Shikha Sreekanth’s Post

Serious ethical questions should be raised about the practice of F1 and IndyCar teams signing 9-11-year-old karters and then heavily promoting them on social media. The nature of children in highly competitive sporting arenas is a hotly debated subject, yet these concerns are met with an almost deafening silence outside karting circles. While complaints about the escalating costs of karting are frequent (and often misplaced), the same individuals lamenting these expenses often contribute to the problem - seemingly displaying zero issue with major F1 and IndyCar outfits entering karting paddocks to sign young drivers, inadvertently fueling the exclusivity and expense they criticise. Other sports are beginning to reevaluate whether early over-specialization is genuinely beneficial (spoiler: it likely isn’t) and whether such exposure is appropriate for young athletes (again, it likely isn’t). Meanwhile, motorsport seems to be moving in the opposite direction. For young motorsport journalists, this is where your attention should be. Should children aged 9-11 be competing under the immense pressure of trying to secure contracts? What impact does this have on the costs of participation? Most importantly, is this environment healthy for children? Debating whether Hamilton will beat Leclerc may draw interest, but it’s a side story with limited real-world significance. The pressure and consequences of putting children in these high-stakes scenarios, however, matter profoundly.

#F1Academy: A Foot in the Door 🏁 Launched in 2023, F1 Academy is an all-female category designed to develop and prepare women for higher levels of #motorsport like F3, F2, and F1. A “foot-in-the-door initiative” so that these women can access tools needed for developing competitive talent. Susie Wolff and her team have high hopes for the series which has received a largely positive response from fans… @f1academy Instagram: 658k+ followers 📸 F1 Academy Youtube: 59.5k subscribers 📺 Over 316K+ tuned in to the F1 Academy #Miami Race 👩💻 But, there’s a long way to go. Speculation remains about the series’ success and we noted a commentator’s recent attempt at “trackside humour”. So, what is F1 Academy and what can teams do to solidify their place in modern-day #motorsport? A Misleading Name 🤔 “F1 Academy'' is catchy, but ultimately misleading. It isn’t a direct path to F1, but rather more of a facilitator. Track Time and Super Licences: To compete in F1, you need a “super licence” which requires accumulating 40 points from lower categories. F1 Academy provides the track time to earn these points and hone their skills. Not Directly Training for F1: The focus is on building their racing resumes and credentials by targeting key areas like training, track time, and exposure. Clearing Up Misconceptions 🚀 F1 Academy faces the familiar challenge of managing expectations and social stigma. Critics often underestimate these women’s capability, citing physical demands– namely the G-forces –and outdated stereotypes about mentality. These arguments ignore the successes of female racers now: namely, #AbbiPulling for Alpine who has recently made history with her British F4 Championship win. Overall, teams must do more for their drivers. Team Involvement: While I don’t doubt that the F1 teams are proud of F1A, their initiatives often fall short. While consistently posting about the men, the women are sometimes left in the background or feel more like a casual addition. Representation needs to mean more than wearing team colours. Social Media and Interviews: Visibility matters. Teams must actively promote their female drivers through dedicated and personal campaigns. Consider the Miami weekend. #Haas and #Alpine were leading the way with 18 posts dedicated to F1A. Meanwhile: 💙 #RedBull: 3 posts 🧡 #McLaren: 2 posts ❤️ #Ferrari: 2 posts 🤍 #Mercedes: 1 post 💚 #Sauber: 0 posts The Pitstop Perspective 🏎💨 F1A is the opportunity of a lifetime for aspiring female drivers. However, it feels like most of the teams don't give it the attention and care it deserves. This neglect leads to missed opportunities, leaving female fans feeling disgruntled and continuing the fight to be taken seriously. Taking care of the drivers means uplifting the women cheering them on. F1 Academy isn't just a series: it’s a seat at the table for women across the industry. What are your thoughts? Share them below! @f1academy on Instagram 📸

The story of Abel Mutai and Iván Fernández is a beautiful example of sportsmanship and integrity. During a cross-country race in Spain in 2012, Kenyan runner Abel Mutai stopped just short of the finish line, thinking he had completed the race. Spanish runner Iván Fernández, who was right behind him, realized what had happened and guided Mutai to the finish line, allowing him to win. This act of kindness and fairness holds several important lessons for our daily lives: 1. Integrity Over Victory Iván Fernández could have easily taken advantage of the situation to win the race himself. Instead, he chose to do the right thing, demonstrating that integrity and honesty are more valuable than winning at any cost. 2. Helping Others Fernández's actions remind us of the importance of helping others, even when it might not benefit us directly. In a world where competition often takes precedence, his gesture shows that supporting one another can lead to more meaningful and fulfilling outcomes. 3. Empathy and Understanding By recognizing Mutai's confusion and stepping in to help, Fernández displayed empathy and understanding. This teaches us to be aware of others' struggles and to offer assistance when we can. 4. Setting an Example Acts of kindness and fairness set a powerful example for others. Fernández's decision to help Mutai has inspired many people around the world, showing that true sportsmanship and humanity transcend the desire to win. 5. Faith and Values For those who value faith, this story can be seen as a reflection of biblical principles such as kindness, compassion, and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you (Luke 6:31). It reminds us to live out our values in every aspect of our lives. This story is a wonderful reminder that our actions, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on others and can inspire positive change in the world. I hope this helps someone

