![\"Illman](\"https:\/\/speedcafe.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/XPB_1380749_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKym Illman with Vallteri Bottas during the Mexico City Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKym Illman with Vallteri Bottas during the Mexico City Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Speaking on the latest episode of the KTM Summer Grill, Illman said the paddock was far less crowded when he first entered the sport in 2017, with increased fan access and social media interest significantly altering the working environment for photographers and media.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe paddock was a lot less populated when I started,\u201d Illman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese days, on a Saturday or Sunday, it\u2019s very tough to get a clean shot of a driver because there are so many selfie hunters and autograph hunters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Illman believes the shift has been driven by Formula 1\u2019s decision to open the sport to fans, combined with the global popularity of Netflix\u2019s Drive to Survive, which has fuelled unprecedented interest in behind-the-scenes content.<\/p>\n
Operating independently of teams and broadcasters, Illman has built a large following by focusing on moments that do not appear in race coverage, including interactions in car parks, paddock walk-ins, and areas around the FIA garages.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost everybody talking about Formula 1 on social media is watching the same TV feed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t do anything you\u2019ve already seen on television. I give people the stuff nobody shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Illman said understanding what audiences respond to, and maintaining trust within the paddock, is critical to sustaining access in the modern Formula 1 environment.<\/p>\n
That approach draws on his experience before F1.<\/p>\n
Illman built a successful business career as the founder of Messages on Hold, an Australian audio branding company, and also enjoyed a brief motorsport career before focusing on photography and digital content full-time.<\/p>\n
Access in the modern paddock also depends heavily on unwritten rules, he said, with relationships between photographers, drivers, and teams tightly managed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a driver or their partner asks me to take something down, I do,\u201d Illman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a team says something isn\u2019t correct, I\u2019ll correct it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re constantly negative, you won\u2019t last very long in the paddock.\u201d<\/p>\n
Illman said his social media strategy reflects that balance.<\/p>\n
He posts content audiences want to see, rather than simply what happens on track, and focuses on positive, behind-the-scenes moments rather than standard race coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive people what they want,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I put car photos up all the time, I get no traction.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t force people to be interested in something they\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n
While social media has created new opportunities for independent creators, Illman said replicating his model would be difficult due to the workload and the level of access required.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one else really does what I do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly hard work, and if you get it wrong, the access disappears pretty quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Formula 1 continues to grow, Illman said access is likely to become more restricted rather than more open, placing greater importance on trust, experience, and discretion for those working inside the paddock.<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766394016_956_285249.gif\")