With the 2026 F1 season on pause, we’re back with another episode of The Grand Pricks Culture Files, and this time, we’re putting Formula 1 driver brands to the test. From drinks to snacks to some truly questionable collabs, we try a range of F1 driver products and give our completely unfiltered, honest reviews.

In this episode, we taste and rate Lewis Hamilton’s non-alcoholic tequila Almave, Valtteri Bottas’s OATH gin, Lando Norris’s Monster Energy drink, the iconic Red Bull, the F1 x KitKat collaboration, Charles Leclerc’s low-calorie ice cream LEC, and saving the most chaotic for last, McLaren’s papaya-flavoured snus collab with Velo.

Along the way, expect plenty of off-topic tangents, deep dives into the stories behind each product, full price breakdowns, and our verdict on the ultimate question: is it actually worth your money?

We also discuss what kinds of products we’d love to see F1 drivers launch next.

If you’re into Formula 1, driver brands, or just love brutally honest reviews with a side of chaos, this episode is for you.

We’ll be back next week with another Culture Files episode ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, so make sure to subscribe and follow Grand Pricks so you don’t miss it!

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Why are Formula 1 drivers seen as some of the hottest athletes in sport, and why has that always been part of the business of F1?

With glossy hair, gym physiques, and the global obsession with drivers like Charles Leclerc, fan attraction has become a huge part of modern Formula 1 culture. But this trend didn’t start with social media or Drive to Survive.

In this episode of The Grand Pricks Culture Files, we dive into the history of the “F1 Hot Guy Complex” and explore how driver attractiveness has influenced sponsorship deals, brand marketing, fan engagement, and the sport's commercial growth for decades.

We discuss how long F1 drivers have been used in advertising and sponsorship campaigns, which current drivers generate the most revenue through social media and global popularity, which driver fans rate as the most attractive, and why charisma and image can matter just as much as speed in modern Formula 1.

Plus, in our new debate-style format, expect fun questions, pop quizzes, hot takes, and our own attractiveness rating challenge (spoiler: one of us scored higher than Charles Leclerc!)

This is more than just a funny conversation. It’s a deep dive into how looks, fame, and marketing shape Formula 1.

Subscribe now to Grand Pricks for more F1 culture, history, analysis, and off-track discussions while we wait for racing to return in May.

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The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix may be off the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, but Grand Pricks isn’t going anywhere. We’re back with another Culture Files episode, this time taking a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of F1 fandoms.

From viral TikTok edits and stan culture to Wattpad fanfiction and driver “ships,” we explore the creative, chaotic, and often hilarious side of the Formula 1 fanbase. But it’s not all fun and games. We also unpack the darker side of the community: online toxicity, harassment on social media, and the relentless criticism aimed at drivers and F1 WAGs.

A major focus of this episode is the impact of Netflix’s Drive to Survive. We break down how the series has transformed Formula 1 culture, bringing in a new generation of fans, increasing global popularity, and injecting huge commercial growth into the sport.

But with that growth comes consequences; drivers are no longer just athletes; they’ve become public figures, personalities, and characters, constantly under the microscope and open to criticism in ways we’ve never seen before.

We ask the big questions: Has Drive to Survive made F1 better or more toxic? And where do we draw the line between passionate fandom and harmful behaviour?

With three weeks to go until the Miami Grand Prix, Grand Pricks is keeping the content coming with insightful, unfiltered conversations like this. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it.

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