The 5,092 Cost of Being a Formula 1 Fangirl

Get the Full StoryWelcome to Show the Receipts, a series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we're tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: being a Formula 1 "fangirl."

As a young girl, Kristen Foster never imagined becoming an F1 fangirl one day, but in many ways, it was inevitable. She grew up as what she calls "Formula 1-adjacent" - her dad and brother were devoted fans of the Australian racing series V8 Supercars, and naturally, her favorite movie was Pixar's "Cars."

"I was destined to fall in love with motorsport," she tells PS. After diving into Netflix's "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" in early 2022, she quickly became obsessed. And around this same time, the sport was undergoing what's since been referred to as a "fangirlification." By March 2023, she attended her first Grand Prix, a pivotal moment that actually turned her newfound hobby into a career.

"I noticed that the sport was gaining popularity amongst young people, particularly girls, yet the sport wasn't as welcoming for that demographic at the time," she says. Determined to change that, Foster began creating F1 content on TikTok because she "wanted to make young girls feel welcomed and valued in the motorsports space."

But being an F1 fangirl isn't just a small hobby; it's a full-time fandom. "It honestly does remind me of the cult following of One Direction or Justin Bieber," she says. But like most passions, it also comes at a high cost.

"Formula 1 is known as a luxurious heritage sport," which "comes at a high price point," she says. And with any high-profile event, you often have to dress to the nines: Formula 1 even recently announced a partnership with Louis Vuitton, and over the years, it's solidified its status as a fashion-forward event. "What I wear is a big part of it," Foster says, "and I spent a fair bit on the outfits."

So how does it all net out? Below, we've asked Foster for a glimpse into her F1 fangirl expenses. Full disclosure: Not all F1 fangirls are also content creators like Foster, but the below numbers reflect a year in Foster's life, including the cost of attending the Australian Grand Prix, investing in new creator equipment, and experiencing Glamour on the Grid a prestigious, exclusive event she describes as the "F1 Met Gala" .

Here's the full price breakdown.

Task: Being a Formula 1 fan

Job: F1 content creator and freelance graphic designer

Location: Gold Coast, Australia

Timeline: January-December 2024

The Receipts

Australian Grand Prix 2024: 378 for a four-day Grandstand ticket

Airfare: 366

Australian Grand Prix accommodation: 1,323 for four nights

Food and drink: 95 during Grand Prix weekend

Merch: 536

Australian Grand Prix outfits: 800

Glamour on the Grid event attire: 473

Glamour on the Grid makeup: Free using a loyalty reward program

Glamour on the Grid accommodation: 504

F1 TV subscription: 22

Red Flags Podcast Patreon membership: 129 per year

Creator equipment: 466

Total: 5,092

Note: currency has been converted from Australian to US dollars.

How I Did It

As a content creator, Foster has enjoyed some perks, including receiving merchandise from a few of her favorite teams. However, the majority of the expenses tied to her F1 experience come out of her own pocket. Here, she shares her insights and offers advice for those looking to become an F1 fangirl and attend a Grand Prix.

PS: What was the most surprising expense from the year?

Kristen Foster: Accommodation. Last year was super intense, and I booked my accommodation the day the race weekend was announced, which was six months in advance. I don't think it's worth splurging on accommodation because track days are so long that by the time you get back to your hotel, you're having a shower and going to bed. You don't really enjoy the hotel side of things. This upcoming year, I'm staying in the suburbs to save money there.

PS: Where were you able to save?

KF: Merch. It's expensive, but there are all kinds of retailers that can offer pieces that bring the price points down. Abercrombie offers a bunch of team merch, and I usually get my stuff from there. A tee at Abercrombie would be around 31, but if you got the merch from the actual team, it would be upwards of 75.

In terms of budgeting with the food at the track and everything else, my mindset is knowing that it's going to be pretty expensive at the race . I made sure I had a big breakfast before I went to the track, but the food at the Aus GP is really good as they collaborate with local restaurants, so I was willing to spend the money to really enjoy it.

PS: Which expense was worth the splurge?

KF: Getting Grandstand tickets rather than a general admission park pass. You get a designated seat for the weekend. In Australia, if you're in a grandstand area, you're likely to get a screen on the other side of the track. The cars drive by so quickly that you literally get one second of real-life action, but then you can watch them on the other side of the screen, so I definitely think a Grandstand pass is worth the splurge.

PS: What advice would you give to other F1 fangirls about finances?

KF: I definitely think there are ways to go about it cheaper. For your first Grand Prix, you could get away with getting a general admissions pass. They tend to be cheaper, it just means that you don't have a designated seat and have to stand for the entire four days. You also probably don't need an F1 TV subscription because you can watch it mostly on YouTube, which is free. The F1 subscription is to watch the archived races or get more specific detailed knowledge from experts, but I wouldn't say it's necessary to get into the sport.

If you want to be an F1 creator, you can save money with the creator equipment. I would say that's not a big necessity, but it was something that I wanted to do to improve my content, and I have heard feedback that my content is better when I use the things that I've bought. But you could definitely get cheaper alternatives on Amazon.

Final Thoughts

For Foster, looking back on her costs was eye-opening - but it also reinforced a lot of takeaways that she's already applied to this forthcoming season. Yes, she is re-wearing some of her outfits, including the 233 orange Adidas Sambas she got to rep her favorite team.

"There were learning lessons, but I definitely think it was worth it overall," she says. "Last year was the first time I went to the event as a content creator, so I really wanted to invest in the moment and make the most of the weekend. I don't have any regrets."

While she's stuck to the Australia Grand Prix for three years now, she's already begun saving for her next race and is hoping to travel a little further next time. The dream? The Monaco Grand Prix, which, yes, comes with a "hefty price tag."

Related:

These Black F1 Fans Are Changing the Narrative Around the Sport

Jordana Comiter is a Florida-based freelance writer who loves writing about entertainment, wellness, and dating trends. Her work has appeared in PS, Women's Health, People, and Business Insider, among others. She is a proud graduate of Tulane University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

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