By: Yomna Walid

Two Egyptian women, living in different countries, sharing one native language and united by their passion Formula 1. Myrna is an architect based in Qatar, while Farida is a media and computer science professional living in Germany. Together, they have created one of the first Egyptian woman-led podcasts dedicated to Formula 1.Long before Hollywood rolled its cameras and Brad Pitt made his appearance at the “F1” premiere in London, shinning on the red carpet, Myrna and Farida were offering something fresh; a local, female-led, Arabic-language take on one of the world's premier forms of motorsport.

In this exclusive interview with Nile FM, Myrna and Farida tell their story of moving from being casual Formula One enthusiasts to transforming into some of the most well-known female voices in motorsport commentary for the Arab World. Both shared how they balanced full-time jobs along with multiple time zone. With so much drive around racing, what started as passion turned into a bold platform aimed directly at Arabic-speaking motor sport lovers. From laughter to late-night edits interspersed with plenty of strategies that they drove through together.

Myrna: The Architect Behind the Mic

Q1: Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey into motorsports.
I always say I accidentally fell into motorsports—but once I did, I was hooked. I’ve always loved stories, competition, and a little bit of chaos, so F1 felt like the perfect storm. One race turned into endless deep dives, driver drama and a whole podcast. Now I can’t imagine life without it.

Q2: As an architect, how do you balance your day job with content creation?
It’s a juggling act, I won’t lie! I’m either designing buildings or editing a reel at 2 a.m.—no in-between. But I genuinely love both sides of my brain being busy. I plan my week carefully and when you actually enjoy what you’re creating, you somehow find the energy for it.

Q3: What motivated you to reach out and start the podcast with Farida?
I just needed someone to yell about strategy with—and Farida was that person. From there, it grew into “wait… what if we actually recorded this?” It was very organic and very us.

Q4: How do you choose the topics and races you cover in each episode?
We’re pretty instinctive—if something made us scream, we talk about it. If it made us laugh or sit in stunned silence, it’s in. We try to keep it fresh, unpredictable and honest, so every episode feels like a voice note from a friend.

Q5: Did you face any resistance or criticism when you first started?
Oh, for sure. People assumed we didn’t “really” know what we were talking about, or that it was just a phase. But it kind of made us go harder. We knew we had something to say and now we say it—with the mic on and zero hesitation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Myrna (@myrnameshrif)

Q6: What’s one moment in F1 history that you wish you could have commented on live?
Abu Dhabi 2021. I don’t even need to explain. Just give me the mic, the chaos, the radio messages, the slow-motion replays—I would’ve thrived.

Q7: How do you feel your voice as a woman changes how people experience F1?
It brings a different lens. We notice things others might miss—the emotion, the off-track narratives, the people behind the helmets. I think we make the sport feel more human, more accessible and sometimes, way more fun.

Q8: What do your friends and family think about your growing platform?
They’re my biggest cheerleaders—and my toughest critics! They’ll celebrate a milestone and ask why I forgot to post about Bahrain. I think they love seeing me do something that lights me up.

Q9: What’s your dream collaboration for the podcast?
James Vowles or Fred Vasseur, easily. I feel like they’d bring the perfect mix of honesty and dry humor—we’d get great insight and laughs. But if we’re going unserious? I want the drivers rating each other’s pit fits.

Q10: If you could attend any Grand Prix live, which one would it be and why?
Monaco. It’s the race. The history, the glamour, the pressure—it’s everything I love about F1 in one weekend.

Farida: From Code to Commentary

Q1: Can you start by introducing yourself to our readers?
I’m Farida, I’m Egyptian and I grew up between Cairo and Abu Dhabi. I currently live in Germany and I have a degree in Computer Science and Media. I’ve always loved cars and sports in general. A few years ago, I got into motorsport and instantly got hooked on Formula 1 after watching my first race.
After discovering my love for F1, I started creating content around it. Now I post videos about Formula 1 and football on TikTok while co-hosting a podcast with Myrna. I currently also work in the football industry in Germany.

Q2: What first drew you into the world of Formula 1?
Honestly, it started with the cars. I’ve always loved cars since I was a little girl and seeing them go that fast just grabbed my attention. But what really got me hooked was how deep the sport actually is. There’s so much data, strategy and technology involved, which I find super exciting, especially with my background in Computer Science.
It’s not just about the driver. It’s the whole team, the analytics, the constant decision-making, the pressure. I love that mix of adrenaline and intelligence. Plus, the fact that there are only 20 drivers makes it really intense and exclusive. The fan culture is also amazing. It’s such a global sport and people are so passionate about it. Everything about it just clicked with me.

