Pit Stops & Pop Stars: Our Favorite Formula 1 x K-pop Crossovers
December is finally here! For Formula 1 watchers, that means the final races are just around the corner and champions are about to be crowned. It’s the season of celebrations for K-pop stans, too, with end-of-the-year award shows recently taking place, like the Asia Artist Awards and the MAMA Awards.
But there are more similarities between F1 and K-pop besides their penchant for elaborate celebrations and heartracing performances. This year alone saw F1’s global fanbase grow to 827 million — increasing 63% compared to 2018 — and making it the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Of those 827 million fans, 43% are under the age of 35.
Plus, K-pop has gone even more global, from ATEEZ becoming the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella last year to K-pop tours reaching from Asia to South America.
To celebrate the close of the Formula 1 season and the 2025 season of K-pop, EnVi reflects on significant crossovers between F1 and K-pop from this past year and beyond.
When F1 First Met K-pop
They may seem like polar opposites on the pop-culture map, but K-pop and F1 began crossing each other’s paths more than a decade ago. The early 2010s — especially during the short-lived Korean Grand Prix (2010-2013) — set the stage for today’s ever-growing crossovers. The most iconic moment has to be the 2012 Korean Grand Prix, when PSY served as the race’s promotional ambassador. The K-pop icon not only waved the chequered flag and performed live, but he also taught Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber the now-legendary choreography from the era-defining hit “Gangnam Style.” Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg seemed to get into the spirit as well, as he danced along during PSY’s performance.
The race’s intro video is still a fan favorite to this day. It’s the epitome of motorsports meeting pop music, bringing an untapped energy that showcased F1’s ability to keep up with cultural trends. The intro resonated globally as it was packed with bright colors, aegyo-coded edits, and pure pop charm. Video clips of the drivers appeared onscreen between flashes of music videos from Apink, HyunA, SISTAR, B.A.P, SISTAR, Girls’ Generation, Hello Venus, and PSY. “Gangnam Style” played gleefully in the background, becoming the unofficial theme song of the race weekend.
Beyond the 2012 race, the Korean Grand Prix brought several other standout moments, including 2NE1’s performance at the Grand Open Festa in 2010. During the 2011 race weekend, the Korean International Circuit hosted a concert featuring 4Minute, T-ara, Infinite, and Super Junior. In 2013, the Korean music show Show! Music Core held a special F1-themed stage broadcast, which featured BTS, EXO, TEEN TOP, Apink, and Block B. These events united both music fans and racing fans at the track, their separate cheers merging into a single wave of excitement.
K-pop and F1 moments weren’t limited to just South Korea, either. The Singapore and Malaysia Grand Prix races quickly became hotspots for the pop-cultural crossovers. In 2011, BIGBANG members opened the Singapore Grand Prix, including GD&TOP who performed “Knock Out” and “Oh Yeah” to fans who queued for hours.
That same year, Wonder Girls performed at the Malaysian Grand Prix, followed by Girls’ Generation joining the entertainment lineup for the race weekend in 2012. In 2013, U-KISS and 2NE1 were also invited to perform at the Malaysian Grand Prix. BIGBANG returned to the Singapore Grand Prix as a full group that year, too, with hits such as “Fantastic Baby” and “Gara Gara Go!!” These second-generation K-pop groups solidified the genre’s presence at some of Asia’s biggest race weekends and paved the way for future idols to follow.
Luxury, Influence, and Speed
Formula 1 race weekends are often star-studded affairs. From appearances by Beyoncé and Steve Aoki to Cynthia Erivo and Rei Ami from KPOP Demon Hunters, the paddock always has a familiar face or two. It comes at no surprise that K-pop idols have joined that roster of high-profile attendances and performances.
BLACKPINK In Your Area
Rosé, the vocalist of BLACKPINK, was tapped to wave the chequered flag at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The May race aligned with the release of the F1 The Movie, in which Rosé contributed her voice to the soundtrack on the pop ballad “Messy.” She also visited Mercedes’ garage for a behind-the-scenes look into a race weekend. As an extra Mercedes connection, Rosé and Lewis Hamilton, who was a Mercedes driver at the time, interviewed each other as two of RIMOWA’s global ambassadors. The now GRAMMY-nominated artist not only drew in global BLINKs — BLACKPINK’s fandom name — to the F1 world but also added her voice to a unique intersection of music, fashion, and sports to create maximum impact.
