Last weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix delivered excitement on the track, as Lando Norris captured his first home race victory and veteran Nico Hülkenberg reached the podium for the first time in 239 F1 starts.
ESPN reports ‘record-breaking’ viewership for F1 British Grand Prix
The F1 British Grand Prix set a new viewership record on ESPN in the United States
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
It also delivered another “record-breaking” number for ESPN’s coverage.
According to the network, ESPN2’s telecast of the British Grand Prix averaged 1.5 million viewers, a 19% gain over last year’s telecast and the largest audience ever for the race on U.S. television. That viewership peaked at 1.8 million right around the time Norris took the checkered flag.
Those numbers are consistent with what the network is describing as a “record-breaking season of viewership,” as 11 of 12 races so far this season have seen “year-over-year viewership growth,” and seven of the 12 races have set viewership records.*
Only this year’s Miami Grand Prix did not exceed last year’s number.
This year’s Monaco Grand Prix was also the third-largest audience ever for an F1 race in the United States.
ESPN noted that F1 races are averaging 1.3 million viewers, up 17% over the 2024 full-season average. In the 18-49 age bracket, viewership is up 24% over the 2024 full-season average.
These numbers come as ESPN’s contract with F1 expires at the end of the 2025 campaign, and the sport is looking at new potential media rights partners for the United States market.
NOTE: The original release from ESPN reflected 11 races, but the network issued a corrected release updating data for all 12.
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