TV News: USA Motorsports weekend TV Viewers/TV Ratings

ESPN2’s live telecast of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 30, earned an average audience of 1.4 million TV viewers, up 44% from 990,000 in 2024 and the largest audience ever to watch the event on U.S. television, based on Nielsen Big Data + Panel data.

The audience peaked at 1.7 million between noon and 12:15 p.m. ET to watch Max Verstappen drive to victory.

595,000 TV viewers were in the all-important 18-49 age group.

In 23 F1 races this season, there have been 15 event viewership records set across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. The previous Qatar Grand Prix viewership record was 990,000, set in 2024.

F1 races are averaging 1.3 million viewers this season – on track to establish all-time U.S. television record average for live races. The current record of 1.21 million was set in 2022.

The F1 season ends with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Dec. 7. The race will air live on ESPN and stream on the ESPN App at 7:55 a.m. ET.