Formula One has some of the most technical rules, regulations, and “behind the scenes” drama of any sport over its long history. Fortunately, YouTube provides a platform to easily watch a variety of top-quality Formula One content.
The following is a list of what I believe to be some of the best Formula One channels on YouTube’s platform. The list is not a ranking of “best” to “worst” but rather a combination of official and unofficial channels that showcase a variety of content.
The criteria for the rankings is a holistic one and takes into consideration:
- The accuracy of the content being produced,
- The level to which the channels can provide both general and specialized Formula One coverage,
- The overall video quality and editing of the videos on the channel,
- The rate of new uploads on the channel, and
- The overall popularity of the channel.
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No. 1: Formula 1
As the official YouTube channel for Formula One, it’s no surprise this channel has over 6.5 million subscribers and regularly reaches hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of views per upload.
With no particular focus on any team or aspect of the sport, the channel primarily covers upcoming or recent Formula One events through highlights, post-race interviews, tech talks, weekend warm-ups, and the occasional historical video.
It is also the host of the F1 Nation Podcast, a weekly podcast starring Tom Clarkson, Damon Hill, and Natalie Pinkham that covers all Formula One news and events from the preceding week.
Another personal favorite feature of the channel includes the Beyond The Grid podcast. This podcast is a series of exclusive one on one interviews with figures in the world of Formula One. The following link includes the entire playlist of each episode:
The home page to the Formula 1 YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 2: Mercedes – AMG Petronas Formula One Team
As the official YouTube Channel of the Mercedes Formula One Team, the Mercedes – AMG Petronas Formula One Team is one of the more popular official team channels with over 828 000 subscribers.
The channel features high production quality focusing on the roles behind the various members of the Mercedes Formula One Team, recognition of important events such as World Mental Health Day, and interview with their biggest star, Lewis Hamilton.
I find the Race Debrief videos of particular interest, as it allows for a deep dive into the strategies, outcomes, and any other points of interest following a recent event on the Formula One calendar, from the perspective of the Mercedes Team.
At the time of writing (22 November 2021), the most recent Race Debrief was of the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix:
The home page to the Mercedes – AMG Petronas Formula One Team YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 3: Red Bull Racing Honda
As a clear indication of their recent success and the rising popularity of Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, the official YouTube channel of Red Bull Racing Honda stands at over 1.08 million subscribers.
The channel seems to be aware of the popularity of their drivers and opts to make them the focal point through entertaining, light-hearted content, as opposed to in-depth analysis.
A highlight of the channel would be the Behind The Charge videos, which provide candid behind-the-scenes coverage of recent events on the Formula One calendar. The full playlist can be accessed via the link below:
The home page to the Red Bull Racing Honda YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 4: McLaren
Similar to Red Bull, McLaren has opted to construct their YouTube Channel around the popularity of their two young drivers: Lando Norris and Daniel Riccardo. At the time of writing, the channel has a subscription count of just over 788 000 subscribers.
The channel aims to attract a younger audience to the sport through more traditional YouTube content, such as “reaction” videos or by showcasing a series of viral challenges between their two drivers.
The channel’s highlight would be the McLaren Unboxed videos, which showcase a candid look at their drivers, similar to Red Bull’s Behind The Charge Videos. The full playlist of episodes can be accessed via the following link:
Overall, as an older McLaren fan, I find the content lacking in the in-depth analysis of its competition, but I respect the channel’s creative direction to attract younger viewers.
The home page to the McLaren YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 5: Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team
Having rebranded from Racing Point Force India F1 team to Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team for the 2021 season, it’s no surprise that Aston Martin’s official channel has a relatively low subscription amount of 177 000 subscribers.
The main appeal of the channel would be the Insider videos, which focus on the overall technicalities of Formula One as a sport and not solely the Aston Martin team. The full playlist can be accessed via the following link:
The home page to the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 6: Williams Racing
With 154 000 subscribers, Williams Racing is the official YouTube channel for the Williams Formula One team.
Channel highlights include Head 2 Head, which features friendly competitions between Williams’ two drivers: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, and Williams: Off Grid, which provides coverage of upcoming events, with a focus on Williams’ pit crews.
The focus on the pit crews provides a look into the Formula One world seldom explored by other channels and provides insight into the technicalities of Formula One as a whole, rather than just providing content for fans of Williams Racing.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of Williams’ Off Grid:
The home page to the Williams Racing YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 7: Haas F1 Team
With 71 500 subscribers, Haas F1 Team is the official YouTube channel for the Haas Formula One team.
