formula one

Formula 1 is frequently referred to as the "king of motorsports" and is, without a doubt, the most well-known racing series in the world. While other racing categories may be more well-liked in specific nations, Formula 1 is a truly global sport. Grands Prix are held all around the world, and the drivers are chosen from many different home nations.

That said, have you ever wondered which countries are the biggest fans of Formula 1? Despite the fact that fans of the sport come from all over the world, some regions have become its fandom stronghold.

Discover which nations have the biggest concentrations of fans—both in person and as television viewers—with our simple write-up below.

In Terms of Television Viewership

With more than 1.9 billion viewers tuning in over the course of a season, Formula 1 dominates the racing competition in terms of global television viewership. The typical F1 race attracts well over 80 million spectators. In contrast, NASCAR, the second-most popular motorsport in the world, averages about 10 million spectators every race from a largely American audience.

Following a decline in the 2010s, the number of Formula 1 races broadcast on television has been steadily climbing, increasing by several percentage points annually. Despite an increase in popularity worldwide, some nations consistently draw a larger audience of people of colour than others.

From lowest to highest in terms of viewership, the top five television markets for Formula 1 are the Netherlands, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Brazil. Over the course of a season, each of the top five markets draws more than 100 million total television viewers.

When it comes to television viewing, the United States comes in at a respectable sixth. However, the US is likely to break into the top five in the coming years as popularity grows and additional home races are added to the schedule.

The wildly popular Netflix series Drive to Survive, which debuted in 2019, can be held responsible for a large portion of the increasing interest in Formula 1 racing in the US. The drama of the teams and drivers as they deal with the day-to-day challenges of a racing season is shown in the reality-style television show.

The spectacle has finally sparked American enthusiasm after nearly 50 years of attempts by F1 to do so, especially among younger generations. Since Drive to Survive started airing, US television viewing of Formula 1 racing has climbed by more than 50% yearly.

In Terms of Grands Prix Attendance

Examining the attendance figures at each of the host nations' Grands Prix is another approach to gauge how popular Formula 1 is in a particular nation. Interestingly, the races with the most broadcast viewership do not always have the biggest in-person attendance. Of course, the maximum number of racegoers allowed at each track facility may have an impact on these figures.

The United States Grand Prix now draws the most crowds on the Formula 1 calendar. Over 400,000 spectators came out for the 2021 race on October 24. The United States will probably continue to dominate annual attendance figures at Formula 1 races after the Miami Grand Prix joins the schedule in 2022, and a third US race is planned to be added as early as 2023.

With almost 370,000 spectators in attendance in 2021, Mexico's Gran Premio, which had previously won the award for best attendance, placed second. The British Grand Prix, which attracted more than 350,000 spectators, came in third.

In decreasing order of crowd size, the remaining Formula 1 races with the highest attendance in 2021 are the Belgian Grand Prix, which attracts more than 200,000 spectators, the Dutch Grand Prix, the Turkish Grand Prix, and the Grande Prêmio de So Paulo in Brazil, which draws more than 180,000 spectators. The Formula 1 races hosted in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Hungary all draw well over 100,000 spectators apiece, in that order.

Conclusion

Formula 1 is one of the most popular sports in the world. It has a huge following, and its impact is felt by many. It is also constantly evolving and growing, with new technologies and innovations constantly being introduced.

That said, fans can look forward to more exciting races and plenty of action in the foreseeable future so long as the races and events continue to progress beyond their current popularity.

If you are looking for a great source of F1 memorabilia, look no further than our amazing selections here at Signed Memorabilia 4U. All our items are beautifully framed and feature 100% authentic original autographs. All of them are also supplied with certificates of authenticity! Check out our online store for more of our memorabilia collections and their prices.