Formula 1 expects to sell out its remaining 20 races in the 2022 season, further consolidating its growing popularity from increased streaming exposure, per the Guardian.
The global racing series reported sellouts for all three of its opening races, most recently the April’s Australian Grand Prix. Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit drew a total attendance of nearly 420,000 over a four-day period.
The box-office success is heavily attributed to the Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive,” but F1 has also embraced streaming platforms to engage audiences, improving overall ratings. F1 races have averaged a record 934,000 viewers on ESPN and ABC last season, a 54% uptick from 2020.
More than 100,000 tickets have already been sold for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, which is expected to sell out thanks to the recent success of Scuderia Ferrari, the Italian luxury carmaker’s racing division.
July’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone sold out in the shortest time in the race’s history.
The Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May at Hard Rock Stadium, sold out its grandstand seating only days after the event was announced in September 2021 — but the race has been met with backlash from Miami residents over potential noise disruption.