Opinion: F1 has the potential to bring happiness to nations

One benefit of the traffic in Mexico City is I get the opportunity to take in the sprawling metropolis on my way to the track each day. It’s a visual feast, but one image dominates every street corner – Sergio Pérez. If the Mexicans have something to sell, they tend to stick his face on it.

He’s not the only F1 homegrown hero who’s deified. Max Verstappen singlehandedly brought the Dutch GP back on to the calendar after a 36 year hiatus and Franco Colapinto’s rise has reignited Argentina’s love of the sport, giving them someone to shout about for the first time in over two decades.

Why does it matter so much to have one of your own on the grid? For smaller nations, it puts them on the map. Finland for example: aside from silent stoicism and saunas, how much do you know about this Nordic nation? Yet Kimi and Valterri’s epic drives have put the Finns firmly in the sporting spotlight.

This patriotic pride sets off a spark which lights up the financial engine of the nation. Fans flock to buy merch with their flag on it. Local brands jump on the opportunity to sponsor their driver, associating their product with speed and glamour. The Checo effect has attracted thousands of fans from around the globe to Mexico City, filling the hotels, restaurants and shops.

For a nation’s youth, F1 drivers are the ultimate superheroes. They are proof that you too can escape suburban obscurity and become a gladiator on the world stage. If it happens to be someone who grew up speaking the same language and eating the same food as you, then your dreams feel attainable.

When Yuki Tsunoda joined the grid, interest in Japanese motorsport exploded. Brands in Japan quickly lined up to get his endorsement for everything from energy drinks to luxury watches. Japan was of course already a tech and motor giant, but Yuki made it interesting for a new, young, international audience.

F1 drivers can also become a government’s distraction tactic. Look over here at our sensational speed demon, rather than our unfavourable rates of inflation. I remember in 2012, in my first year at Sky Sports, travelling to Venezuela to do a feature on Pastor Maldonado. The crowds were 10 deep to watch him show off his Williams on the streets of Caracas. The last thing anyone was talking about was the tanking economy, especially when he smashed it into a kerb during the demo run.

Morale soared too in Brazil after any of Senna’s triumphs. His victories were unifying, bringing hope where otherwise there was economic doom and gloom, and political instability. F1 racers bring more to their country than just trophies. They are the poster children of national pride, community cohesion and economic stimuli. They inspire kids, rally citizens and bring the country’s flavour to the global table. In Mexico this year, when Checo was the last driver to take the chequered flag, 110,000 fans were still on their feet until the very last lap.