Category: 6. Sports

Racing Bulls and their partner HUGO have unveiled a special livery for the British Grand Prix in collaboration with Nigerian artist Slawn.

Revealed by Slawn along with Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar at the Flannels X store in London this evening, the link-up sees the VCARB 02 adorned with Slawn’s caricature style street art.

The artwork will also feature on the drivers’ race suits and the team’s kit across the weekend, while Slawn will also be in the paddock on Thursday alongside Lawson and Hadjar where the squad say he will be “designing the garage IRL”.

Slawn’s famed graffiti aesthetic – rooted in his Yoruba heritage and London’s urban culture – has seen him make his name in the city’s art landscape. He has also previously made a foray into the world of sports, having designed the Emirates FA Cup Trophy in May this year.

Racing Bulls say of the collaboration: “His work challenges traditional art norms and thrives on hype and disruption, making it a perfect synergy between VCARB and HUGO.”

Peter Bayer, the team’s CEO, said: “Slawn’s work is unlike anything we’ve seen in Formula 1, and that’s exactly why this collaboration felt right. Partnering with HUGO and Slawn has allowed us to push creative boundaries in a way that reflects the bold identity of our team.

“Silverstone is a massive moment in the season, and we’re proud to bring something completely original to our fans.”

Slawn commented: “Art meets speed, and I brought the madness. Big love to HUGO and VCARB for trusting the vision.”

James Foster, SVP of Global Marketing at HUGO BOSS, added: “Witnessing the big reveal of Slawn’s fresh, energetic art on the VCARB Team’s new livery and his exciting takeover will consolidate HUGO’s ambition to take F1 further off-track and into culture.

“This collaboration is a brilliant demonstration of the power of going your own way, which is at the core of HUGO and VCARB’s DNA. All eyes will be on VCARB during the action at Silverstone.”

Check out Racing Bulls’ special Silverstone livery in the gallery above.

Formula 1 and Motorsport Network – the world’s largest motorsport media company – have released the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, a study conducted every four years to track how fan engagement is evolving across the sport globally.

The survey was launched earlier this year and, based on more than 100,000 responses from self-identified, highly engaged fans in 186 countries, the findings offer a detailed snapshot of the modern fan mindset and show that Formula 1 is increasingly attracting a new, younger and more female audience, with growth in markets such as the United States.

The research shows that fans are increasingly drawn to Formula 1 by the breadth of stories and the variety of ways to engage with the sport – and they’re staying for the speed, strategy, and spectacle. Digital highlights and the full white paper are available to download and view.

“This study shows that fans are increasingly following Formula 1 for the stories and the many opportunities to engage with the sport, and then they’re becoming hooked on the fantastic racing,” said Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.

“The sport is embedded in culture now, via streaming, storytelling, and social media, and that’s helping more people connect. With Motorsport Network, we’ve been able to take a deeper look at what modern fandom really looks like in 2025 and ensure our strategy to bring in new fans remains on track.”

Werner Brell, CEO of Motorsport Network, added: “This survey isn’t just a snapshot – it’s a signal to the marketplace. Gen Z, women, and US fans are driving an always-on, connected, and culturally powerful era for F1. It points to how we can better serve fans, connect them with partners, and seize the biggest commercial opportunities for the sport’s future.”

Emerging demographics

The full study spans eight chapters, covering emotional motivators and content engagement to live experiences, lifestyle signals, and sponsorship impact. It offers insights to help better understand and serve F1’s most engaged fans – and a view into the future of sports fandom more broadly.

Gen Z is helping shape the rhythm of modern fandom, engaging with the sport more frequently and on a deeper emotional level. Two-thirds of survey respondents say they feel personally inspired by F1 drivers or teams, and in the US 70% of the study’s Gen Z respondents engage with F1 content daily – especially through streaming video and social media.

Female fans now account for three in four new fans. Most are newer to the sport and skew younger, with nearly half of all Gen Z respondents being women.

With the largest country share of survey respondents, fans in the US continue to stand out for their growth, youth, and digital fluency. They over-index on content engagement, sponsor responsiveness, and daily touchpoints, signalling a market where fandom is evolving rapidly and is commercially primed.

Among respondents:

• 94% plan to follow F1 in five years
• 73% of US fans plan to attend a race in the future
• 61% engage with F1 content daily
• 42% of female fans already follow F1 ACADEMY
• 76% say sponsors enhance the sport

Key findings

Modern F1 fandom is emotional, participatory, and always-on

Formula 1 fans aren’t just watching, they’re investing, interacting, and engaging with the sport frequently. Among surveyed fans, 90% say they’re emotionally invested in race outcomes and 61% engage with F1 content daily. Across platforms and time zones, surveyed fans are shaping a continuous connection to the sport – one that reflects a more dynamic, always-on relationship with Formula 1.

The thrill unites

Across all audience segments, speed and performance remain the most powerful motivators, with 90% of respondents saying they’re emotionally invested in race outcomes.

Fans are committed and intend to stay

Among surveyed fans, commitment runs deep. 94% say they intend to follow Formula 1 five years from now, and 86% watch 16 or more races per season.

Content is the new entry point and emotional driver for engagement

Many newer and younger fans are discovering Formula 1 through social media, streaming series, and shared content – entry points that now shape how they connect with the sport. They are more likely to form identity-based connections with Formula 1, citing driver personalities and narrative drama as key drivers of engagement. 70% of Gen Z respondents feel that Formula 1 represents a status or image that appeals to them.

Sponsorship drives consideration

76% of respondents believe sponsors enhance the F1 experience. One in three are more likely to purchase from F1 partners, with favourability rising to 40% among Gen Z respondents.

