Controversy, social media, and Formula One: Examining #VoidLap58

Authors

  • Natalie Le Clue Cape Peninsula University of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2025.2651

Keywords:

Fandom, Motorsport, Online rhetoric, Public discourse, Sports fans

Abstract

The sport of Formula One racing is classically characterized by speed, glamor, and ever-present controversy. In recent times, the conclusion of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix likely stands as the most prominent controversy in the twenty-first-century guise of the sport. Decisions made by then–race director Michael Masi led to a wave of outrage and disbelief among fans, sparking the emergence of the #VoidLap58 hashtag. To understand the complexity of fan dynamics within online Formula One communities, I examine the interplay between fan participation, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the polarization of the fandom, highlighting the role that fans play in crafting narratives.

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Published

2025-03-14

Issue

Vol. 45 (2025): Sports Fandoms

Section

Article

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Natalie Le Clue

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