Last weekend’s Formula 1 British Grand Prix delivered excitement on the track, as Lando Norris captured his first home race victory and veteran Nico Hülkenberg reached the podium for the first time in 239 F1 starts.
It also delivered another “record-breaking” number for ESPN’s coverage.
According to the network, ESPN2’s telecast of the British Grand Prix averaged 1.5 million viewers, a 19% gain over last year’s telecast and the largest audience ever for the race on U.S. television. That viewership peaked at 1.8 million right around the time Norris took the checkered flag.
Those numbers are consistent with what the network is describing as a “record-breaking season of viewership,” as ten of 11 races so far this season have seen “year-over-year viewership growth,” and seven of the 11 races have set viewership records.
Only this year’s Miami Grand Prix did not exceed last year’s number.
This year’s Monaco Grand Prix was also the third-largest audience ever for an F1 race in the United States.
ESPN noted that F1 races are averaging 1.3 million viewers, up 17% over the 2024 full-season average. In the 18-49 age bracket, viewership is up 24% over the 2024 full-season average.
These numbers come as ESPN’s contract with F1 expires at the end of the 2025 campaign, and the sport is looking at new potential media rights partners for the United States market.
