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Why F1 drivers aren't as popular as you think

In an F1-focused world, it's easy to think of the top drivers as the most famous people on the planet. But when you compare their popularity with other sports stars, it makes you question how significant they really are to the wider world

Lewis Hamilton is, by whatever metric you choose, the biggest superstar on the 2017 Formula 1 grid.

Using social media numbers - not the only way to measure this, but still a meaningful guide - he is well ahead of second-best Fernando Alonso in terms of followers on Twitter (4.11m v 2.45m), Instagram (3.7m v 1.2m) and Facebook (3.9m v 1.8m).

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