As one of the more recent competitors to Formula One, a highlight of the channel includes Haas F1 Team in the Making videos. This provides a fascinating insight into the work needed to develop a brand new team to compete in Formula One.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of Haas F1 Team in the Making:
The home page to the Haas F1 Team YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 8: Scuderia AlphaTauri
Rebranding as Scuderia AlphaTauri from Torro Rosso for the 2020 season, the sister team to Red Bull Racing has their own official YouTube channel: Scuderia AlphaTauri. The channel boasts a subscriber count of over 237 000 subscribers.
Two highlights of the channel include Tech Tuesdays, quick clips explaining some key facts and features of Formula One racing, and Behind The Visor, an in-depth look at their two drivers’ personalities: Yuki Tsunoda Pierre Gasly.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of Behind The Visor:
The home page to the Scuderia AlphaTauri YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 9: Ferrari
While not strictly a Formula One channel, the unequivocal relationship between Ferrari and Formula One means that the team has opted to confirm their association with Formula One on their channel along with all other Ferrari content.
The Ferrari channel has a subscription account of 990 000 subscribers, making it one of the more popular official Formula One team channels.
Like other channels, there is a focus on their two drivers: Carlos Sainz and Charles Le Clerc, as illustrated by their videos showcasing the drivers giving post-event messages to their fans and challenge videos titled C² Challenge.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of C² Challenge:
The home page to the Ferrari YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 10: Sauber Motorsport
A bit trickier to find given that the channel name is not a one-to-one reflection of the Formula One team it showcases, Sauber Motorsport is the official Youtube Channel of the Alfa Romeo Formula One Team.
The somewhat obscure name is a likely contributor to the relatively low subscriber count of 107 000 subscribers.
While the channel doesn’t have the production value or consistency of uploads as the other official Formula One channels, it has become a fan favourite for candid interviews and opinions of one of the sport’s most popular and reclusive figures: Kimi Räikkönen.
The home page to the Sauber Motorsport YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 11: Sky Sports F1
Moving away from official Formula One team channels is the Sky Sports F1 channel standing at a subscription count of over 432 000 subscribers.
As the dedicated Formula One branch of the Sky Sports conglomerate, the channel features a host of Formula One related news, including coverage of ground roots development of the sport and live streaming of notable events.
The playlists of the channel also categorise information for ease of access, particularly any/all videos featuring both past and present Formula One drivers.
The home page to the Sky Sports F1 YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 12: WTF1
Hosted by Mathew Gallagher with a subscriber count of over 887 000 subscribers, WTF1 prides itself as being a Formula One channel “by fans and for fans of Formula One.”
The channel comprises humorous, light-hearted videos such as reactions to recent events in Formula One and in-depth details of the technicalities of the sport through their F101 videos.
The F101 videos are short, high-quality, easy-to-understand productions covering everything from vehicle manufacturing, team strategy, rules changes, ongoing controversies, the use of funds, and everything in-between.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of F101:
The home page to the WTF1 YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 13: Josh Revell
Hosted by Josh Revell from New Zealand, the channel by the same name has a subscriber count of over 280 000 subscribers.
The style of the videos is both humorous and unapologetically blunt in the opinions expressed by Josh on ongoing events, driver selection, and team strategy, among other talking points.
The channel also seeks to uncover exciting and overlooked pieces of Formula One history, trivia, and related motorsport topics. These topics include Josh’s takes of racing in films, putting the spotlight on female drivers, or various top 10 lists.
A highlight of the channel includes the Best Drivers of the Decade playlist. This playlist features a series of episodes highlighting the top 10 drivers of each decade of Formula One, beginning with the 1950s and ending with the 2000s.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of Best Drivers of the Decade:
The home page to the Josh Revell YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 14: The Race
Although The Race covers various motorsports, I believe its Formula One is sufficient to earn a place on this list, particularly given the quantity and quality of their Formula One coverage and the average viewership of their Formula One videos.
The Race has a subscription count of over 702 000 subscribers, making it one of the more popular independent YouTube channels on this list.
The channel primarily explores discussions about controversial decisions, predictions for the season, recent results, and a ranking of “winners” and “losers” after Formula One weekends.
An example of the “winners” and “losers” content is best illustrated with the latest video upload, analysing the inaugural Formula One Qatar Grand Prix in 2021:
The home page to The Race YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 15: Tommo
With a wide variety of exclusive to Formula One, the Tommo YouTube channel has a subscriber count of over 227 000 subscribers.
