The term WAG might trigger flashbacks to 2000s football tabloids and Victoria Beckham in
oversized sunglasses, but in Formula 1, WAG culture has always been part of the sport’s
DNA.
Think Corinna Schumacher in her iconic Ferrari red, or Nicole Scherzinger practically
vibrating with emotion as Lewis Hamilton secured his second world title in 2014. These
women have always been there. They are part of the atmosphere, the tension, the
storylines. But these women are usually framed as accessories, not individuals.
Fast forward to the 2024/25 season, and suddenly, F1 WAGs are the cultural subplot. Not
because they’re causing drama, but because the cameras simply cannot resist a cutaway
shot to these lovely women during the race.
Yet the narrative has shifted: today’s WAGs aren’t just “the girlfriend.” They’re
businesswomen, athletes and creatives, and are often more interestingly dressed than the
drivers themselves.
So, in a sport still trying to modernise its image, are these women being empowered or
objectified?
Here are four women steering that conversation.
Alexandra Saint Mleux
Fiancée of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari Driver)
Alexandra Saint Mleux is the definition of soft power. A French art historian and artist from
Monaco, she has built a reputation that has very little to do with the paddock and everything
to do with a carefully crafted aesthetics seen on her social media page. With 3.2 million
followers on Instagram, modelling for Rhode, and being on the cover of ELLE Mexico,
she’s become a touchpoint for the “European girl” ideal.
She feels like someone who could explain Renaissance symbolism and give skincare
recommendations in the same breath. Charles may drive the Ferrari, but Alexandra is
steering her own cultural course through her Pinterest-worthy posts.
Carmen Montero Mundt
Girlfriend of George Russell (Mercedes Driver)
Carmen brings an almost suspicious level of composure to the F1 paddock. As an investor
relationship associate at Ruffer LLP, she balances market strategies with race weekends like
it’s nothing. With 726k followers on Instagram, her style is consistently elegant and
understated. She has the kind of look that whispers, “I own at least one blazer worth more
than your rent.”
Carmen represents the evolution of the WAG archetype: she’s career-focused, quietly
confident and appears allergic to unnecessary drama.
Lily Zneimer
Girlfriend of Oscar Piastri (McLaren Driver)
Lily Zneimer is in a category of her own: the Low-Key WAG. Despite dating one of the grid’s
rising stars, she keeps her Instagram private with just 692 followers – which feels almost
illegal in 2025.
But Lily isn’t private because she lacks substance; it’s quite the opposite. An engineering
graduate with some of the best GCSE results her school had ever seen, she brings a
refreshing calm to the whirlwind of F1. She’s proof that you can support your partner, protect
your boundaries and still be adored by fans… all while showing just how intelligent she is.
Lily Muni He
Girlfriend of Alex Albon (Williams Driver)
Lily Muni, he isn’t just “successful for a WAG”, she’s successful, full stop. A Chinese
professional golfer on the LPGA Tour, with a world ranking of 364 and three Top 10
finishes, she manages her own demanding career while supporting Alex across continents.
With continuous jokes about Alex Albon being the WAG in the relationship, it’s clear that Lily
Muni is standing her ground in the sports world.
Her 1.2 million followers know her as an athlete, a fashion lover and the rare person who
can make airport outfits genuinely aspirational. She’s living proof that you can be part of the
paddock without living in its shadow.
The Downside: Camera Zooms and the opinions
As F1’s popularity skyrockets, so does screen time, particularly the screen time of WAGs.
Broadcasters seem to think no pit stop is complete without a reaction shot from the
girlfriends watching anxiously from the garage. Fans, naturally, have opinions. Lots of them.
The irony?
These women aren’t the ones asking for attention. They’re just… sitting. Or standing. Or
cheering politely. Meanwhile, the internet treats them like they personally chose to interrupt
the live feed.
It’s giving off strong Taylor Swift at the NFL energy: simply existing near a successful man
turns you into public debate holder. A tale as old as time, unfortunately.
So… Empowered or Objectified?
Realistically? A bit of both.
These women are undeniably empowered. They are intelligent, accomplished and carving
out identities far beyond “driver’s girlfriend.” They showcase ambition, independence and a
refreshing complexity in a sport that tends to simplify women.
But the way they’re framed on camera can edge into objectification. They’re often shown as
symbols rather than individuals, their reactions treated as entertainment rather than human
moments.
Yet even within this tension, something important is happening. Today’s WAGs are refusing
to shrink themselves. They’re rewriting the narrative by simply being themselves.
Ambitious, thoughtful, stylish and entirely three-dimensional.
The WAGs of F1 aren’t trying to be the story.
They’re just finally being seen as part of it.