The Best Gifts for Formula 1 Fans, According to Formula 1 Fans

Sebastian Vettel (“one of the most decorated Formula 1 drivers in the sport’s history,” Herman explains) released a line of socially conscious merch to commemorate his retirement at the end of the 2022 season. “If you know someone who was a Seb fan, this is a nice gift,” Herman says.

Bootleg T-shirts are enormously popular among Formula 1 fans. Herman wore this one — which references a much-memedradio conversationbetween Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer from back in 2020 — to the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix and “got quite a few compliments.”

Daniel Ricciardo won’t be on the grid (i.e., the current lineup of drivers on the Formula 1 circuit) in 2023, but many remain loyal to the honey badger, as he is sometimes known. “If you still proudly call yourself a Ricciardhoe, the Two Girls 1 Formula merch line is great,” says Herman. Ramirez and her boyfriend also own and love their matching “Ricciardhoe” tees.

Sunday Fangirls is another merch line catering to female Formula 1 fans. “I own both a hat and a T-shirt from this collection and love both,” says Herman. “I appreciate the idea of being a proud fangirl of something.”

Williams, Ramirez bluntly admits, “is the worst team on the grid at the moment, in terms of numbers.” However, “their merch really slaps.” She particularly likes this official team bolo tie, which would make an on-theme gift for any fan attending Austin’s Grand Prix next year.

Brian Muller and Matt Elisofon, hosts of theRed Flagspodcast, were reluctant to recommend any specific team merch — with the exception of this in-joke T-shirt featuring Haas boss Guenther Steiner. “If you have a friend who’s intoDrive to Survive, they’ll probably like Guenther Steiner,” says Elisofon.

Muller was once amused to receive one of these gag-gift candles that “smells like” Pierre Gasly, and the same Etsy store offers numerous other driver-scent options.

If you don’tknow someone’s favorite driver or team, this cute pair of socks is a no-brainer Formula 1 gift. “‘Box box box’ is a phrase all of the teams say when they want their drivers to come to the pits,” Herman explains. “So it’s universal.”

Prada-loving Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu has recently helped popularize these rubber sandals, which happen to resemble car tires. Ramirez has been eyeing a pair on the RealReal and says a fashion-forward Formula 1 fan would certainly appreciate receiving a pair as a present.

On the nerdier side of things, “you can get some really good models of Formula 1 cars in a range of sizes and budgets,” says Smith. “If there’s a driver who has done particularly well, that’s a good memento to have of that season — I was given a model of Lewis Hamilton’s car when he took the record for most Formula 1 wins last year, which was really cool.”

Smith also pointed us to F1 Authentics, which repurposes Formula 1 car parts into furniture and other keepsakes — like this side table made from one of Lewis Hamilton’s brake discs. “If you’ve got the budget and if they’re that kind of fan, it will blow their mind,” he says.

Chloe, theTG1Fpodcast hosts, Smith, and Ramirez all independently recommended Lego’s Formula 1 race-car kits as gifts for precocious children and tinkering adults alike.

For a cheaper stocking stuffer, Strategist editor and Formula 1 fan Maxine Builder suggests this kit, which she received for a recent birthday. “It rules,” she says. “I had been looking at the McLaren one, but I didn’t want to pay $200 for it.” The finished car is now sitting on her entry table, and not only does it “look really cute but it actually wheels around.”

“Any fan would be thrilled” to receive a stack ofRACEWKNDs,TG1Fhosts Kate Lizotte and Nicole Sievers say. The quarterly magazine celebrates the “circuits, cities, and culture” of Formula 1, and a few issues will “look sophisticated on a coffee table or lined up on a shelf,” adds Herman.

“There’s a lot of great Formula 1 and motorsport books out there,” say Sari and Yaya, who runF1 Struggle Tweets(and also go by first name only). They both love this one, which tells the true David-and-Goliath story of a Jewish-led French racing team triumphing over Germany in the 1938 Grand Prix.

This book, recommended by Herman, recounts the bizarre grift of a fake British energy-drink brand that managed to become a major Formula 1 team’s sponsor. She says it’s “brilliantly written” and will provide new information about the Rich Energy saga to even the most knowledgeable fan.

For kids of Formula 1–loving parents, Herman, Lizotte, and Sievers like the Red Racer series. Printed in English and Spanish and designed to engage kids of all genders, these books are “the perfect way to teach little ones about Formula 1,” say theTwo Girlshosts.

Fashion designer and Formula 1 enthusiastSandy Liangsuggests giftingTop GearDVDs — for her and many others, the iconic British television series was an entryway to the sport. “A full set is something I personally would want to own,” she says.

“A cool poster of cars fits in anywhere,” Smith says. “One of my favorite things is old posters of historic races.” In his office, he proudly hangs a Le Mans 1961 print that a friend got him.

Herman, meanwhile, owns this mid-century-style Monte Carlo print. “Monaco is usually a pretty boring race nowadays, but it’s considered the most iconic track on the calendar,” she explains. “If you’re unsure which circuits your friends like, they’ll at least appreciate a nice art piece of Monaco.”

For art prints depicting more contemporary races and drivers, French illustrator Souria Draws is a favorite of Sari and Yaya.

Beyond actual race tickets, a go-kart voucher is “the best experiential gift you could give someone who’s into Formula 1,” according to theRed Flagshosts. “Both of our girlfriends took us karting for Valentine’s Day. It’s so much fun because you really do feel like you’re racing — you can even track your times.”

Several of our Formula 1 fans also recommended giving a Formula 1 TV Pro subscription. “If someone’s aDrive to Survivefan but hasn’t been able to watch the races because they don’t have cable, having a subscription service is a huge thing,” Ramirez says. The service offers additional perks beyond just watching the races at your own convenience, Muller explains: “You can watch the driver’s POVs and get the stats if you’re a real nerd — you can get into the weeds.”

A cameo from McLaren CEO Zak Brown is just $250, and theRed Flagshosts say it’s money well spent.

And because they’ll be spending a fair amount of time on their butt, Herman suggests buying the racegoing Formula 1 fan in your life a stadium-seat cushion to make those bleachers a little more comfortable.

If you know someone heading to Austin for the Grand Prix next year, Ramirez advises that they’re probably there to see Mexican Red Bull driver Sergio “Checo” Pérez. “I would consider Austin to be a home race for Checo,” she says. “The sheer amount of Checo fans, it’s insane.” She suggests you help them support the cause in the most dramatic way possible: “Get the Checo fan in your life a giant-ass Mexican flag. And I mean huge.”

Muller and Elisofon recommend this LGBTQ twist on the classic checkered race flag, made by Flags for Good. “They make left-leaning flags, and part of what you pay for the flag goes to a relevant charity,” Muller explains.

If your Formula 1 fan is streaming races more often than watching them in person, you can still help them out with this essential piece of survival gear. “Being an American fan is no joke since the bulk of qualifying sessions and races take place in the early-morning hours,” explains Herman. “So you’ve got to be up bright and early most of the year.” She says an alarm clock would likely be appreciated by anyone keeping to such a crazy schedule, and this inexpensive pick has been one of our favoritestylish yet functional alarm clocksfor a few years now.