Relatively simple in its presentation, Tommo focuses on crisp, transparent, and honest discussions of his opinions of Formula One drivers, the future of Formula One, long-form podcasts, live discussions, and “watchalongs” of Formula One events.
Of particular interest is his redesign videos of each team’s vehicles in the 2021/2022 season and his “What If ______ Joined F1?” series, wherein he presents hypothetical scenarios of other teams joining Formula One in place of current ones.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of What If ______ Joined F1:
The home page to the Tommo YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 16: Peter Windsor
As an award-winning journalist, championship-winning Formula One manager, and winner of the Lorenzo Bandini Gold Medal for service to motorsport, Peter Windsor is an established figure in the Formula One world.
His YouTube channel of the same name, in collaboration with JAM Creative Consultancy and Clarksport, has a subscriber amount of 119 000 subscribers.
The channel features both re-mastered content of Peter Windsor’s projects as a journalist and in-depth and focused opinions on recent events.
Although not the most accessible content for newcomers to Formula One to digest, the frequency of uploads and the in-depth analysis from an established figure in Formula One is a real treat for seasoned and dedicated fans of the sport.
The home page to the Peter Windsor YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 17: Mark Priestley F1 Elvis
Similar to Peter Windsor’s channel, Mark Priestley’s experience as a former Formula One pit crew member of McLaren, and author of The Mechanic: The Secret World of the F1 Pitlane, provides in-depth, experienced coverage on Formula One.
With a subscriber account of 69 800 subscribers, this smaller channel shines not through its presentation of flashy editing and high budgets like some of the other channels on this list but via the quality of content provided.
Mark Priestley’s content includes detailed breakdowns and analysis of all aspects of technology in Formula One and live streaming of events with an included chat box between him and his viewers.
The channel is also the host of the Pitlane Life Lessons Podcast. A podcast focusing on Mark’s experiences as a Formula One pitlane crew member and how he believes the lessons learned from his experience with the sport translate to everyday scenarios.
The following link provides access to the entire playlist of the Pitlane Life Lessons Podcast:
The home page to the Mark Priestley F1 Elvis YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 18: Driver 61
Founded and hosted by British racing driver Scott Mansel, the channel primarily focuses on Formula One content and has a subscriber count of 698 000 subscribers.
Along with his personality and in-depth analysis from first-hand experience as a professional driver, his videos also showcase high production value and slick editing.
Highlights of the channel include driver analysis and reviews of past and present Formula One drivers, The F1 breakdown of recent Formula One events, and Track Evolution which covers the history of Formula One technology, strategy, and culture.
The following link provides access to the full playlist of the Track Evolution:
The home page to the Driver 61 YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
He also has a simulation racing channel that teaches simulation drivers tips and tricks to improve their performances. The home page to the Driver 61 Sim Racing YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 19: Aarava
In a similar vein to Driver 61 Sim Racing’s channel, the Aarava YouTube channel has over 595 000 subscribers.
The channel focuses on the simulation, and video games aspects of Formula One culture, a growing area of Formula One, with official teams established e-sporting divisions in correlation with the actual on-track races during a calendar year.
The channel’s success has attracted present Formula One drivers to post content in collaboration with Aarava, such as when Charles Leclerc of Ferrari had a 1 v 1 competition with the channel host!
Outside of the competitive scene, the channel also features single-player content with running commentary, similar to Let’s Play content usually seen on YouTube.
An example of this type of content is best illustrated via the career mode playthroughs, with the following link providing access to the full playlist of the F1 2021 My Team Career:
The home page to the Aarava YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
No. 20: Formula World
Finishing the list is the Formula One World YouTube Channel, with a subscriber count of 214 000 subscribers.
Rather than in-depth analysis, the channel takes a hands-off,” fly on the wall” approach to Formula One news.
Focusing primarily on controversial or humorous comments are remarks from team managers and drivers during the calendar year. It allows viewers an uncensored, candid depiction of these comments without 3rd party views and opinions.
An example of the content, its editing style, and the channel’s particular focus on extracting actual quotes from Formula One figures is best illustrated via their latest upload regarding Red Bull’s recent displeasure with the FIA:
The home page to the Formula World YouTube channel can be accessed via the following link:
Conclusion
The above list is subjective and tries to cover a wide variety of Formula One content to provide readers with a selection of potential channels which may suit their particular interests, rather than presenting an objective standard on specific content.
I hope the list has added insight into some of the best content featured on your favorite Formula One YouTube channels and perhaps showcased new channels to explore for additional high-quality Formula One content!
