It has emerged as the world’s most beloved motor-racing spectacles, yet it took three decades for some fans to spot a hidden element in the classic Formula 1 emblem.
Formula 1‘s inception dates back to 1950, evolving from the original World Manufacturers’ Championship and European Drivers’ Championship.
The name ‘Formula 1’ was coined for two key elements: the ‘formula’ represents the thorough regulations encompassing car design, engine specifications, componentry, and more, while the ‘one’ suggests that it is the top-tier formula.
An official F1 statement recounts its origins: “Formula 1 was formed as a world championship competition back in 1950, with the first-ever race held at the Silverstone Circuit – a former Royal Air Force station – in the United Kingdom on May 13 of that year.”
Moreover, it details the sporting success of the era: “Six more events were staged in a season which saw Alfa Romeo driver Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina become the sport’s first world champion – edging out teammates Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli.”
It also reflects on the history of motorsport: “While motorsport had been taking place since the late-1800s, with Grand Prix events growing in popularity across the following decades, 1950 marked the start of the official F1 championship that remains to this day.”
Over time, F1 has changed its logo four times – despite changing its insignia seven years ago, the version used from 1994 to 2017 still fuels conversations among enthusiasts.
One eagle-eyed Reddit user sparked a conversation about the F1 logo, pointing out a subtle detail that has gone unnoticed by many for years. They asked: “Is the F1 logo a flag with a ‘1’ in the centre or is it an ‘F’ and an oddly shaped ‘1’? Or is it both? Seriously for like eight years I thought it was an F and a 1 but then I saw the one in the middle. Is this done purposely? ” Fellow users chimed in, confirming that the logo indeed features a “hidden” number one, created by the negative space between the F and the streaks.
One user shared their knowledge, saying: “I got to study various F1 logos and GP poster designs. Yes, the great thing about this logo is the negative space between the F and the streaks is a 1. The old F1 logo used negative space to represent a car.”
Another user agreed, adding: “Yes, that silhouette bit between the F and the right part of the logo is the ‘1’ in F1.”
A third user humorously remarked: “So the real logo is the F and the middle one and the rest of the logo is just some scribble with lines and stuff? That was the last thing I was thinking! ” Meanwhile, another user observed: “If you look at the full logo with the words underneath, you can see that the Fs and the 1s in the logo and the words use the same font. The real 1 is the middle one. Your eight years have been lies.”