Cheering, banter and watch parties: Hyderabad catches F1 fever | Hyderabad News
Sunday race days in Hyderabad are getting a lot louder. Across the city, Formula 1 watch parties are packed with fans eager to cheer, debate race strategies, and trade friendly banter. Whether they are longtime followers who discovered the sport as children or recent converts catching the racing bug, this growing community is finding unique ways to celebrate the thrill of the race.‘F1 has been my love since I was in second standard’For Nishanth Vathsal, a Hyderabad-based IT professional, Formula 1 is more than just a sport. A hardcore Red Bull fan, he regularly attends F1 race screenings and counts Max Verstappen as his favourite driver. “My love for F1 started when I was in second standard. My uncle would put the races on TV every Sunday, and that’s where it all began. Now, I attend race screenings with my partner, and it’s always fun to watch the races with people who share the same love and passion for F1.“I have also attended two races in the US — the Austin GP in 2023 and the Las Vegas GP when I was there last year. Max won both races, so they were extra special for me. This year, I’m planning to travel to Malaysia to attend the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in October,” he adds.
Nishanth and his partner at a recent F1 watch party
‘We wanted to bring Hyderabad’s F1 fans under one roof’Uppaluru Sai Balaji Sasank has been organising F1 screenings at pubs and sports bars across the city since 2024. “When we realised that Hyderabad had a good number of F1 fans, we thought, why not bring everyone together in one place? So far, we’ve been seeing at least 80-100 people turn up for the races on Sundays,” he says.“What’s fun is the mix of people who come in. You have young fans as young as eight and others in their late 40s, all coming together to cheer for their favourite drivers and teams. It’s not just about watching the race either — we have F1 trivia, fantasy leagues and other activities that keep everyone engaged. Over time, it has become a small community where people can meet others who share the same passion for the sport,” he adds.
Balaji and his team at the F1 carnival event at the Belgian GP screening last month.
There’s no doubt that Hyderabad has a good number of F1 fans, but the release of the film F1, last year, has also brought a new wave of interest in the sport. We meet many new fans at the screenings these days. We discuss race strategies and also explain the sport to those who are just getting into F1
Nanda Kishor, an IT professional
‘The best part of race day? The banter’ For others, the thrill of the grid is best enjoyed in a more intimate setting. “House watch parties are fun too,” says B Benjamin, an advocate. While he catches about half the season at community screenings, he prefers the comfort of home for the rest. “Sometimes we host at my place, other times we head to a friend’s. We make popcorn, get some snacks, and just enjoy the race together.”Community screenings offer a different kind of race-day experience, giving fans a chance to meet fellow enthusiasts and indulge in some friendly rivalry. “I love being part of the community on race days, especially the friendly banter with Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari fans. That’s what makes watching the races together even more fun,” he says.
Leeladhar Reddy’s F1 car tattoo
I’ve always loved speed and would often go on weekend rides with my friends. It was back in 2020, when I was pursuing engineering, that I started following F1 and slowly became a huge Ferrari fan. My love for the sport even led me to get an F1 car tattooed on my hand
Leeladhar Reddy, a cyber security intern
– Biswajit Talukdar
Source link
