My Outfit Hunt Begins
So I got hyped for the 2024 F1 season early January. Saw those fresh team merch drops online first thing. Scrolled through the official store feeling pumped. Then the price tags hit me. Nearly fainted when I saw that Red Bull jacket cost like 3 weeks of groceries. Nope.
The Thrift Store Grind
Decided to hunt cheaper stuff. Hit five thrift shops downtown over one weekend. Dug through piles like a mole hunting worms. Found this faded navy polo with a tiny Puma cat logo – instant Williams vibes! Cost me less than two coffees.
My DIY Disaster
Tried customizing an old white tee with fabric paint for Ferrari colors. Measured the prancing horse logo with a ruler and everything. Total mess. Red paint bled sideways like a crime scene. The horse looked like a squashed tomato. Threw that rage quit project straight in the bin.
Online Detective Work
Started stalking resale apps daily. Took three weeks but scored a slightly used McLaren papaya-orange cap for $15. Smelled faintly of cheap fries when it arrived. Washed that thing five times minimum.
Accessory Scramble
Couldn’t find team-specific sunglasses anywhere. Grabbed these $8 blue mirrored shades at a gas station instead. Called them my “Aston Martin specials” when people asked. They lasted exactly one race weekend before the arm snapped.
Surviving Race Day Heat
- Wore breathable mesh shorts under team-colored swim trunks for bathroom sprint emergencies
- Stuck mini battery fans in my cap vents – looked ridiculous but saved me
- Freezer-chilled bandanas around my neck that turned warm in 20 minutes flat
The Final Look
Went full Frankenstein outfit at Austin GP:
- Stained $2 Williams polo
- Peeling McLaren hat
- Generic swim trunks with Alpinestars logo sharpie’d on
- Three different team socks (lost the pairs)
Got roasted by my mates but also five “Nice look!” comments from strangers sweating their butts off in $400 merch. Spent less than parking fees. Zero regrets.
