Author Spotlight
Veronica Mangine
Top Gun is the best movie ever for a reason: the speed of the planes, intensity of the action scenes and intricate strategies behind the pilots’ missions. The adrenaline from watching actor Tom Cruise speed through the test run, pushing to the absolute limits and pulling 10 G-forces at the end is unmatched. Or, at least, was unmatched until I discovered my new favorite sport — Formula 1.
Formula 1 — high-speed races in specially designed cars on circuits in five continents — should be your new favorite sport too. It’s unequivocally the greatest sport in the world.
The cars are some of the fastest in the world, exceeding 200 mph — faster than a plane taking off. And the 20 drivers on the grid are skilled pilots, maneuvering through corners with forces pulling on them stronger than a roller coaster at up to 6 G-forces. It’s truly a sport like no other.
Traditional views of motorsport are cars moving in circles for hours upon hours — hypnotizing its unfortunate viewers into nap time. Count me out. But Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, is superior with specially designed circuits with more than 20 corners and high speed turns. Racers analyzing everything from safety cars to pit stops, all while trying to maintain their position and overtake opponents instead of mindlessly zooming in circles.
All the best sports rely on entertaining strategies. Football is the most popular sport in the United States, but not because fans like watching large guys in pads move the ball 5 yards and then stop for a few minutes just to move the ball 3 more yards. People love football because of the strategy behind it.
The sport consists of teams trying to outsmart their opponents through trick plays while also analyzing their opponent’s moves to gain an advantage.
Formula 1 strategy is just as gripping as football plays but without the constant stops and confusing rules.
Plus, Formula 1 takes viewers on a world tour. One weekend the teams are racing in Italy, and the next they’re racing in Monaco. Not only are the cars extremely fast but the entire sport is always moving around the world. With 23 races in 19 countries over the span of nine months, there’s as little as four days between a race. It’s a constant adventure.
And don’t get me started on the drama. With only 10 teams and 20 drivers, it’s easy to learn about the personalities of each driver and the rivalries inside the grid. I get my behind-the-scenes look at all the drama through the TV show “Drive To Survive” on Netflix.
“Drive To Survive” is like “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” but for people with more brain cells. It’s a documentary series that covers every aspect of Formula 1 from arguments between team principals to driver’s radios during the most intense parts of the races.
One of the things that make Formula 1 so remarkable is the level of emotion and intensity that the racers have for the sport. It’s not just about the speed but also the passion the drivers have. “Drive to Survive” does an excellent job of capturing those emotions, from the highs of winning a race to the lows of not finishing a race. You can feel the pressure and stress that these athletes go through and how they face challenges on and off the track.
The intense rivalry between teams and the strategic battles that take place behind the scenes add another layer of excitement to the sport.
Top Gun is one of my all-time favorite movies. If you love it as much as me then you need to check out Formula 1. You’ll be begging your friends to watch the best sport in the world with you in no time.
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