OUR VISION
Racingmedia Girls is a platform that aims to make women feel more welcome in the world of motorsport. Many still have the wrong mindset, thinking women watch for good-looking drivers. We're done with these comments and want to show that women watch for the same reasons as men. That's why we founded RMG, a platform where both men and women can share their passion for Formula 1 and motorsport.
OUR VISION
My name is Lola de Jong, founder of Racingmedia Girls. I am twenty years old and come from the Netherlands. Want to get to know me better? Then be sure to click here.
When you look at the Formula 1 community, you see more and more women interested in this sport. However, whether we women are welcomed with open arms is another story. In the past, Formula 1 was a male-dominated sport. Despite all the drivers still being men, you increasingly see women working in the sport or being fans. However, there are still many prejudices from men. I have often encountered this myself. I believe that every female F1 fan can relate to these questions:
You must be a fan of Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc because they are handsome!
Oh really, do you understand Formula 1? Then explain what DRS is!
You watch Formula 1? Haha, yes, only because there are handsome drivers.
And was I right? You’ve probably heard one of these comments before.
Not long ago, I was on the train back from the Dutch Grand Prix when two men approached me.
'Oh, you’re from Zandvoort? What were you doing there?' one of them asked.
I told them I’d been to the Grand Prix.
Immediately, the next question came: 'So, who are you a fan of?' The look on their faces made it clear, they expected me to say Max Verstappen. I said: 'I’m a fan of Lando Norris.'
A moment later, one of them asked: 'Ah, so you like him because he’s handsome?'I stared at him in disbelief. 'No, of course not. He’s just really good, which he proved today.' (He won the race 2024)
That earned me a surprised look and the genuine follow-up: 'No, really?' I said back: 'Well, aren’t you a Verstappen fan because you think he’s handsome?'
And then it was quiet.
Not everyone means it badly; some genuinely believe that women watch Formula 1 for that reason. But honestly, have you ever watched a race? Those “handsome faces” are hidden under helmets while they fly past at 250 km/h.
For the men without bad intentions, here’s something to consider: before you ask a question like that, first ask yourself, “Would this sound strange if I asked it to a man?” If the answer is yes, then don’t ask it.
Think about it: if you asked a man, “Are you a fan of Fernando Alonso because you think he’s handsome?” people would laugh. Yet when the same question is asked by a man to a woman, it suddenly seems acceptable.
So please, pause, think before you speak, and maybe ask yourself that question first.
And this was just one of many times I’ve been asked questions like that. Even now, I sometimes feel a kind of shame, or as if I need to justify myself, whenever I say that I think Lando Norris is a great driver. Sadly, I know I’m not alone, so many girls experience the same thing and hear these kinds of remarks almost daily.
The point of my story is that women need to be more accepted in this sport.
That is exactly why I founded Racingmedia Girls. And although “girls” is in our name, our mission is not about separating genders. On the contrary, we are a platform where everyone, no matter their gender, can share their passion for Formula 1. Men are just as welcome as women. What matters is respect: for the driver you support, for each other, and for the spirit of sportsmanship. Rivalry is part of the game, but it should always be a healthy one.
At the end of the day, our message is simple: men and women should be seen as equals in Formula 1. There should be no difference between fans. Because in the end, we all watch for the same reasons, the spectacle, the sport, the skill of the drivers, the brilliance of the teams, the rivalries, the stories unfolding on and off the track, the adrenaline, and yes, that unforgettable sound of the cars.