ABC’s Miami Grand Prix broadcast on Sunday drew 1.96 million average viewers, the second-largest live audience for an F1 race in U.S. television history.
Only last year’s Miami Grand Prix on ABC had a bigger audience, with 2.6 million average viewers tuning in for that inaugural race on ABC. Last year’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix brought $350 million in economic impact to the South Florida area.
This year’s Miami Grand Prix began at 3:30 p.m. ET, but race organizers have discussed starting the race at night in the future to race in colder temperatures once the sun goes down in Miami. But the later start time could jeopardize F1’s broadcast audience viability in Europe.
F1’s strong live TV audience in America comes as the 2023 circuit will be the first since 1982 to feature three races in the U.S. The United States Grand Prix will be held on Oct. 22 in Austin, Texas, while the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on Nov. 18.
In 2022, ESPN and ABC agreed to a three-year U.S. media rights deal for Formula 1 races that’s reportedly worth between $75 million to $90 million per year.
