F1: What Makes It So Popular and ExcitingWolfgang Wilhelm

Formula 1 is more than just a sport. It is a spectacle, a phenomenon, a passion. F1 is a sport that transcends boundaries and cultures, that unites and inspires millions of people around the world. It is a sport that delivers excitement and drama, that showcases speed and skill, that challenges and rewards. It is a sport that we love to watch.

What Is the size of the F1 viewership? How many people tune in to witness the thrilling and dramatic races, the fierce and unpredictable battles, the legendary and iconic drivers and teams? What is the number of people follow F1 on social and digital platforms, engaging with its content and community? How many people are part of the F1 family?

In this article, we will reveal the numbers that show how many people watched F1 in 2022, a record-breaking year for the sport in terms of viewership. We will also explore the reasons behind F1’s popularity and growth, and what makes it so appealing and captivating for its fans and audiences.

What Was The F1 Viewership in 2022?

Formula 1 had a record-breaking year in terms of F1 viewership in 2022, as the sport attracted more fans and audiences from different regions and demographics.

It started with the thrilling and dramatic 2021 season, which saw Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fight forte title. They battled until the last lap of the last race, captivated and entertained millions of people around the world.

The drama and emotion captured fans attention. Here are some of the numbers that show how many people watched F1 in 2022.

F1 Viewership – TV Audience

According to Formula 1, the cumulative TV audience for 2022 was 1.55 billion, up 4% from the 2021 season. 

On average, 70.3 million people watched each Grand Prix in 2022. 

The First Race Started The Trend

The season opener in Bahrain (84.5 million), and the three Sprint weekend events at Silverstone (79.5 million), Monza (80.4 million) and Sao Paulo (82.1 million) also had strong audiences.

The Last Race In Abu Dhabi Reached Record Numbers

The season finale in Abu Dhabi drew 108.7 million viewers, the highest figure for a race during the season and 29% higher than the same race in 2020. 

China Is The Biggest Market

The biggest market for F1 viewership was China, with 70.8 million unique viewers in 2022, up 13% from 2020. 

Other markets that saw significant increases in viewership were

  • Spain (+272%)
  • Russia (+129%)
  • USA (+53%). 

In the USA, F1 had its most-viewed season ever. It averaged 1.21 million viewers per race across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.

This was up 28% from the 2021 record of 949,000 average viewer. Twelve of the 22 races set U.S. television event viewership records.

F1 Viewership – Social and Digital Platforms

Formula 1 also had a remarkable growth on social and digital platforms in 2022. It was the fastest-growing major sports league on the planet in terms of follower growth. 

F1 Viewership had 49.1 million total followers across the following platforms were up 40% from 2021

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Snapchat
  • Twitch
  • Chinese social platforms, . 

Video views were up 50% to 7 billion and total engagement was up 74% to 1.5 billion.

F1 also saw a high engagement rate with its social posts compared to other major sports in 2022. 

2023 Is Seeing More Growth In F1 Viewership

For the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, ESPN had 1.523 million viewers, according to Pit Pass, up on last year’s 1.445 million.

The Drive To Survive Series

The Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive”, which premiered in 2019 gave a dramatized behind-the-scenes look at the life of drivers and teams.

According to most insiders, as well as Liberty Media itself, the series has been the reason for the recent boom in F1 viewership numbers.

Drive to Survive presents F1 as being dramatic and having excitement around every corner.

Conclusion

Formula 1 had a phenomenal year in terms of viewership in 2022, reaching new heights and breaking records on TV and online platforms.

The sport attracted more fans and audiences from different regions and demographics, who enjoyed watching the speed, skill, competition, drama, innovation, teamwork, tradition, and passion of F1 racing.

F1 is a sport that has many reasons to be liked and watched by people from different backgrounds and interests.

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By Jonny Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jonny Noble I’m a dedicated F1 Writer – and I’ve Been One for Over Four Decades, I’ve been intimately immersed in the world of Formula One for more than 44 years. That’s longer than most professional commentators can boast! As an independent writer, I offer a unique perspective on the entire F1 landscape, free from biases that might cloud the discussion. We dive deep into the exhilarating, frustrating, and captivating facets of the F1 universe. So, regardless of my amateur status, one thing is undeniable: four decades of dedicated F1 fandom have forged strong opinions worth exploring!