Formula One’s global TV viewership figures have risen across each of the first three races of the season despite fans being divided over the current state of the racing product.
BlackBook Motorsport understands that global audiences have risen year-over-year (YoY) for the races in Australia (23 per cent), China (30 per cent) and Japan (20 per cent). These figures were first reported by Planet F1 and have since been confirmed by an industry source.
These TV audiences were measured across more than the top ten markets around the world, but individual market data is currently not available. The data includes viewership from both race and qualifying sessions.
This boost in viewers comes despite controversy around the application of Formula One’s new regulations, with some fans lamenting the on-track product, especially in qualifying. The series’ chief executive Stefano Domenicali acknowledged these issues in a recent interview.
“I can see an incredible result in terms of positivity from the bigger fan base on what is the effect on the racing,” Domenicali told Autosport. “Definitely, I take on board the criticism related to certain situations that we have to manage related mainly to qualifying.”
He added: “We are managing it in the right way, with no panic, with a solid foundation, being ready to have different options.”
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) and Formula One are currently conducting a series of meetings during the championship’s unplanned five-week break from racing with the aim of improving the current regulations.
According to various reports, Formula One is likely to introduce a small revamp of the rules in time for the next race at the Miami Grand Prix on 3rd May.
BlackBook says…
At a time where most ardent Formula One fans are questioning the state of sport, more eyeballs are being drawn to watch the racing.
Hardcore followers may feel disillusioned, but Formula One’s decision to emphasise entertainment over sporting integrity is working towards its pursuit of growth.
Converting casual fans into race-watching consumers is one of motorsport’s most complex challenges – just ask Nascar executives after it found 90 per cent of the people that watched its Netflix docuseries Full Speed hadn’t watched a minute of the playoffs the year prior.
It’s an interesting paradox of modern sport, one that Formula One knows all too well from its own Drive to Survive series. In fact, a study in 2023 found that 26 per cent of Drive to Survive viewers had no interest in the sport whatsoever.
There will always be fans that resist change, but does Formula One risk alienating its core following in pursuit of wider popularity? It will be interesting to see if the series can convince both purists and casual fans alike of its on-track product.
Credit: https://www.blackbookmotorsport.com/news/f1-global-tv-viewership-figures-fia-regulations-domenicali-april-2026/?utm_campaign=41633101-SportsPro%20Daily%3A%20April&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--5uywUMRBni69DDD7V1mIyas_ofZeUZRQWCi9QJ_StGceVGWufnQ8K4c6nzLIQZ6Cb9OLGWYfPBB0hLUQfl4h09UrhmqW41B8ugyjK4wxtW2hLCS8&_hsmi=413951894&utm_content=413946105&utm_source=hs_email
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