Theme songs from F1 and car races. Classic tracks that are also great for driving.
What kind of background music do you choose when you go for a drive? If you’re a fan of motorsports like F1, many of you might enjoy playlists that compile historic Formula 1 Grand Prix theme songs.
Even if you’re not deeply familiar with F1, these tracks are all full of exhilarating energy—perfect for driving.
Popular songs are often used in commercials and TV programs, so you might recognize them even if you don’t know their titles.
In this article, we’re bringing you a collection of theme songs from F1 and other car races.
Be sure to check out which bands and artists are behind them!
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Theme songs of F1 and car racing: classic tracks also recommended for driving (11–20)
UnderdogRoddy Ricch
This work by Roddy Ricch, who grew up in Compton and is a Grammy Award winner, is included on F1 The Album, the official soundtrack for the film F1: The Movie, and was released in June 2025.
It carries a powerful message about overcoming adversity and pressure, blending a driving beat with a melancholic, melodic rap to create a superb piece of trap music.
Producer D.A.
Got That Dope crafted a sound that rumbles like an engine and shakes you to your core.
It’s the perfect track for clutch moments or a late-night drive down the highway.
A LatchkeySatō Jun
When it comes to theme songs for motorsports—not just F1—many people picture energetic rock or fusion sounds.
In that sense, this track, “A LATCHKEY,” might be an exception.
It’s a masterpiece composed by Jun Sato, a keyboardist who has performed with many artists including Char, arranged major hits like Hikaru Genji’s “Paradise Ginga” and Yosui Inoue’s “Make-up Shadow,” and has won the Japan Record Award.
Released under his solo name in 1988, it opens the album “Aya,” and is a piece built around a wistful piano that unfolds dramatically—lyrical yet imbued with a quiet intensity.
It was used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s F1 Grand Prix broadcasts from 1993 to 1994, and among fans it became affectionately known as the theme for the legendary driver Ayrton Senna.
When Senna tragically passed away, the track was also played in memorial programs and tributes.
MessyROSÉ
This is a song that delicately touches on the nuances of emotion, sung by ROSÉ, who is also known as the main vocalist of BLACKPINK, a globally popular group.
It’s included on the album “F1 The Album,” released in May 2025, and was also used as a soundtrack piece in the film “F1: The Movie,” which features Brad Pitt and others.
The track is striking for its anthemic progression—from a delicate, piano-driven introduction to a chorus that surges with exhilaration—and its lyrics, which express the chaotic intensity within the heart, are deeply moving.
Immerse yourself in its unique world, where the thrill of racing intersects with stillness.
PEACE OF MINDNakamura Miki (SHOW-YA)
SHOW-YA, a pioneering all-female rock-to-heavy metal band in Japan, once disbanded but reunited in 2005 and has continued to perform energetically.
“PEACE OF MIND,” an instrumental track released in 1992 under the solo name of Miki Nakamura—SHOW-YA’s keyboardist, band leader, and an active composer—served as Nigel Mansell’s theme song for Fuji TV’s F1 Grand Prix.
Performed by SHOW-YA’s members, the piece features a melodious synth sound and dynamically driving, high-speed guitar work that’s pleasing to the ear, packed with catchy phrases.
If you listen to it as driving music, be careful not to speed!
God Only KnowsYashiki Gota
Speaking of GOTA—Mr.
Gota Yashiki—he’s a renowned drummer who has worked with many world-class musicians, and he has also made a remarkable mark as a multi-instrumentalist and music producer.
It’s impressive that he officially joined the popular UK group Simply Red as a member and supported the band through its mature phase.
As a composer, GOTA has created numerous classics, and he also produced the theme music for the 2009 Formula 1 Grand Prix broadcasts.
Titled “God only knows,” this track offers a distinct vibe compared to the fusion- and rock-centered sounds typical of F1 themes, featuring a cool sound arrangement that could only come from GOTA, who excels at programming.
Enjoy the tightly articulated drum beats, the subtly wistful keyboard melody, and the dramatic song development.
Grandma Calls The Boys Bad NewsRAYE
This is a track featured on the official soundtrack for the film F1: The Movie, which is based on the world’s premier motorsport.
Included on the album F1 The Album, the song is performed by RAYE, a powerhouse singer from London, and the film opens in June 2025.
Its arrangement, marked by a retro, robust soul vibe, is distinctive and stirs the listener’s heart.
The mature, laid-back groove makes it a perfect fit for a twilight drive.
Recommended not only for F1 fans, but also for anyone who wants to relax with comfortable, feel-good music.
Theme songs of F1 and car races. Classic tracks also recommended for driving (21–30)
Stack AttackGary Hoey
The hit program “F1 Grand Prix” is known not only for its theme and ending themes—many of which are popular songs familiar even to non-F1 fans—but also for the many classic tracks used as background music during the starting grid introductions.
In 1996, the song chosen for the starting grid segment of “F1 Grand Prix” was “Stack Attack” by American guitarist Gary Hoey.
It’s a refreshing instrumental number driven by energetic, hard-edged guitar work, and its appeal lies not merely in its speed but in the clear sense of melodic phrasing—real musicality—running through it.
As it happens, Gary was the guitarist for HEAVY BONES, a melodic metal band from the early 1990s, and afterward he built a career as a session guitarist, active across a variety of genres including hard rock and blues.