ESPN records an all-time high in F1 viewership in the United States for the second year in a row with 1.21 million fans in 2022


ESPN records an all-time high in F1 viewership in the United States for the second year in a row with 1.21 million fans in 2022

ESPN records the highest F1 viewership in the US for the second year in a row

Formula 1 has seen a rise in viewership in the recent few years ever since the sport’s new owners Liberty Media pushed for a content-driven strategy with a key focus on the United States of America. This saw the release of the Netflix docuseries, ‘Drive to Survive’ along with two new races in the US added to the F1 calendar, Miami and Las Vegas. The results of this plan can be seen in the recent figures of viewership on American broadcasting giant ESPN.

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ESPN currently has a long-term deal for commercial-free Formula 1 coverage in the American market, with even additional coverage on its premium services. The channel recently reported its figures for the 2022 Formula 1 season, recording a remarkable 28% increase over the previous year. The total viewership stood at 1.21 million fans, the highest for the sport in the United States. 2022 becomes the second consecutive year for an all-time high in the F1 audience tuning in on their TV sets, breaking 2021’s record of 949,000 fans.

ESPN recently extended its deal for F1 coverage till 2025

As Liberty Media strives to bring more fans to the sport, this number is only set to grow. With 2023 having three races in the country, providing a star-studded paddock at every race, with drivers getting a taste of American culture. The rise in people watching the pinnacle of motorsport is not just limited to broadcasts but on track as well, with the United States GP at the Circuit of Americas hosting 440,000 fans, the most ever for a Grand Prix in the US. The Miami Grand Prix too witnessed similar figures in the hundreds of thousands.

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ESPN F1 viewership is set to increase further with American driver, Logan Sargeant joining the grid in 2023

Logan Sargeant will be the first US driver to race in the sport since 2015

Logan Sargeant fills the final missing piece in Formula 1’s puzzle in the US. An American driver competing at the pinnacle of motorsport. The 21-year-old has been confirmed to drive for Williams next season after securing the required points for the FIA super license. Logan will be the first driver from the US to race in a grand prix after Alexander Rossi in 2015. Sargeant has already taken part in post-season testing for the team and his official debut will be highly anticipated. Thousands of US fans will be keen to witness their countryman take part in F1.

Formula 1 now has everything it needs to be successful in the land of the free, a US-based team in the form of Haas, a US driver, and of course 3 races in America. With the recorded rise in numbers, Liberty Media is already reaping its rewards for the efforts put in the US market and things seem to only go up from here, with the sport solidifying its place in the midst of its local rivals, Indycar and NASCAR, with broadcaster ESPN, also getting the benefits.

After the decades-long struggle, the sport had in the US, with disasters such as the 2005 Indianapolis tire fiasco, the new owners have finally achieved the dream of Formula 1’s success in the United States of America. With 2023 set to be the most exciting season for American F1 fans, the sport’s following in the country will only increase from this point forth.

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