Formula 1's popularity rising in US, survey shows series growing presence
The new survey revealed Formula 1 has a growing fanbase among younger and female audiences, as well in the U.S.
In recent years, Formula 1 has attempted to build a foundation of fandom in the United States. Newly released data appears to show it's succeeding.
F1 and Motorsport Network released the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey on July 1, giving an insight on how the sport's popularity is growing. The survey, which was based on more than 100,000 responses from "highly engaged" fans in 186 countries, found F1 has a growing fanbase among younger and female audiences, as well in the U.S.
Most respondents came from the U.S. and although the majority of F1's fanbase is in Europe, the U.S. "stands out for accelerating fan growth, especially among younger, digital-first audiences." The survey reported 70% of Gen Z respondents engaged with F1 content daily, while 40% of the American demographic follow drivers instead of teams. Of those in the U.S., 73% of people said they plan to attend a race in the future.
As a whole, 94% of people said they plan to follow F1 in the next five years, and 61% engage with its content daily.
“This study shows that fans are increasingly following Formula 1 for the stories and the many opportunities to engage with the sport, and then they’re becoming hooked on the fantastic racing," F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a statement. "The sport is embedded in culture now, via streaming, storytelling, and social media, and that’s helping more people connect.
There has no doubt been a concentrated effort by Formula 1 to draw more U.S. fans. Motorsport reported in April that F1 estimates there are roughly 52 million fans in America, which is a 10% increase from 2024. The Netflix show "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" has played a big part as its given people a behind-the-scenes look of the drivers as they embark on the season.
For much of Formula 1's World Championship season, the only race in the U.S. was the United States Grand Prix, held in Austin, Texas, since 2012. Then F1 introduced the Miami Grand Prix in 2022 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix the following year.
The newest two races in the U.S. have been successful, with the one in Miami taking place around the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium and the Las Vegas race wrapping around the city's iconic strip. The plan is to keep the races part of the F1 calendar for years to come. F1 announced in May the Miami Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through 2041 – a major announcement by the organization ahead of the fourth annual Miami race.
The viewership numbers have supported it as well. ESPN said the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship season reached nearly 30 million fans across its platforms and the average race viewership tied with 2023. In May, the famed Monaco Grand Prix had its largest live U.S. television audience ever with an average of 2.3 million viewers tuned in to the race-only portion of the broadcast, ESPN said.