Q3: How did the idea of starting a podcast come to life for you?
Honestly, it wasn’t even my idea. At the time, I didn’t even really listen to podcasts. But I got introduced to Myrna through someone and she pitched the idea to me. It just felt right to me. It felt like we could actually make a difference in the Arabic F1 world, help the Middle East be more seen and give people from the region a platform and a voice. Something in their own language.
And I loved the idea because I love talking about things I’m passionate about—it felt natural.

Q4: You used to create content in English. What made you shift towards Arabic commentary with the podcast?
At the time, I was creating content in English because it just felt like the safer option. Myrna was already doing her content in Arabic and she encouraged me to just try it out. I was a bit scared of the reaction and wasn’t sure if there were enough Arabic-speaking F1 fans out there. I didn’t know if people would actually connect with it.
But it worked. With time, I started seeing how much F1 is growing in the Middle East. And honestly, once I started doing content in Arabic, it just felt way more personal and natural. At the end of the day, it’s my mother tongue and I’m speaking to my people. It feels real.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Farida (@itsfaridaragheb)

Q5: Do you feel that living in Germany gave you more exposure to motorsports culture?
Definitely. Living in Germany really exposed me to motorsport more. It’s a lot more normalised here. You see it in the media, people talk about it and it just feels like it’s part of the culture. Germany has had so many iconic F1 names, like Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel and there are historic tracks like Hockenheimring.
There are also a lot of races that happen in the region in general, so the awareness is just naturally higher. And since I live in Europe, it’s also easier to actually go to races, which helped me get even more into the sport. Being around all of that made F1 feel less distant and more accessible.

Q6: What was the most surprising response you’ve received since launching the podcast?
Honestly, the most surprising thing has been realizing how many people actually look up to us and learn from us, whether it’s girls or boys. I get so many messages from people thanking us and appreciating what we do. They’re grateful that we’re giving them a platform and speaking their language and for me that still feels unreal.
Just knowing that there are people who look forward to our (almost) weekly episodes and genuinely support us makes me feel really privileged. It’s such a special feeling and something I don’t take for granted.

Q7: How do you and Myrna manage to record episodes while living in different time zones?
It’s super hard, especially since our schedules are so different. Ever since I started my internship, it’s become even harder to find a time that works for both of us. We try to squeeze it in either early in the morning or after work, depending on the week.
It’s definitely not the easiest setup, but our passion and the people who support us are what keep us going. Knowing that people are actually waiting for the episodes makes all the effort worth it.

Q8: What do you hope to achieve with the podcast in the next year?
I want to take the podcast to a more international level and be able to represent Middle Eastern F1 fans to the whole world. There’s so much passion and knowledge in our region and I want people to see that.
I also want to inspire people, educate people and just bring a smile to their faces. Whether someone’s been watching F1 for years or they’re just getting into it, I want them to feel like they have a space with us. That’s the goal.

Q9: How do you deal with male-dominated fan spaces online?
As a computer science student who worked a lot with cars and football, I’m honestly used to being the only girl in the room. So it’s nothing new. But that doesn’t make it any less annoying. It’s frustrating when people comment things like “go back to the kitchen” or act like girls aren’t allowed to know anything about F1, let alone talk about it.
At the end of the day, I know my worth, my knowledge and I know what I bring to the table. And honestly, if I don’t like a comment, I just block the person. I’m not here to waste energy on people who don’t want to see women in this space.

Q10: If you could interview any F1 driver, who would it be and why?
Very hard question, but I’d have to say Isack Hadjar. He’s Algerian and as a fellow North African, I think it would be amazing to sit down and talk to someone who represents the region on such a big stage. He’s done really well in his rookie year and his personality seems super fun, so I think it would be a really cool interview.
I also think fans would love to get to know him more. There aren’t many North African names in the sport right now, so it would mean a lot to highlight that and have that kind of representation.

Joint Question – About the F1 Film

There’s been a lot of buzz around the upcoming F1 film starring Brad Pitt. What are your thoughts on how Hollywood is portraying the sport, and do you think it will attract more people—especially women—to Formula 1?

Myrna:

Not gonna lie, at first I was a total hater. I was like, no way, they’re filming during actual GPs, they’re gonna mess up the vibe, it’s gonna be cringe. But with time, the whole idea grew on me and now I’m excited. Especially after we saw some snippets and heard the music. It all looks and sounds amazing.

Farida:

I think it’s great exposure for the sport. I’m someone who believes the more fans, the better. I just hope new viewers understand that the movie isn’t 100 percent accurate or a full reflection of real-life F1. But overall, I think it’s a good thing and I really do hope it brings in more fans into the sport.

On Air Now

Non-Stop Music

You May like

Schedule

Non-Stop Music