Live experiences deepen connection

Intent to attend Formula 1 events is rising. 41% of surveyed fans who haven’t attended an F1 fan experience plan to do so in the future. From Grands Prix to pop-ups, brand activations, exhibitions, and arcade-style venues, fans are increasingly seeking immersive ways to engage with the sport live and in-person.

F1 ACADEMY signals a new kind of growth

23% of surveyed fans say they follow F1 ACADEMY, and among women that rises to 42%, making it the second-most-followed series after Formula 1 itself. The all-female racing platform is gaining momentum among newer audiences too, with 37% of Gen Z and 36% of newer respondents engaging – underscoring the demand for inclusive storytelling and representation on the grid.

United States: a growth market to watch

The United States accounted for the largest country share of survey respondents, offering a lens into one of Formula 1’s most dynamic national markets. While Europe remains the largest region overall, the US stands out for accelerating fan growth, especially among younger, digital-first audiences.

Among US-based participants:

• 73% plan to attend a US race in the future
• 70% of Gen Z respondents engage with F1 content daily
• 40% follow a driver first (vs. team or sport)
• 37% have purchased F1 merchandise
• 39% of Gen Z respondents and 41% of surveyed women say they’re more likely to consider an F1 sponsor product

Alpine have enquired about the availability of 10-time race winner and current Mercedes reserve Valtteri Bottas, should they decide they want to change their line-up this season or beyond. F1 Correspondent Lawrence Barretto explains the state of play…

Why are Alpine looking for a driver if they already have Gasly and Colapinto locked in this season?

Well, they’re not so much chasing as they are exploring their options.

Alpine are in something of a transitional year – and with the Enstone-based team swapping to Mercedes power next year as part of an overhaul of the squad under the stewardship of Flavio Briatore, they are keen to get their driver line-up right for 2026.

Pierre Gasly is, without question, part of their plans. Their second seat is trickier.

They’ve already made a change this season, bringing in Franco Colapinto to replace Jack Doohan (with the latter back to reserve and the bench) from Imola onwards.

Colapinto hasn’t hit the ground running like he did in his super sub performance for Williams and has yet to score a point in five races with the squad.

However, it must be said that the car has lacked performance relative to its rivals and, since Colapinto joined the team, his team mate Gasly has scored just once with eighth in Spain.

Alpine continue to back Colapinto – and believe he is capable of delivering.

But as 2026 edges ever closer, Briatore is doing what you’d expect him to do – keeping his finger on the pulse and ensuring he knows what his options are going forward, hence why sources say he contacted Mercedes to check on Bottas’ availability.

So, don’t leave me hanging – what did they say?

My understanding is that Mercedes will not stand in Bottas’ way should he be offered a race seat elsewhere.

I believe Bottas is contracted to the Silver Arrows, where he won all of his 10 races, until the end of the year – and then he is free to make his own decisions with regards trying to find a race seat (or worst-case alternative role) next season.

His boss Toto Wolff is a big supporter of Bottas and believes he is still operating at a high-level and is deserving of a place on the grid. So, it’s no surprise they would accommodate a request should one be made for his services, especially as Alpine will be running the Silver Arrows’ engines next year.

Why would Alpine be keen to explore an option on Bottas?

It’s two-fold. Briatore finds the team’s currently level of performance concerning. With Alpine locked to the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship, he wants short-term progress soon.

Having two strong drivers delivering consistently can have a significant impact – as Williams are seeing with their experienced line-up of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.

Secondly, he wants the team to take advantage of sweeping changes to the aerodynamic and power unit regulations next season – and the arrival of Mercedes power, which is widely expected to be among the best, if not the best, engines next year.

Bringing on someone with Bottas’ experience could help on both counts.

The Finn has 247 Grands Prix to his name, has won 10 races, scored 67 podiums and taken 20 pole positions. He excelled during his time at Mercedes, particularly with regards to his one-lap pace, and made a positive impact during his three years at Sauber.

His time at Mercedes has given him recent insight into how a race-winning team is operating while he is believed to have been fully plugged into the development of the 2026 car. He even had some seat time with McLaren earlier this year in a 2023-spec car.

Alpine could benefit from Bottas’ presence in the race team – and there will be those internally who are fans of his given he was in contention for a seat there this year before the management changed and opted for Doohan.

Will Bottas fancy it?

One thing is for sure, Bottas is hungry to return to a race seat and more motivated than ever.

He took the Mercedes reserve role (to stay relevant, fit and connected to the sport) and is keen on discussions with newcomers Cadillac about a race seat next year.

The Finn would back himself to deliver if he gets a shot at Alpine – and you’d expect he’d be interested in a deal that allows him to drive next year, too, for security. His experience with Mercedes power could be invaluable.

Such a move would help him get race sharp again so that even if Alpine don’t retain him, he would be even more appealing to the likes of Cadillac, as they look to hit the ground running on debut next year.

So, now what happens?

For now, it’s business as usual and Colapinto will be in the car at Silverstone and beyond.

If Alpine decide they want to pursue an alternative, preliminary talks with Mercedes would likely continue, with Bottas and his management also being drafted in if things accelerate.

This situation must be tough on Colapinto…

Absolutely, but every driver is under pressure to perform – and Colapinto is no different.

Briatore’s move to explore options will raise that pressure, but it might trigger a step up in performance for the Argentine driver.

Silverstone is a circuit which the 22-year-old has performed well at in junior formulae – and he’ll have fond memories of the place having made his Grand Prix weekend debut there last year when driving for Williams.

If Colapinto improves his results, Briatore won’t need to change anything for now. And just knowing Bottas is available gives Briatore and Alpine flexibility.