A year earlier, Rosé’s bandmate Lisa attended the Miami Grand Prix and became the first BLACKPINK member – and first K-pop idol – to wave the chequered flag. The influential star and tastemaker has been tapped before for partnerships extending outside of the music industry. The fashion world, in particular, strengthened ties with Lisa as she became an ambassador for Celine and currently serves as Louis Vuitton’s House Ambassador.
Those who are familiar with Lisa beyond her powerful, “don’t give a what” sound know about her love of (fast) cars. In fact, the B-side “Lifestyle,” from her solo project Alter Ego, starts with engines roaring: “Fast cars, drop tops and tank tops, diamonds on my TikTok / That’s just my lifestyle.” Lisa also drops a mention of Abu Dhabi, whose Grand Prix has been the F1 season finale for the past 16 years.
Her actual collection of luxury vehicles, or “dream cars,” as she calls them, is nothing to scoff at. The multihyphenate is a well-known car lover, with her collection including a Ferrari 812 Superfast, a McLaren 540C, and four Rolls-Royces. With Lisa’s fashion prowess, affinity for fast cars, and the backing of a powerful fandom, it’s no wonder F1 (whose race weekends often turn into a runway) knew a crossover between the two just made sense.
SEVENTEEN Right Here – On Track
Anyone remember “Anyone?” Back in July 2021, the 13-member group SEVENTEEN filmed the special music videos on a race track. Fast forward four years, and the cut from Your Choice was selected to be the No. 1 song on F1’s official playlist during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
Now members of the K-pop group have been linking up with Formula 1 teams from all over the grid. Two of the youngest of the 13 members — Dino and Vernon — attended the Singapore race this past October as Red Bull’s special guests. Clips posted on Red Bull’s Instagram show the two stars getting a once-in-a-lifetime peek into pit stop practices (which Vernon was visibly thrilled to have experienced) and meeting drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen.
Later that month, SEVENTEEN’s leader S.COUPS was invited by Aston Martin to the United States Grand Prix, hosted in Austin, Texas. As a Boss ambassador who attended the Met Gala with them, S.COUPS was a natural pick for the Aston Martin team. The BOSS x Aston Martin collection blends precise elegance with quiet confidence and is designed for “life in motion.” S.COUPS’ job and his leadership position requires him to be constantly moving around with an assuredness not many can replicate, making him the one who can embody both Boss and Aston Martin’s missions.
Linking Cultural Movements
Attendances aren’t the only ways K-pop and F1 have connected. Rookie powerhouse BABYMONSTER took the stage at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024. Although they had debuted barely a year before, BABYMONSTER made themselves known through their music and their performances.
During the festival-like stages that Grand Prix weekend, the seven-member group showed off hit tracks like “SHEESH” and their debut single “BATTER UP” to excited Singaporean fans. From upbeat, soaring songs to ballads with a touch of energy, BABYMONSTER proved they belonged on that stage as a global force that weekend.
The Singapore Grand Prix once again linked the Formula 1 and K-pop worlds together this past October. As the home of F1 night racing, Singapore turned into a city of festivities with performances by K-pop veterans CL and G-DRAGON. The leader of 2NE1 is no stranger to a stage; earlier this year she performed at 88rising’s Head in the Clouds and three years before that, she reunited 2NE1 during her Coachella set. The energy at the Grand Prix was electric, as CL showed why you know her name. With stages of “The Baddest Female” and “SPICY” from her solo effort ALPHA and even a mashup of 2NE1 iconic tracks, CL helped kick off a fiery race weekend.
Considered the “King of K-pop” and a trendsetter in his own right, G-DRAGON headlined the night race’s performances on October 3. His eight-year hiatus seemed like a drop in the bucket as he essentially brought his “Ubermensch” tour to the world of F1. (And yes, he even wore a leather jacket in the Singaporean humidity while doing it.) The crowd’s screams almost drowned out his voice when he opened the set with one of his newest tracks, “POWER.” Deeper cuts from the veteran’s discography like “Crayon” brought even more enthusiasm from fans, who wanted to capture every moment. As a cherry on top, G-DRAGON waved around a chequered flag to conclude his set.
F1: The New Fanclub for K-pop Idols
The crossover moments aren’t just for K-pop fans, they’re for the idols as well. Many K-pop idols have shared their love for the sport while on stage, during livestreams and even in the paddock itself. Among the biggest names is BTS’ V who shared that he’s into watching F1 content online. NCT members JENO and JUNGWOO have also expressed their love for the sport. JENO frequently discusses his favorite drivers — Verstappen and Hamilton — and even has his own racing simulator, while JUNGWOO has mentioned that the group wants to do an F1-related concept for a comeback.
