Formula 1 Viewership Way Up in the U.S.

Formula 1 has exploded in popularity since Netflix debuted “Drive to Survive” in 2019, and that doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.

This season’s United States Grand Prix in Austin recorded a 42% increase in viewership over the same race two years before. Nearly 400,000 fans attended the event.

Across ESPN, ESPN 2, and ABC, F1 is averaging 947,000 viewers this year — a 56% year-over-year increase.

The Austin race, which had “millions” invested in infrastructure, drew an average of 1.2 million viewers, reaching a high of 1.6 million.

The U.S. will get another coveted F1 race when the Miami Grand Prix begins in May as part of a 10-year contract.

• The United States Grand Prix moved to Austin in 2012, the first time the event took place since 2007 in Indianapolis. 
• 1984 was the last time there were two races in the U.S. There was a failed attempt at hosting a Weehawken, N.J., race in 2013.
• Nevada governor Steve Sisolak has said that he’s been in talks with F1 for a Grand Prix in Las Vegas.

The Miami Grand Prix will take place on a track around Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins.

Miami Gardens mayor Rodney Harris says the race will “generate millions of dollars, not only for our economy in Miami Gardens, but for the whole South Florida region.”