These are very wise words coming from a 7-time F1 world champion. Preparing young drivers for the world outside of the car is something that is very often underestimated. #youngdrivers #youngdriverprogram #formelautria #motorsportPR #mediatraining #cameracoaching #mediainterviews

Supporting Women in Formula: A Call to Action for Brands Charlotte Tilbury’s incredible support for women in motorsport has truly set a new standard for how brands can empower and elevate female talent in traditionally male-dominated industries. By standing behind women in formula, Charlotte Tilbury has not only amplified their voices but also provided a platform for them to excel on the global stage. This is the type of game-changing influence that opens doors and breaks barriers, and we need more brands to follow suit. Right now, Joanne Ciconte, an inspiring young Australian-Italian driver, stands on the brink of making history. With the same kind of brand support, Joanne could become Australia’s first female Formula 1 driver. The path is there—she just needs the backing. This is an open invitation for brands that are passionate about diversity, inclusion, and empowering women to get involved. Your support could be the catalyst that helps Joanne make her mark in motorsport and pave the way for future generations. Let’s work together to drive this change forward. #WomenInMotorsport #EmpowerWomen #DiversityInSports #BreakingBarriers Joanne Ciconte

Chapter 1 of ‘Future of Sport,’ a new four-part series from Backslash and Dark Horses, is now live. This opening chapter explores how an upending of tradition is giving way to a more balanced future. As the very foundation of sport is uprooted and remixed, we’ll throw out old assumptions of what’s considered a sport, which nations govern it, and how influence is divided between genders. Download the report here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dMvPnBw6

Why do some sports writers when referring to black sportspeople use language that would suggest the black victor has somehow not deservedly won the gong they collect? “Inherited victory” and was “given win”, all seems to indicate that somehow a seven times (I would say 8 times) world champion somehow didn’t deserve or work for his win today. We all know that in the case of formula one racing: the team strategy; efficiency of tyre changes; efficiency of the car; sometimes team orders; and strict adherence to the rules, as well as driver skill, play a huge part in determining outcomes of races. This seems fully accepted with most drivers. So why do we find language which undermines the achievement of a driver of colour? George Russell’s car did not stick to the rules given to all the other cars today (even if it was an inadvertent mistake), which supposedly gave him an advantage and his car was therefore disqualified. Lewis Hamilton won the race. End of subject. Please sports writers (or any other commentators, (I say this giving you the benefit of the doubt) please check your unconscious bias before you go to print.

Here's a secret no one told you about Formula one👇 Did you know... Every third person on the planet who loves F1 now, discovered it because of Drive to Survive? The show's impact goes far beyond entertainment. Here's a taste of how it fueled F1's growth📈 ● Attendance soared: From an average of 200,000 fans per race, F1 now sees a whopping 50% increase, with grandstands packed with 300,000 cheering spectators! ● Revenue on the fast track: F1's revenue has gone from 2 billion in 2019 to a staggering 5 billion in 2023! More eyeballs mean more sponsorships and broadcasting rights deals. ● Hooked on young guns: Drive to Survive targeted exactly the right audience – the young generation. With the human stories behind the drivers, teams, and rivalries, they've created a sport people can truly connect with. Drive to Survive didn't just showcase races, it showcased the heart of F1. What are your thoughts? Did the show take things too far, or is it a masterful example of content marketing? Share your thoughts in the comments below! https://lnkd.in/dNygtAJx #business #businessideas #businesscasestudies #growth #contentcreator #content #F1 #Drivetosurvive #Race #Follow #connect #contentmarketing #Formulaone #masterstroke #like #share #repost

Can’t quite find the words for this weekend. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone 🏁 25 creators + friends and family 4 insane days Torrential rain Scorching sun England penalties Incredible race Lewis Hamilton win 🐐 I’ll be able to write something more comprehensive when it all sinks in really. This campaign has been my proudest work to date 🥲 #influencermarketing #influenceragency

Fan engagement is a key and the most important aspect of off-the-pitch sports business. As it is, sports is all about fans. This multi-year deal between Formula 1 and American Express is an on-point association where both partners can obtain mutual benefits out of each other's strengths. AMEX gets to tap into the F1 in-stand audience while F1 benefits by engaging with AMEX's consumers across the countries. Well, sometimes dollars are pumped to gain pure visibility while some intended at engaging with fans and building database. Without doubt, fandom scores much more with strategy and intrigue. #Formula1 #F1 #AmericanExpress #SportsBusiness #Businessofsports #SportsMarketing