Controversy, social media, and Formula One: Examining #VoidLap58
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The sport of Formula One racing is classically characterized by speed, glamor, and ever-present controversy. In recent times, the conclusion of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix likely stands as the most prominent controversy in the twenty-first-century guise of the sport. Decisions made by then–race director Michael Masi led to a wave of outrage and disbelief among fans, sparking the emergence of the #VoidLap58 hashtag. To understand the complexity of fan dynamics within online Formula One communities, I examine the interplay between fan participation, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the polarization of the fandom, highlighting the role that fans play in crafting narratives.
Author: Natalie Le Clue
Institution: Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Language: English
Topic: Sports, Gender, and Society
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408436553