Focus on the pitch, relax in the paddock: These footballers are F1 enthusiasts

Formula 1 has become one of the biggest global phenomena in sport today. The runaway success of Drive to Survive, booming trading card sales, and the ever-growing popularity of drivers, many of whom have reached true global celebrity status, all underline its appeal. The sport also attracts some of the world’s biggest sponsors, while broadcasting rights continue to reach astronomical figures.

This phenomenon has not passed women’s footballers by. For many players, watching races has become a way to switch off when they want a break from football. But it is more than just entertainment,  it allows them to stay connected to elite-level competition without the mental demands of their own game.

So, which players feel closest to the world of F1, and which drivers top their list of favourites?

Leah Williamson

Who better to start with than the Lionesses captain and two-time European champion herself? Leah Williamson is a global icon in women’s football, with a profile that extends far beyond the game.

That reach is reflected in her collaboration with the Aston Martin F1 team during the 2024 British Grand Prix. Williamson has attended the race on multiple occasions, showing her support for the team and its drivers. For Aston Martin, the logic is clear. If the goal is to reach new audiences — particularly fans of women’s football, there are few better ambassadors than Williamson. In England and beyond, she represents not just success on the pitch, but a new generation of globally recognisable athletes who move effortlessly between sporting worlds.

Beth Mead

But if we are looking for the Lioness with a genuine, full-blown passion for Formula 1, Beth Mead is hard to beat. The Arsenal forward has never hidden her love for the sport, often speaking about it in interviews and especially about her love for McLaren.

In many ways, the past year could hardly have gone better for her. Success came on all fronts: lifting the Champions League trophy with Arsenal, playing her part in the Lionesses’ European title defence  and watching her beloved McLaren secure a dominant double in Formula 1. For Mead, it was a rare overlap of triumphs across both of her sporting worlds as an athlete and as a fan.

Her connection to F1 goes beyond simply watching from afar. Ahead of the Euros, Mead revealed that her dream meeting would be with British driver, and now world champion, Lando Norris. When he reached that milestone, she joined Harry Kane in sending her congratulations.

The admiration, it seems, goes both ways. Norris has spoken openly about his support for the Lionesses, and during Euro 2025 he even sent the team a message wishing them luck.  A small but telling sign of the growing crossover between two global sporting stages.

Sam Kerr

Formula 1 may have been popular in Europe, but its reach is undeniably global. And Australia, where the season stars,  is no exception. And when it comes to Australian sporting icons, few names carry as much weight as Matildas captain Sam Kerr.

The global appeal of both Kerr and F1 was clear when the sport’s social media team asked celebrities to predict the 2026 world champion. Kerr’s answer came without hesitation: her fellow Aussie, Oscar Piastri.

Despite representing rival clubs in England, Kerr as the face of Chelsea and Mead an Arsenal icon for almost ten years, the two would likely find common ground in the world of F1. Kerr, too, has shown her support for McLaren, visiting the team during the Australian Grand Prix, the traditional curtain-raiser for the Formula 1 season.

Ellen Jones

And the connection between football and Formula 1 does not stop at the very top of the game. It stretches further down the pyramid even to the Women’s Super League 2, and to Sunderland. Incidentally, it is a club with a link to Beth Mead herself. Before Arsenal came calling in 2017 and set her on the path to becoming one of the women football’s biggest names, Sunderland was where it all began.

Now, the same shirt is worn by a player who shares Mead’s passion for motorsport. But while Mead’s loyalty lies with McLaren, Ellen Jones’ heart belongs to Williams.

Jones has also experienced the world of Formula 1 up close. She attended Silverstone as a fan, where she met then-Williams drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant - a moment that brought her even closer to the team she supports.

In many ways, it captures the essence of the crossover. From global icons to players further down the pyramid, Formula 1 offers a shared space — one where rivalries fade and a different kind of passion takes over.