Do people care about nationality in F1?

Yes they do.

It´s not necessarily a bad thing. A lot of people in Germany became F1 fans during Schumimania and now Spain has a huge fan base thanks to Fernando Alonso. As the sport fan base matures, nationality becomes secondary and die hard fans value more talent and personality than nationality. However nationality will always rank high in places like Brazil, Italy, Finland and Spain. (Can you imagine a Fin rooting for Massa or Trulli?)

Media also plays a huge part over this love & loath your local hero. Can you imagine people loathing Lewis Hamilton 3 years ago, when he was a young, humble promise with a Cinderella story under his belt? However after three years and hundreds of stories, (some true and some others made up), a lot of people in Britain dislike him. At least he is more popular in the UK than he is in Spain, where people actually HATE him.

I´ve rooted for Hunt, Prost, Häkkinnen, Montoya and Hamilton, and I´m not British, Finish, French or Colombian.

I think it's natural to support a fellow countryman/woman in sport. I support a British team (McLaren) and their British driver (Hamilton) but I still supported McLaren when they had drivers of other nationalities like Montoya and Hakkinen. I am also pleased that Jenson Button is doing so well. It's not set in stone but I think a lot of people do have a sense of loyalty when "one of their own" is really successful.

I am not British, and therefore I may not be the right candidate to answer this question. But like in every sport, fans tend to support athletes of their own country, something they even teach you early in school. And I don't see the difference in F1. Some fans choose to root for a team instead of a driver, and that is fine also.

In my specific case I support Button because I appreciate his driving abilities. He is not a citizen of my country. Although Button is a favorite, I certainly monitor in the back of mind the success of drivers and teams from my ow country, and I am happy when they succeed. Does this make me anti-patriotic? I don't think so.

So, I am your exception of the rule: I am not British, but I support a British driver! Go figure.

A British fan is most likely to support a British driver but no other fan is going to support Hamilton because he is British. I never support a driver depending on his nationality unless he is Indian, since I am an Indian.

I guess its like with every sport, if your national team in playing you will Support them. When When Michael Schumacher was in it a few years ago i think some people supported him because he was the best and likely to win. Personally, when i started watching F1 i supported Ralf Schumacher, for no real reason really he was just who i chose to support because i found him an interesting driver. Then when Jenson Button came into it a supported him to because he was British (he has always been my fave British driver). Since Ralf retired (or just wasn't good enough to get a seat) I support Vettel because i think he will be in interesting driver for years to come.

In the 60's it did not matter as we had so many, but as the years have gone on and British drivers have got fewer their has been an increase in xenophobic support, mainly it has to be said from the media and F1 only brigade. Personally I tend to go for the team and hope their drivers win the titles.

I'm British and no i've never supported a driver because or of his nationality, the driver's I've followed most closely during my life have tended to be non British but it's never been a deliberate choice, just that they have appealed more to me as drivers or personalities. Just because a driver was born in the same country as you doesn't prevent him from being a total plonker!

Edit. rosbif, you weren't alone during old hairy face's mania moment, I was a Prost fan at the time! :-)

I don't really, but it is quite a buzz to hear the Brit.National Anthem on the podium, especially as in recent years, Brit-wins have been rather thin on the ground.

But it's not been the same since Damon retired .......

I'm British but have only really supported Damon Hill and Jenson Button to any extent. i tend to have my favourite drivers, irrespective of nationality. Alesi and H.H Frenzen being past favourites of mine

Good heavens no.

I was a Piquet fan during Mansellmania in England...I must have been the only person among 60 million NOT rooting for the lucky whinger.