A PitStop Journey with Leire
What comes to mind when you think of a typical Formula 1 fan? A middle-aged motorhead who refers to his car as Darlene and probably treats her better than his wife? Hold onto your helmets because we’re about to shatter that stereotype. According to the data, the average age of F 1 fans (32 years) is actually relatively low compared to other sports, such as the NFL (50 years) and NBA (42 years).
Surprised? Well, the current owners of the Formula 1 Group, Liberty Media, are committed to reaching out to a new generation of fans and moving away from the “niche” sport phase. Thanks to initiatives such as the Drive to Survive series on Netflix (which infused some reality series like drama into the sport) and social media efforts, the sport has been opened up to a whole new set of people who previously had 0 knowledge of it.
Content creator Toni Cowan-Brown also describes how the pandemic helped boost the creator economy: female content creators on platforms such as X, Instagram, and TikTok play a massive role in demystifying the sport to their audiences and organizing a young, fresh, female gen of supporters.
In today’s Culinary Pitstop, we’ll be heading to the vibrant southern European country of Spain: home of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and culinary delights such as the famous tapas, paella, and Jamón Ibérico (which we talked about in our previous blog). We’ll be interviewing one of these creators, Leire, an F1 enthusiast from Spain and community manager of @f1withleire, the Instagram account where she shares motorsport content and talks about her love of F1.
Meet Leire
You might be wondering…who is Leire?
Hi! My name is Leire, and I’m a 20-year-old Spanish girl who enjoys F1 a little too much. I have a degree in tourism and am currently studying digital marketing. My goal is to one day become a Social Media Manager/Community Manager for an F1/F2 team.
Apart from motorsports, I also enjoy music a lot; every activity I do daily is accompanied by a good music playlist.
Another hobby of mine is content creation. I love taking my phone or computer, thinking of new ideas, recording, editing…and then uploading them to my different social media accounts, and having the opportunity to interact with other fans.
I’m a quiet girl whose lack of friends has turned her into a full-time student and content creator. Even so, I’m very happy right now. Also, I’m a person who likes to dream big, and although that frustrates me sometimes, I like to fight for my dreams no matter what it takes, and I love to inspire others to do the same.
Let’s…vroom into the interview.
Let’s start with your love for Formula 1. How did you become a fan, and what makes F1 special to you?
One random day in March 2023, Charles Leclerc popped up on my TikTok. I didn’t know who he was or what Formula 1 was, either. Here’s a fun fact: I thought Lewis Hamilton was a football player. I’m a very curious person, so after researching who Charles was and what the sport was all about, I started watching the races and fell in love.
Although my love for Formula 1 is recent, it has changed my life completely. Before becoming a fan of F1, my weekends used to be very boring, I had nothing to watch or do, but now I can happily say that I like watching F1. I also had no friends, and F1 has helped me meet new people. Moreover, I am very grateful for this sport because, thanks to it, I finally discovered my dream job, which is being a Social Media Manager/Community Manager.
What’s your favourite F1 team, and why?
My favourite F1 team is McLaren. Not only do I love their drivers, but I also admire their long history and achievements. However, what really stands out for me is the sense of family that surrounds the team. I believe there’s a big connection between the drivers, the staff, and the fans.
Who’s your favourite driver?
I absolutely love Lando Norris. He often reminds me of myself because he is very hard on himself. So, he made me like him right away. I also think he has a lot of talent, that his first win is closer than we think, and that maybe someday he’ll win a championship.
Spain is renowned for its rich culinary heritage. Can you share some of your favourite traditional Spanish dishes, and do you have any special memories associated with them?
I’m from the Basque Country, in northern Spain, and we have very good food here. Still, I have a special love for Mediterranean food like Paella, as I have spent many summers in Valencia or Alicante with my family, and I have many memories there. Spanish Tortilla is also the best thing you can try here, or even a Cocido on a freezing day.
Do you have a recipe you’d like to share with us?
Honestly, I’m not a very good chef, so I barely know how to cook pasta. The recipe I want to share is not complicated, as eating churros with chocolate is perfect for a cold, lazy day, and you can do it in a second. You can literally buy the churros and the chocolate, you can buy the dough and fry it at home, or you can prepare the dough at home, but the last one is pretty difficult to do, so I prefer buying everything.
When it comes to Spanish cuisine, each region has its unique offerings. Are there specific regional dishes you think every visitor should try, and do you have a favourite region for its food?
For me, the best region of Spain for food is Castilla y León, especially for people who love meat. You can find delicious ham there, sopa de ajo (garlic soup), which sounds gross but very good.
Spain is known for its picturesque landscapes and charming towns. Do you have a favourite travel destination in Spain that you would recommend to fellow F1 fans, and what makes it unique for you?
Usually, when people think about Spain, they talk about Andalucía, Madrid, Barcelona… And yes, those are very beautiful places, but as someone who enjoys nature, I think the sights like Asturias, Basque Country, Galicia, etc. are amazing. In the north of Spain you have nature, cities…and less crowded places.
Are there any hidden gems or lesser-known spots in Spain that you’ve discovered and would like to share?
For Spanish people, the city Cuenca is a sexual joke, and they always say that no one lives there, that there’s nothing…But for me, the city is charming. It’s a small city, close to Madrid, where you can explore in less than a day and eat very good food (with amazing people). It has some houses close to a hill that are worth seeing.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. Before we wrap up, do you have any final advice for F1 enthusiasts planning to explore the Spanish racing scene and its culinary delights?
Thanks for giving me this opportunity!! If they’re planning to just go to Barcelona for the Spanish GP, I would recommend being very careful with the heat, because the GP is in June and that’s a very hot month in Spain.
Don’t worry about the people, we’re usually very kind in Spain, and if someone wants to see more racing-related stuff, I recommend going to Asturias to Fernando Alonso’s museum.
