STRANGER THAN FICTION

The star drivers, the exotic race locations, and the full-on adrenalin of motor racing… no wonder writers all over the world have been inspired to create fictional stories about Formula 1. But what drives this new creative outlet?

“I stay defensive of my position, making it difficult for anyone to overtake my car at the turns. The hum of the engine fills me with exhilaration as I speed down another straight at over 200mph. Fans scream as I pass them. My foot presses on the brake seconds before I make another turn, soft tyres screeching against the asphalt. Music to my ears.”

These lines are from the opening chapter of a novel by US writer Lauren Asher called Throttled. The first in a series of four books, it tells the story of fictional Formula 1 drivers and their complicated romantic lives.

F1 fiction is in fine fettle right now. Aside from Asher, other successful authors working in the genre include Amanda Weaver, Simone Soltani, Jenni Fletcher, Emilee Carter, K. Bromberg, Rebecca J. Caffery and Elliana Rose.

But amateur novelists are thriving too. Browse various publishing and blogging websites such as Wattpad, Tumblr and Archive of Our Own, and you’ll discover a whole plethora of fan fiction dedicated to the sport. While romantic fiction dominates, just about every other imaginable genre is also represented: fantasy, thrillers, mystery, crime, horror, sci-fi… and a fair few saucy stories you definitely wouldn’t allow your kids to read.

So, why such a creative surge? Experts agree it was the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive that propelled writers down this road. First streamed in 2019, the 70-episode documentary took viewers behind the scenes at races and revealed the characters of the star drivers normally hidden inside their helmets. With so many viewers stuck at home due to the Covid pandemic, it secured a captive global viewership and drew millions of new fans into the sport. Some estimate as many as 700 million people viewed the series.

That was certainly the inspiration for Asher, who self-published her first novel Throttled before her books were picked up by commercial publisher Simon & Schuster.

But there are other reasons for F1’s popularity within fan fiction. The F1 World Championship currently hosts six stops in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK, boosting the image of this motor sport across the English-speaking world. Add to this the star quality of drivers such as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both of whom have lured in new fans thanks to their cultural influence beyond the racetrack. 

Celebrity motor sport fans are important, too. You’ll often see the likes of Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Michael Fassbender, Eric Bana, Matthew McConaughey, Bono, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran at F1 races, all adding to the sport’s glamour and appeal.

Then there are the multiple Formula 1 movies and TV series. Last year Brad Pitt starred in F1. The year before saw Gabriel Leone portraying Brazilian star Ayrton Senna in a Netflix drama series. In 2013, Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl starred in Rush as 1970s driving legends James Hunt and Niki Lauda.

Interestingly, much of the F1 fan fiction available concentrates on the more relatable human side of the sport, rather than the colder, technical side. This is surely linked to the influx of younger and female spectators.

Indeed, an international survey carried out last year by Formula 1 found that 42 per cent of fans are female, and 43 per cent are under the age of 35.

“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,” says Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1’s president and CEO.

“The sport is embedded in culture now, via streaming, storytelling and social media, and that’s helping more people connect.”

Fan fiction is now a vital part of that connection.