | Who is Gabriel Bortoleto? Sauber’s New 2025 F1 Driver? | F1 Drivers’ United Stance Leaves Ben Sulayem With Nowhere to Hide | How America’s Latest Sport Obsession Joined the 2024 Presidential Ticket | F1 Presenter Naomi Schiff Curated Six Bridal Looks For Her Big Day After Her Stylist Went AWOL | F1 launches global education programme ‘Learning Sectors’ with British Council
🎧 LISTEN
The Fast and the Curious: Inside the Red Bull Factory | Driven By Us: Shyam Rajdev, Motorsport Photographer | F1 Beyond The Grid: Fernando Alonso at 400! | Motormouth Podcast: The Life of an F1 Doctor With Elina Haukipuro | I introduced Valtteri Bottas to Belgian Food
Photo Credit: Williams Racing