Noah Cooks, the Paddock’s “Baby Journalist”: “This is How I Won Over F1’s Greatest Legends”
Can you be a Formula 1 veteran at just 10 years old? In a way, Noah Cooks is exactly that. A child with a massive passion for racing, he started creating social media content a few years ago. In a short time, through his interviews with motorsport’s most famous figures, he has become the ultimate example of how determination knows no minimum age.
In this exclusive interview, Noah tells us about his incredible journey from bedroom drawings to international paddocks, proving himself to be a unique case globally and a positive role model for social media. He is a creator capable of using digital platforms to build culture, rediscover history, and unite entire generations under the banner of motorsport.
How did your passion for Formula 1 start, and what led to the idea of creating motorsport content?
“My passion for Formula 1 was born spontaneously during the 2019 Monza Grand Prix. I remember it so clearly: my father was watching the race and I followed the last 15 laps with incredible focus. Leclerc’s victory sparked something in me, and that was my entry into the world of motorsport. The idea of creating content came later. When I was younger, my Instagram account was dedicated to cooking (hence the name ‘Cooks’). Instead of starting a new one, I kept it and started adding Formula 1 videos. I’m incredibly passionate about telling the history of this sport or explaining technical aspects like telemetry to those who aren’t familiar with them yet.” .
Even before your racing project, you had already gained online fame as a child creator through your cooking content, even appearing in publications like Wired. How did you experience that first “boom,” and how did it help you transition to Formula 1?
“Cooking was fundamental because it launched my social media channels. It really helped me gain confidence in front of the camera: I remember when TG2 (an Italian national news program) came to film me while I was cooking. Making videos constantly gets you used to the medium. Even if cooking and Formula 1 aren’t directly linked, there were some special moments: Jody Scheckter, for example, complimented my dishes back then. More recently, I’ve merged the two worlds by preparing the favorite meals of Charles Leclerc and Andrea Stella.” .
When did you first think: “I want to interview Formula 1 figures”? Was there a specific moment, or was it a more gradual journey?
“It was a gradual journey. About a year ago, I was given the book ‘F1 Backstage’ by Riccardo Patrese, and it was suggested that I interview him. That was my first interview and I had so much fun, even though at first I didn’t think I would be doing it regularly. I was really inspired by channels like ‘Motori Dimenticati‘, which tell the stories of lesser-known drivers from the past, or creators like Alberto Naska. Talking to people who have made history fascinates me a lot, as does interviewing today’s talents like Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson.” .
How much time per day or per week do you dedicate to creating your content, between videos, live streams, and interviews?
“It depends a lot on the race weekends. Usually, my predictions go live on Thursday evening or Friday before the free practice sessions. I don’t have a rigid schedule; it’s very spontaneous: if I get an idea for a historical video or a deep-dive, I make it. Recently, I’ve been focusing less on pure telemetry to dedicate more time to live reactions and post-race analysis. It’s a commitment that varies based on what I’m passionate about at that moment.” .
How does your preparation differ between a post-race update and a more complex interview? Do you have a ritual or a study method that you never skip?
“It changes a lot. A post-race update is very spontaneous, especially during live streams: I’ve just watched the race and I already know what to say. For an interview, however, study is fundamental. I research the data and prepare the questions carefully: even if I add some on the fly by following the interviewee’s flow, the foundation must be solid. If I’m interviewing lesser-known drivers or figures from the past, like Ignazio Giunti, I have to do a lot of research to honor their story, even though I already know the environment very well.” .
Live reactions, helmet designs, post-race updates, interviews… which is your favorite format, and which one do you have the most fun doing?
“It varies a lot. I’m not dependent on the algorithm: if news breaks about Hadjar going to Red Bull, I prefer to wait until I have concrete information rather than making a rushed video. I have to say, though, that I have so much fun building and designing helmets. It’s a type of content I produce consistently because I love design. If Leclerc reveals a new helmet, I immediately find a couple of hours to recreate it.” .
What is your favorite thing about today’s Formula 1 and, if you could, what would you change about the Circus?
“My favorite thing is qualifying. It’s so much fun to see how close everyone is today: sometimes, from first to twentieth in Q1, there’s less than a second’s gap. In the past, like at Monaco in ’92, Mansell took pole two seconds ahead of Patrese. What would I change? Precisely because everyone is so close, overtaking has become difficult. With DRS and similar wings for everyone, you get these endless ‘trains’ where the car behind overheats its tires and engine within a few laps. I hope the new regulations help solve this dirty air problem.” .
Who is your favorite driver, past or present, and why do you feel specifically connected to them?
“From the past, I choose Mario Andretti: I interviewed him and he is a incredibly likable person; he fascinated me with his amazing stories. Among today’s drivers, my favorite is Leclerc. As I mentioned, Monza 2019 was the race that made me fall in love with this sport, and he won it. I also really liked Bottas, but after his retirement, Leclerc became my main point of reference, especially after the duel with Verstappen in Bahrain in 2022.” .
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You were a guest of Stefano Domenicali in London, you visited the Aston Martin factory, you spent a day in the Racing Bulls garage, and Valtteri Bottas personally asked to meet you: which experience was the most beautiful for you, and which was the most unexpected?
