A Formula 1 Playlist To Live Your Racing Dreams

Surprisingly, I wasn’t pulled into Formula 1 because of the new movie. In fact, I haven’t even seen it. Nope. This new found flame is a product of some expertly crafted edits and the TikTok algorithm. I wish I could say I was immune from the influence of social media, alas I am not.

Now, with some basic knowledge under my belt, a nail biting British Grand Prix watched, and a few compilation videos saved to my liked videos, I’d like to call myself a new fan. Because of that, this playlist was born. These songs span decades, genres, and artists. Some are stereotypical – a little too on the nose – and others I already associate with certain racers. So strap into your seats, put on your helmet, and ready yourself for a playlist for all your racing needs.

Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna

This is one of those editions that is simply too perfect not to include for a playlist that revolves around racing. “Shut Up and Drive” is probably one of Rihanna’s biggest hits, even if it was first met with mixed critical responses. The song has been used in media – particularly racing media. If anyone remembers the 2012 animated film Wreck-It Ralph, the song plays over a montage of the titular character teaching Vanellope von Scheetz how to drive. The beat of the song, the easy flowing lyrics, and the thinly veiled metaphor – after all, it’s not a song about driving – makes for a fun listening experience. A certified late 2000s club classic mixed with new wave groove from the 70s and 80s.

Smooth Operator - Sade

This addition to the playlist goes out to all the F1 workers that don’t get nearly as much fame and notoriety as the drivers do. Those that build cars, upkeep them, learn the stats of every driver on the track, and who work on the radio to give drivers detailed plans of attack are just as important as the ones actually in the driver’s seat. Without the operators, engineers, and pit team working behind the scenes, none of the drivers would even have a car to race. I can’t help but mention Carlos Sainz’s continual mention of the song though. Compilation videos of him singing the chorus will live on in my heart forever. “Smooth Operator” is so catchy though that I can’t fault him for constantly having it on his mind.

Monaco - Bad Bunny

A song so on the nose it mentions F1! Verstappen and Checo make an appearance, so Bad Bunny is showing off a little bit of his Formula 1 driver knowledge. Before I even looked into the lyrics, I knew that I had to include this song just by the title. There are plenty of drivers that live in Monaco, primarily for its tax advantages. If you’re looking for a place without income tax, Monaco is the place to be. “Monaco” outlines an opulent lifestyle that can be reflected in that of F1 drivers with their car collections and yachts. One can only dream.

Voulez-Vous - Abba

I love ABBA, and there are a multitude of the band's songs that I feel would be perfect to encapsulate F1, but “Voulez-Vous” is one of my favorites so it got the spot. The song is a pure Euro-pop fantasy with synths, brilliant vocals, and a melody that’s easy to dance to. The French is translated to “Do you want?” so just like “Shut Up and Drive” it’s a pretty suggestive song. The pre-chorus is what really grabs my attention. Something about “And here we go again/ We know the start, we know the end,” just screams sports drama to me. And that’s coming from someone who hasn’t participated in a real sport for six years. Just imagine a driver who’s at the top of their game, aiming to secure another podium to their roster – stunning.

Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen

There are plenty of Queen songs that get your blood rushing – “Don’t Stop Me Now” is one of them. The song has a slow start as the intro plays. As the piano jolts in the end, you know that the race is about to start, and it’s going to be a thrilling one. The first verse quite literally says “I’m a racin’ car,” which is too good to not put this song on a F1 playlist. This is a song that is fast in every sense of the world, the lyrics talk about plenty of fast things like shooting stars and rocket ships. If there is anything that an F1 car is, it’s fast.

Can’t Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

“Can’t Hold Us” is a staple hype music song. Macklemore will always be a lyrical genius in my eyes, and this song is no different. Even though the song is easily one of the best that came out of the early 2010s and was streamed for its musical wonder, the lyrical meaning is just as important. Macklemore has always demonstrated his social views in his music, his care for different movements such as his song “Hind’s Hall”, and “Can’t Hold Us” has these inklings of these powerful statements as well. Whether you like the song for the strong beat or the deeper lyrical meaning, you can’t argue with the fact that it’s a song that makes you want to get moving.

Don’t Give Up On Me - Andy Grammer

Though some people may remember this song playing in the film Five Feet Apart, I’m going to give it a slightly different twist. F1 fans have their favorite drivers, their favorite teams, the ones they root for even when it’s looking dismal. I certainly felt that as a Charles Leclerc fan in the recent British Grand Prix. F1 is like any other sport in that aspect – as someone who rallies behind Chicago teams like the Cubs, I know a thing or two about not giving up on a team even when they aren’t doing so hot. So, as the season continues to draw on with McLaren in the lead with over two hundred points, both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris dominating the field with ten podiums each, remember not to give up hope. Maybe Ferrari won’t crash and burn after all.

Real in Rio - Rio

To me, a fandom is not truly a fandom unless it has a breathtakingly beautiful edit to “Real in Rio” – that and Hamilton. I’ve seen plenty of fantastic edits to this song for the F1 community so I had to include it. The lyrics of the song, “All the birds of a feather,” mixed with the drums, the multitude of voices, and even the chirping birds, always brings a smile to my face. John Powell did the music for Rio, the brilliance behind my all time favorite soundtrack – How to Train Your Dragon, and it shows. The way he mixes instruments, the flow of the chords, is nothing but show stopping.

Drive By - Train

Though some likely know Train’s hit single “Hey, Soul Sister”, there are likely less that know “Drive By.” Which is a real shame as the song is absolutely wonderful. The lead singer of the band, Pat Monahan, wrote the song about meeting his wife and learning not to worry about things happening too quickly. In the end, you just have to let life be. I will say, the touching sentimentality behind the lyrics wasn’t the reason I picked this song for an F1 playlist. It had everything to do with being a song with a driving metaphor. “Drive By” is also a song I remember from my childhood, playing on the radio and on my sister’s IPod, so I had to include it for nostalgia’s sake.

Honorable Mentions

Speed Drive - Charli xcx: Another song about driving, who would have thought! Not including a single Charli song would have been sacrilegious, so I had to pick one that has the same tempo and vibes as Formula 1 racing.

El Mismo Sol - Alvaro Soler: This is a song that I first heard in Spanish class of all places. When a sport only has a few dozen main players, it would be nice to imagine them coming together, forgetting rivalries for a moment, and just celebrating with each other.

I’m Still Standing - Elton John: For all those lovers of an underdog story, just let this song play in your ears for a bit and believe that your team will, finally, come out on top. Just look at Nico Hülkenberg!

Handclap - Fitz and the Tantrums: This is another song from my childhood that gets my blood pumping. In the context of F1, I imagine the crowd, hundreds even thousands, all cheering together.

Paint the Town Red - Doja Cat: This one goes out to Ferrari, once again, and my hope that they podium in the Belgium Grand Prix. One can dream.

Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys

This song goes out to the rookies out there who are starting their F1 careers with stars in their eyes and the belief that it will all be fantastic. This song is all about finding out that life really isn’t as fun as it was in the past, and maybe that the future won’t be as star studded as you originally think. Maybe it’s a bit of a somber tone to end off on, but it’s closer to the truth. Just look at all the photos of racers throughout the years and you’ll soon realize that not everything is glitter and gold. The rhythm and upbeat tone, contrasting the more dismal lyrics, still make this song a fun listening experience. Just don’t focus on the words too much.

There it is, a playlist curated with Formula 1 racing in mind. Whether you listen while watching the next grand prix, or maybe you sing your lungs out on the highway, I hope you found a couple of new songs to add to your own personal playlists.