What Is The Most Watched F1 Race Ever?

As Formula 1 continues to grow in popularity, so do the numbers, with the 2022 Miami Grand Prix being the most-watched F1 race ever in the US, drawing in an average of 2.583 million viewers. 

And it isn’t just the TV numbers that are growing either!

Social media followers and engagement reached all-time highs in 2022, and more and more people are betting on F1 given all F1 teams are favorites when it comes to bets on sites like 20bet bonus ph.

The 2022 F1 season in the United States broke the previous TV viewership record of 949,000 average viewers set in 2021, averaging 1.21 million viewers per race across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, representing a 28 percent increase. This season also made history as the first to average over 1 million viewers per race in the US. Furthermore, the season saw a surge in female and younger viewership, with more tuning in to F1 races on American television than ever before.

There were 12 races in 2022, including Miami, that established record-breaking event viewership:

Bahrain – 1.353 million average viewers

Saudi Arabia – 1.445 million

Miami (new event) – 2.583 million

Spain – 1.14 million 

Briain – 1.239 million

Austria – 1.1 million

Hungary – 1.23 million

Belgium – 1.03 million

Holland – 1.14 million

Italy – 995K

Singapore – 1.036 million

Brazil – 1.4 million

2022 F1 Season Breaks Records

In 2022, the Monaco and Emilia Romagna races saw their biggest live cable audiences ever recorded, with 1.396 million and 1.166 million viewers, respectively. Moreover, an impressive 17 races drew in over 1 million average viewers, indicating the growing popularity of F1 in the US.

The race with the lowest TV audience in the 2022 season was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw a 35% decrease in viewership compared to the previous year, possibly due to the race’s early start time.

The F1 season in 2022 saw a remarkable increase in viewership among the younger generation, with persons aged 12-17 increasing by 49% compared to 2021, averaging 36,000 viewers per race, the highest growth rate among all key demographics. Additionally, viewership among persons aged 18-34 and 25-34 saw a remarkable increase, averaging 238K and 169K viewers per race, respectively, marking a 43% and 46% increase compared to 2021.

The viewership of women in F1 races also experienced a significant surge in 2022. Women averaged 352K viewers per race, up 34% over 2021, and made up an average of 28% of the audience.

Moreover, the F1 qualifying sessions on ESPN television platforms in 2022 saw a remarkable surge in viewership, averaging 554K viewers, up 17% compared to the 2021 full-season qualifying average of 475K viewers. This increase indicates that fans are increasingly interested in the qualifying sessions of the F1 races.

How did the pandemic affect Formula 1 viewer numbers?

The pandemic had a mixed impact on Formula 1 viewer numbers. According to a survey conducted in 2020, 73% of fans believed that F1 handled the absence of fans at races well.

However, the release of the Netflix series “Drive to Survive” in 2019 was credited with a boost in F1’s TV audience in the United States, with ESPN reporting that its average viewers per race had risen to about 928,000 in 2021 from about.

On the other hand, F1’s digital audience numbers saw a significant increase in 2021 compared to the previous year. Total video views across YouTube, the F1 app, and social media increased by 44% to 7.04 billion, unique users increased by 63% to 113 million, and page views increased by 23% to 1.6 billion.

According to Formula 1, the total digital audience for the 2021 season increased by 74% to 1.5 billion, with followers across various social media platforms growing by 40% to 49.1 million.

The Future of F1 Broadcasts

The Formula One Group is exploring the possibility of offering an Over The Top (OTT) broadcast model for Formula 1 content, which would be similar to Netflix and would allow fans to pay for an in-depth service dedicated to F1 content. 

Additionally, ESPN is the exclusive home of Formula One in the United States, and the network broadcasts races commercial-free on ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC. 

Formula 1 is also making efforts to bring the excitement of Grand Prix racing to fans around the world through F1 TV, which offers expert analysis provided by Will Buxton as lead presenter. 

Therefore, it seems that Formula 1 is exploring various options to bring its content to fans in a more accessible and engaging way, including through OTT services and through partnerships with broadcasters such as ESPN.

In conclusion, Formula One has a long and storied history of captivating audiences around the world with thrilling races and iconic moments. It’s clear that Formula One’s popularity is only growing, and with new races and venues being added to the calendar each year, there’s no telling what the future holds for this incredible sport. As we look forward to the upcoming season and beyond, one thing is certain: the world will be watching.