It’s Time to Collect Cars and Cards
Formula 1’s popularity has been surging globally for years, but it still has ways to go when it comes to catching NASCAR in the U.S. That said, it’s only a matter of time. It’s no longer just about fast cars and drivers. I know Talladega Nights is a movie, but when I think about NASCAR, I think Ricky Bobby and Carl Naughton Jr. They make me laugh, but not enough to want to collect them. F1 is sexier in every category, from the curvaceous shapes of the cars to the drivers themselves. I mean, Sir Lewis Hamilton is a freaking knight, and Max Verstappen looks like a Dutch Superman. The U.S. is still just beginning to catch on to the hype, but wait until we finally put a ring on it and commit.
That’s why I’m ready to dabble in F1 cards, and who better to learn from than a die-hard fan and collector? That’s why I went to my friend, owner of Luxury Bazaar, Roman Sharf. He’s one of the world’s biggest grey market watch dealers and owns one of the biggest F1 collections (see his F1 collection on Instagram) in the world.
I drove down to his dealership in Philly to get educated. He legitimately has a real F1 car suspended from the ceiling. Thanks to his tutelage, I’m breaking down all things F1 just in time for the release of 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1. Buckle up!
Why I Believe in F1 and The Hobby
The Most Impressive Athletes in the World
There’s no denying the intense physical and mental demands of F1. Drivers are widely regarded as the most skilled athletes in the world by mastering a combo of physical, mental, and training abilities.
Sometimes, I get caught up thinking about muscles, size, or speed with pro athletes. Not anymore. Did you know F1 drivers’ physical and mental skills are often compared to fighter pilots? During turns, they can experience G-forces up to 5g (5 times the force of gravity), which basically makes you feel five times heavier. Think fighter jets, spaceflights, and rollercoasters; only you’re physically driving while making critical decisions that can kill you. Your breathing gets harder, your vision blurs, and you can get incredibly disoriented and fatigued.
There’s no comparison to any of the traditional sports when it comes to the endurance of F1 drivers. For example, while football players have to be in peak physical shape during NFL games, play stops after every down. Then offense switches out for defense for extended periods. An F1 driver needs to be mentally and physically locked in for the entire race. The average pit stop now lasts only two seconds. It takes me longer to blink. Also, there’s barely an offseason. It’s truly a global sport. One week you’re driving in Bahrain, the next you’re in Texas. Training never stops.
We Love Adrenaline and Drama
The drivers aren’t the only ones who love an adrenaline boost, am I right? The cars reach speeds up to 230 mph. Things can go badly instantly, but that’s what makes it exciting. I’m a baseball girlie, but I’ll be the first to admit that it can be dangerously boring sometimes.
We love watching the drama unfold, whether it’s sports or the Real Housewives. Social media plays a massive role in this and will only continue to help grow the sport. Think about it — drivers are wearing helmets 99% of the time they’re on TV. Now, iPhones and Instagram help us get to know them more personally.
Oh, and politics. There’s a ton of this going on both on and off the track. Not the existential threat kind, the kind you want to keep watching.
Why I’m Starting a Topps F1 Collection
Global Appeal Brings Eyeballs
F1 is massive internationally. The more eyeballs, the better in the hobby. It creates more demand and collectability. And it’s still just beginning to take off here in the U.S., too, but that’s quickly changing. Netflix’s Drive to Survive series gave Americans knowledge and access to F1, and it’s now found a whole new audience.
F1 is Still Booming
F1 isn’t a new sport, but Topps Formula 1 cards are. Topps didn’t start making them until 2020, which is when we saw the F1 start to boom in America. There’s still plenty of opportunity to collect legitimate rookie cards at a reasonable price. Because 2020 Topps Chrome Formula 1 was the inaugural Topps F1 product, all of the drivers in the product had RCs. At the time, Lewis Hamilton had just tied the record for the most championships ever. Think about it — when do you ever get the opportunity to chase after somebody like Tom Brady’s rookie card?
F1 Is Easier to Understand than You Think
It’s much easier to learn about F1 drivers and cards compared to traditional American sports. Major League Baseball has 750 players in the majors and thousands in the minors. Luckily for me, baseball runs through my veins, but I can’t imagine learning the game and players from scratch.
F1 is made up of only twenty total drivers, which is a crazy low number. Then F2 and F3 also only have twenty drivers each.
Prospecting: A Smaller Pool
Prospecting is a big thing in F1, much like with MLB. F2 and F3 cards are kind of like the Bowman cards of the sport — the first time these drivers and players are seen on a card. However, there’s much less risk involved with F1 prospecting because there are only 60 total drivers at a time. You can easily follow them and make educated guesses. Collecting Bowman is amazing, but the chances of your guy becoming a successful pro ball player are pretty slim.
