What The Hell Is The Track On This H&M Formula 1 Hoodie Meant To Be?

Any guesses as to what this track is? Screenshot: H&M

Formula 1 is having a real moment right now with audience numbers exploding around the world. Because of this, more and more people are looking for slick merchandise to show off their love for the pinnacle of motorsport. Sadly, this hoodie from H&M risks giving you away as an F1 novice with its awful track map plastered all over the rear.

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The hoodie in question is the latest in a long line of F1-branded kit that the Swedish clothing giant has released. In the past, there’s been minimalist sweaters, retro-looking tees and checkered flag-style tops. All very nice. However, the new hoodie is a departure from all that.

From the front, all seems fine and there’s just a neat little F1 logo on the top left as you wear the hoodie. But, turn the hoodie around, and its flaws reveal themselves. On the rear is a track map so bizarre that it made me gasp when I first saw the top on display in store.

It’s a weird looping course that appears to have around 14 corners (seven to the right and seven to the left) and four decent-sized straights. Immediately, it doesn’t really look like any track you’ll find on the 2024 Formula 1 calendar. So what the heck is it and why did H&M have the rights to the F1 logo but not one of the race tracks to print on the top?

Spot the difference. Screenshot: H&M/Wikimedia Commons

Well the answer to that first question appears to lie on Reddit, where several posters have decided that it’s meant to be Spa. And “meant” is definitely the operative word, as it looks nothing like the historic Belgian race track.

On H&M’s version of Spa, Blanchimont is gone and has been absorbed into a long straight, the kink before the Kemmel Straight is gone and the glorious sequence of Eau Rouge and Raidillon has been bent and twisted into a ridiculous-looking chicane. It’s awful.

Does H&M get a free pass for the awful track it’s created because “it’s just a clothing brand” or are we right to be outraged? Personally I think we are right to highlight this ridiculous hoodie. After all, the company has clearly gotten the permission of F1 to use its logo.

However, the use of this made up tells me that it’s just taking F1 fans for a ride. H&M is hoping that you’ll be happy to spend your hard earned cash on anything loosely related to the sport. Please, H&M and F1, do better.