The Role of Personal Pronouns Used by Formula 1 Drivers in Post-Race Press Conferences 2024

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the personal pronoun used by Formula 1 drivers in postrace press conferences by using Halliday’s Systemic Functional Language. Focusing on Formula 1 drivers who appeared in post-race press conferences following 24 races during the 2024 season and employing corpus-based approach, we sought to investigate the type and the function behind the use of the personal pronoun by Formula 1 drivers in their post-race conferences. The results show that there are 17 personal pronouns found in the post-race press conference by Formula 1 drivers. These pronouns were divided into three categories: first-person, second-person, and third-person. Moreover, it was found that the use of personal pronouns in the postrace press conferences varied depending on their function. Firstly, the first-person personal pronouns were used to portray the professionalism and appreciative side of drivers. Secondly, the second-person personal pronouns were used to portray the drivers’ communicative side. Lastly, the third-person personal pronouns were used to portray the drivers’ objective and competitive side. Furthermore, personal pronoun ‘I’ is the most frequently used by Formula 1 drivers, which primarily functions to reflect drivers’ individual performances and personal experiences on the grid. Ultimately, the findings show how the use of personal pronouns can reflect individual, team performance, and broader audiences.