Take a peek into their discography, and you can see NCT’s collection of up-tempo tracks that reference racing and fast cars (see: “Faster,” “Bring the Noize,” “Take off,” and “Ridin’”), so it’s no surprise the members would want an F1-themed album. The official F1 Spotify page has even spotlighted the group with “F1 Tracks” playlists for NCT 127 and SuperM, featuring their fast-paced, high-energy tracks that match the speed and adrenaline of race day.
ENHYPEN may have the most vocal F1 fans of all. Jay is famously devoted to Red Bull, especially Verstappen, to the point where he nearly cried after meeting both Verstappen and Tsunoda, the second driver for the team. Jay revealed on a livestream that he spent over five days rehearsing what he would say to Verstappen (which, honestly, is very relatable. Idols, they’re just like us!). At a concert in Amsterdam, Jay even got the entire arena to chant the “Du-du-du-du Max Verstappen!” anthem. He and his members integrate F1 into their daily life, from trying Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s ice cream brand on livestream to casually referencing races across multiple pieces of content.
ENHYPEN aren’t the only band bringing racing references into their work. Stray Kids’ HAN and Felix, for example, name-dropped Leclerc in their duet “Truman” (“Working our way up, we go / Cookin’ up races, I know that we taking our time like Charles Leclerc”). YUNHO of ATEEZ shared that his favorite driver is also Verstappen. James and Keonho of CORTIS revealed the same alliance to the Dutch driver, and P1Harmony’s Jongseob has said he watches most race-weekend content and — yes, you guessed it — lists Verstappen as his favorite driver, too. TXT’s Beomgyu has also entered the conversation, naming McLaren as his favorite team and Lando Norris as his favorite driver. Fourth-generation boy group members appear to have a particular interest in F1, which aligns with Gen Z’s broader appreciation for the sport.
The crossover isn’t one-sided, either, as a couple of F1 drivers have shown affection for K-pop in return. Tsunoda has said that Rosé is on his playlist, while Verstappen was once spotted listening to “Standing Next to You” by BTS’ JUNGKOOK. Meanwhile, Jimin’s brief interaction with Hamilton became one of the 2025 season’s most unexpected and widely shared pop-culture moments, as the seven-time world champion reposted a photo of the idol wearing pieces from his Dior collection. And while McLaren driver Oscar Piastri hasn’t said he’s a K-pop fan, his sister Hattie is a dedicated MOA — TXT’s fandom name — so there’s a good chance he’s heard “Blue Hour” blasting through their home at least once!
The K-pop to F1 Pipeline
“Hit you with that….”
If what you heard after reading that line was “Du-du-du-du…Max Verstappen!,” then you probably understand the K-pop to F1 pipeline well. What started as a clever mashup has become a not-so-secret inside joke between K-pop fans who are also F1 fans — or what’s also referred to as the “K-pop to F1 pipeline.”
The crossovers, particularly how the fandoms connect and engage with each space, don’t stop there. Photocards (or PCs) of F1 drivers are brought along to races, just like K-pop fans might do when attending a concert. Some even decorate photocard top loaders, similar to how fans decorate top loaders with their favorite PCs of K-pop idols. The collectible aspect of both F1 and K-pop PCs inspire fans to grow their collections – especially of their favorites – and maybe even tout them on the back of their phone cases.
And how about the time Leclerc signed a JENO PC for a thrilled fan? (Iconic, if you ask us.)
Mercedes also took note of the face-to-face connection between fan and idol/driver both Formula 1 and K-pop deeply understand. F1 is known for their fan zones, where driver pairs from the different constructors chat and play games in front of excited and hyper-engaged fans.
But Mercedes took this kind of engagement up a notch. By hosting a competition for an exclusive video call with their driver Kimi Antonelli (through a partnership with WhatsApp), they appear to have taken a page out of the K-pop industry playbook, which frequently has fancall opportunities for fans to speak directly with their favorite idols.
Formula 1 and K-pop are two powerful cultural movements that show no signs of slowing down. But together? They’re just about unstoppable.
Want to read more about the Formula 1 world? Check out EnVi’s article on the all-female racing series F1 Academy here!
