Why Formula 1 Fantasy is Getting Popular in India ?

It all started on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I was at home, scrolling through Instagram reels between sips of chai, when a friend messaged in our group chat:
"Guys I just beat you all in this week’s fantasy Formula 1 round 😎"

Fantasy Formula 1? I’d heard of fantasy cricket, of course. Even dabbled in some IPL fantasy leagues myself. But Formula 1? That was new.

We’ve always had a small group who followed F1 casually. Some watched it for the drama, others for the sheer speed and strategy. I had been following the sport on and off, but ever since Drive to Survive dropped on Netflix, it got real. The behind-the-scenes rivalries, team politics, and underdog stories made it way more gripping than just cars going in circles.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one. Suddenly, I noticed F1 clips trending on reels, driver memes flooding Twitter, and even people who once mocked the sport for being "just turning left" now asking me why Lando Norris always finishes P5.

So yeah, F1 is picking up in India.

But fantasy Formula 1? That’s what really pulled me in deeper.

The same friend who bragged in the group introduced me to this motorsport app called PodiumPe. At first, I just downloaded it out of curiosity (and let’s be honest, partly out of competition). I didn’t expect it to become part of my weekend ritual.

It was simple: you create your team based on real F1 drivers, predict how they’ll perform in the race, and get points based on actual race results. There are free contests where you can just have fun with your picks, and even some paid ones where the top scorers win cash prizes or, surprisingly, F1-themed goodies. I didn’t expect to see a free contest that gave out an actual race poster as a reward—that felt like a cool touch.

What made it more fun was the leaderboard. Seeing my name creep up just above my friend’s after the Miami GP? Sweetest victory.

The best part is that it makes watching the race a lot more exciting. Earlier, I’d mostly wait to see who won or if someone crashed. Now, I care if George Russell gets a fastest lap, or if Fernando Alonso finishes ahead of Sainz—because that affects my fantasy points. You end up learning more about team strategies, pit stop timings, even weather impacts. It’s like suddenly becoming a team principal without the stress.

Every Sunday, right before lights out, our group chats are buzzing with last-minute team updates and banter. We cheer, curse, and laugh throughout the race—not just for the podium, but for our fantasy teams.

And yeah, I use PodiumPe regularly now. Not because someone told me to, but because it just fits into how I watch races now. It’s smooth, has all the stuff I care about, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Looking back, fantasy Formula 1 added this fun little twist to an already thrilling sport. It’s no longer just about the cars or the championship—it's personal now. I actually care about midfield battles. I’ve started following team radios and quali results closely, just to tweak my team in time.

It’s funny how something so small turned race weekends into this ritual for me. Sundays used to be about chilling and maybe catching the highlights. Now they’re about strategy, predictions, friendly competition, and sometimes, bragging rights.

So yeah, if you’re seeing more people talk about Formula 1 fantasy in India—it’s not just hype. It’s real, it’s growing, and if you ask me, it’s way more fun than I ever expected.

Written by Anurag Singh, the guy who once watched F1 for the crashes but now picks drivers like he’s running a real team. Also happens to be the Product Manager at PodiumPe, where weekends are for racing—and bragging rights.