“The most unexpected was meeting Bottas at Imola in 2021: I had no idea it was going to happen; he walked by after qualifying and we took a photo—it’s a memory I will always cherish. The most beautiful experience was being in the Racing Bulls garage: seeing drivers like Hadjar, Lawson, and Lindblad up close was incredible. Also, the birthday wishes from Leclerc were something I never could have expected. All of these experiences have made me even more passionate about this sport.”
In those “dream-like” moments, are you able to experience the situation as a fan, or do you now feel more like an “insider”?
“I feel like a fan, absolutely. I don’t see myself as an insider, but as a very lucky fan who has the chance to live these incredible experiences.” .
Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, Leonardo Fornaroli, Mario Andretti… out of all the interviews you’ve done, which one is closest to your heart and why?
“The interview with Andretti was the most beautiful, but I also remember the one with Fornaroli very fondly because of his Formula 3 victory. It was fun with Lawson and Hadjar: I gave Liam a postcard of Chris Amon, while I showed Isack my cardboard steering wheel and he wanted to know what all the buttons were for. Another deeply emotional one was with Jean Alesi—it was a dream come true for me. I enjoy interviewing everyone, not just drivers but also engineers and managers like Mario Miyakawa or Marco Fuga, because I am passionate about the entire Formula 1 environment.” .
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How do you manage to get in touch with these figures: is there always someone helping you “behind the scenes,” or is it often you writing, proposing, and persisting until everything falls into place?
“The ideas for whom to interview are always mine; I choose the people who pique my curiosity. However, my dad handles the ‘behind the scenes’ work. Getting in touch with certain figures, especially drivers from the past or their family members who don’t use social media much, is extremely difficult. For example, to contact Jim Clark’s cousin, we had to conduct a truly complex search.” .
Which interview has intimidated you the most so far, and why? What did you say to yourself to keep the emotion from freezing you up when facing a big name?
“The one with Liam Lawson was incredibly exciting. I was in the pits for testing and suddenly they asked if I wanted to interview him: I was anxious, but I accepted immediately. The interview with Giancarlo Minardi was also intense; there were so many people around us, and thinking about his history as the team founder was quite intimidating. The same went for Roberto Moreno at Minardi Day: there was a very long line for him, but he was incredibly kind and his stories were spectacular.” .
What strikes you most when you talk to drivers from another era, like Scheckter, Patrese, or Morbidelli? In what ways do you feel their Formula 1 is different from the one you watch and report on today?
“I’m fascinated by their spirit as true ‘racers.’ They describe a very dangerous Formula 1, where you knew you could die in the car, yet they weren’t afraid. Morbidelli pointed out to me that today races are stopped for too much rain, whereas in his day they raced regardless, like at Adelaide ’91. They are very friendly and love talking about the past: Scheckter joked with me when I brought up the 1980 season, asking why I didn’t ask him about ’79 instead, when he won the world title!” .
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After these chats, do you ever find yourself watching historical Grands Prix or changing your mind about certain drivers or teams from the past?
“It’s difficult to catch up on old races today because official channels only show current content. For a kid my age who doesn’t own DVDs, it’s complicated, but I try to make up for it with documentaries. The one on Ignazio Giunti, for example, really moved me even though I never saw him race live. These stories help me appreciate drivers who, unfortunately, are being forgotten today.” .
Many adults say that your project is a way to “educate through a passion for Formula 1”: what do you think you are teaching the kids who watch and follow you?
“I try to teach creativity. Instead of always buying everything ready-made, you can create your own games at home, maybe by joining two pieces of paper and cutting out the shapes. In a world where everyone is always on their phone, being creative is important. Many kids send me photos of their cardboard steering wheels or the circuits they build on carpets to play with their toy cars. That makes me really proud.” .
How do you handle social media fame at your age, and in what ways has your daily life changed, between school, friends, and free time?
“For me, daily life hasn’t changed at all. School and friends are the same as before. The only difference is that when I go to the track, sometimes people ask me for an autograph or a photo, but it’s not something that bothers me. I don’t see it as a job or a waste of time; I do it because I enjoy it and only when I feel like it.” .
Which books, movies, or social media channels would you recommend to someone who wants to get into Formula 1, regardless of their age?
“As for social media, I recommend Alberto Naska, ‘Motori Dimenticati‘ for history, and English-language channels like ‘P1 with Matt & Tommy,’ while for Italian news, I follow ‘Race Day F1.’ Regarding books, I absolutely suggest those by Umberto Zapelloni and Leo Turrini: they are incredible writers and journalists whom I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing on my channel.” .
If you could choose three people to interview in the coming years, even outside of Formula 1, who would they be and why specifically them?
“Among drivers from the past, I would have loved to interview Michele Alboreto: he was a Ferrari driver from Milan and seemed like a very likable person. Then Nelson Piquet, because he is such a unique character who was always playing pranks—if anyone knows him, please help me get in touch! Finally, I’d love to interview Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Toto Wolff. I’ve already given Toto my old cookbook for his son, so I hope to be able to talk with him soon.” .
