By Zoha Wyne
The sport’s premier division wasn’t always the global phenomenon that it is today.
So, what made Formula One a $17 billion global entertainment giant out of a
niche, post-war European racing championship?
In the beginning in 1950, Formula One began in a modest, Europe-oriented style
with a roll call of leading privateers and makers racing on post-war circuits. The
cars were raw, there was genuine danger involved with it, but the spectators? I was Niche.
Fast forward to 2025, and Formula One is not a sport—it’s a global phenomenon
worth $17 billion essentially an entertainment giant. It’s a fashion show. It’s politics. It’s a TikTok edit and tyre strategy. It’s also, still, at its core, a 20-car battle.
According to Forbes, Formula One has seen interest rise by 5.7% since 2021, and
there’s no sign of slowing down.It’s a tale of technical ingenuity, larger-than-life
personalities, cutthroat politics, and most recently masterful rebranding.
How did we go from Silverstone 1950 to Brad Pitt driving an F1 car in 2025?
Start Your Engines: The Raw Beginnings (1950s–1970s)
F1 kicked off in 1950 with the European elite, some hand-built cars, and drivers
who were basically stuntmen in leather helmets.
Think Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati only Ferrari’s still around full-time. The
danger? Off the charts. The glam? Not quite there yet.
Those were the days when drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss
risked their lives for glory and grease.
Meanwhile, rivals like Ken Tyrrell and his homegrown team demonstrated that
private teams could challenge the titans if they had the guts (and a driver like
Jackie Stewart).
Innovation also emerged as Lotus, Brabham, and McLaren advanced engineering and aerodynamics.
But safety was a faraway concept. It was daring, violent, and scarcely broadcast.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 