The roar of Formula One may be thousands of miles away, but its presence is unmistakable in the school hallway. The Williams Racing logo is seen weaving through the crowd of students, carried not on a speeding car but on the T-shirt of senior Aran Malhotra.
From wearable gear to Lego sets and Hot Wheels, Formula One merchandise is fueling student passion for motorsport into their lives.
For Aran, the shirt is more than just a piece of everyday clothing. It represents not only his support for a specific team but also as a Formula One fan in general. A gift from a friend, the shirt also represents the bridge of support from his peers and his connection to a Formula One team.
“The shirt I wear was gifted to me by a friend, because I gained an affiliation with Williams Racing,” Aran said. “Him supporting me, and then me supporting that team.”
But the merchandise doesn’t just stop at T-shirts. Formula One’s partnerships with Lego and Hot Wheels have extended team support into collectibles and models.
Formula One and Lego’s partnership began this year and includes “a focus on bringing fans closer to the world of innovation, technology and engineering through the fun of Lego building, with in-person activities at races, and products that celebrate the sport’s engineering and technical heritage,” according to a statement.
Formula One and Hot Wheels have extended their multiyear partnership to “bring together the adrenaline of motor racing and the excitement of toy cars and provide opportunities to see the fine details that go into an F1 car, all in the palm of your hand,” Emily Prazer, Formula One chief commercial officer, said in a statement.
For students like Aran, the passion for F1 is simple: a shirt, a team name, a shared glance in the hallway. But, in the end, it’s not just about wearable merchandise or collectibles, it’s about expressing passion and support for F1.
