Matthew Hobkinson

About Matthew Hobkinson

A proper petrolhead, Matt learnt his trade with PA Media and became one of just four graduates among his cohort to be offered a full-time role at the company upon the completion of his NCTJ Diploma, making his first splash in journalism in the world of Premier League football.

Matt would go on to cut his teeth at the Manchester Evening News and become an integral part of their coverage of both Manchester United and Manchester City, before moving after six months to run LeedsLive’s matchday blogs for Leeds United’s Premier League games, while also covering live managerial press conferences for the club. Next, Matt switched to ChronicleLive, helping the site capitalise on growing interest in Newcastle United.

Since making the switch to GPFans, Matt has become one of the site's most important and influential figures and counts interviewing Jenson Button as a true career highlight.

Areas of Expertise

If there's something Matt doesn't know about F1, the chances are neither do you. His attention to detail is second to none; whether it's digging into the FIA sporting regulations or reviewing a decision from the stewards, he will get to the heart of the issue. He has a formidable approach to SEO and a deep understanding of how he and the team can get the best out of each and every article they write, leaving no stone unturned. With a finger on the pulse for what makes the modern F1 fan interested in the sport, Matt seamlessly bridges the gap between the 'Drive to Survive' crowd and the purists of the sport.

Experience in the field

Matt transferred all of his analytical knowledge from the world of insurance and applied it to sports journalism when he started work for PA Media (previously Press Association) as a digital producer in 2022. From here, Matt has since focused his talents solely in the world of F1 for Dexerto and GPFans - driving the sport forward for to embrace its newer audience.

Editorial Approach

Inform. Educate. Entertain. The three things Matt ensures every article at GPFans conveys so that the reader is left satisfied at the conclusion of the story, coming back for more. Every source, rumour, quote or gossip is traced back and only run if we are certain it stands up. It is our job in the modern world of publishing to split the fact from the fiction. Presenting both sides of the story in every article is imperative, but it is just as important to provide the reader with the right level of context so that they can make judgements for themselves.