• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Formula 1’s Growth Hits A Speed Bump With U.S. Viewers

  • Viewership for Formula 1 races on ESPN was down 8% in 2023.
  • The sport will return to its three American markets for grand prix in 2024.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Formula 1 has clearly stated its goal to continue growing in North America, but it will head into the 2024 season looking to rebound from a decline in U.S. viewership.

F1’s 22 races this season averaged 1.11 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. That’s an 8% drop from last year’s record U.S. viewership average of 1.21 million on the same Disney-owned channels.

This dip in viewership came in a second consecutive season dominated by Max Verstappen, who won 19 of the 22 races and secured the constructors’ championship for Red Bull along with teammate Sergio Perez. The lone grand prix not won by a Red Bull driver was Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore.

The 2024 season will grow to 24 grand prix races and return to three American stops: Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas. The next campaign will also mark the second year of ESPN’s three-year deal for the sport’s U.S. broadcast rights at a reported price of $255 million.

Next season’s viewership could be crucial in determining how high a fee F1 can command for a subsequent U.S. deal, which would begin in 2026 — and how much competition ESPN may have to retain those rights.

Hold The Caution Flags 

NASCAR, meanwhilesaw a 5% viewership decline over its recently concluded 2023 season, but that didn’t stop the racing outfit from sealing a big combined media rights increase from its incumbent partners and two new broadcasters.

Amazon, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and Warner Bros. Discovery just agreed to seven-year deals with NASCAR, which will reportedly receive $7.7 billion for its media rights, including a separate package for its Xfinity Series on The CW.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.

Suns All In on Booker, Who Signs Record Extension Amidst Chaos

The Suns changed their head coach for the fourth time in four years.

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Coach Prime is frustrated with the new revenue-sharing era.

Murphy: Club WC Snags Won’t Derail Biggest Event ‘in Human History’

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is the concluding site of both FIFA events.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.