The World Cup's 'sexiest fan' Ivana Knoll made a striking appearance at Formula 1's Miami Grand Prix over the weekend, causing a stir both on and off the track. The Croatian influencer and model went viral after a Sky Sports cameraman was visibly distracted by her during a live broadcast on Saturday.
As former F1 driver Jenson Button was delivering analysis to colleagues Simon Lazenby and Naomi Schiff while walking through the paddock, Knoll strolled past them, clearly catching the attention of the camera operator. The camera followed Knoll, who was wearing a revealing black crop top and Daisy Duke-style jean shorts, as she walked through the shot and gave a brief smile as she passed the lens. When she exited the frame, the camera drifted to a McLaren mechanic who was off to the side and appeared to react with a stunned expression.
The clip, which was posted by Barstool Sports, has been viewed more than 6.3 million times over the past two days. Knoll is no stranger to Formula 1, as she lives in Miami and reportedly has attended the Grand Prix every year since its inaugural edition in 2022. She appeared to have some high-profile fans in the paddock as well. Over the weekend, Knoll posted photos on Instagram of herself alongside the likes of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies. She also was spotted hanging out in front of several different team's garages and checking out the race cars.
How did Ivana Knoll become popular?
While Knoll made her first big mark after winning Miss Croatia in 2016, she rose to social media stardom during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. She often was spotted in the crowd cheering on Croatia — she was born in Frankfurt, Germany, before moving to Zagreb — and was dubbed the tournament's 'sexiest fan' by many online. She has since grown her social media presence and boasts more than 2.9 million followers on Instagram, where she also promotes her music under the name Knolldoll.
With Croatia qualifying for this summer's FIFA World Cup being hosted across North America, it's likely that she will be making more viral appearances. Soccer fans in Toronto should keep their eyes out for her as Croatia plays against Panama on June 23 at Toronto Stadium (aka BMO Field) in a group-stage action.
