Sport as a commercial media spectacle

The case of the “F1: The Movie”

Bibliographic Data

ID19218019
AuthorsDhwanil Shah (0009-0000-1217-5287, Florida State University, corresponding author), Jennifer M Proffitt (0000-0001-5115-0445, Florida State University)
Year2026
Publication date2026-05-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedia Culture & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-4437 • E-ISSN: 1460-3675
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01634437261452159
OpenAlexW7161266898
LanguageEN
References cited19

Using a critical political economy of media and sport framework, this study explores Liberty Media’s Formula 1 media strategy, specifically 2025’s F1: The Movie, as a case study. To address our research questions—in what ways does F1: The Movie serve as both a cultural text and commercial tool, and what are the broader implications of Formula 1’s media model for sport authenticity and fandom in the digital age—we use textual analysis to examine trade and popular press articles regarding the film, including its commercial success, production elements, and promotion strategies. We find that the film’s narrative sacrifices crucial sporting authenticity by relying on fictionalized rule breaking and impossible scenarios to fulfill the blockbuster mandate of the spectacle to attract audiences to not only the film but also to Formula 1 and to promote Apple platforms, including its streaming service that acquired Formula 1 broadcasting rights in the U.S

Broadcasting (networking) · Digital media · Fandom · Mandate · Narrative · Participatory culture · Politics · Promotion (chess) · Spectacle · Digital Games and Media · Media Studies and Communication · Sports, Gender, and Society

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