Formula 1 saw massive growth in 2025, dwarfing all other racing series
2025 marked Formula 1’s 75th anniversary, a milestone celebrated with an unprecedented season launch event and a season that saw massive growth.
The season featured 24 thrilling Grands Prix, with nine different drivers from seven teams reaching the podium. It culminated in a dramatic three-way title fight among McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, plus defending champion Max Verstappen — the closest championship battle in 15 years. Norris secured his maiden Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren claimed consecutive Constructors’ Championships.
A Bigger, Younger, and More Diverse Global Fanbase
Formula 1’s global fanbase expanded to 827 million in 2025 — a 12% year-on-year increase and a 63% rise compared to 2018. Notably:
– 43% of fans were under 35, with 51 million new fans in that age group.
– 57% of all new fans over the past year were under 35.
– Female fans now represent 42% of the total (up from 37% in 2018), with 43 million new female fans and 48% of new fans being female.
Unmatched Attendance Records at the Track
The season set a new benchmark for combined attendance, reaching 6.7 million fans — the highest ever. Highlights include:
– 19 of 24 events completely sold out.
– 11 new attendance records.
– Four weekends drawing more than 400,000 attendees.
– Specific standouts: British Grand Prix (500,000), Australian Grand Prix (465,000), USGP (430,000), Belgian Grand Prix (389,000), Italian Grand Prix (369,000), and Canadian Grand Prix (352,000).
– Ten additional weekends exceeded 300,000 attendees.
F1 The Movie: A Cultural Phenomenon
Released in June, F1 The Movie became the highest-grossing sports film of all time, earning over $630 million. It marked:
– The largest global opening weekend for a Brad Pitt film.
– The highest-grossing film of Brad Pitt’s career.
– Screenings on more than 44,000 screens across 78 markets outside the US and Canada.
The production captured over 185 hours of footage at 14 Grands Prix and incorporated more than 2,000 hours of F1 broadcast material. Upon its Apple TV streaming debut on December 12, it immediately topped the charts and set a record for the biggest opening streaming weekend for a theatrical release on the platform.
Las Vegas Grand Prix: A Spectacular Showpiece
The sold-out Las Vegas Grand Prix drew over 300,000 attendees across the weekend, generating:
– Over 450 million video views.
– More than 60 million online interactions.
– 1.8 billion impressions.
– Over 5,000 social posts.
– More than 43,000 media articles.
– Involvement from over 1,200 creators.
The event featured 44 private suites and five shared suites in the Paddock Club, plus an F1 Business Summit hosted with Liberty Media.
Sprint Format, Calendar Stability, and Looking Ahead
78% of fans supported retaining Sprint weekends, which produced 8% more social mentions and 4% more social reach than non-Sprint events. For 2026, six venues will host Sprints: Shanghai, Miami, Silverstone, Montreal, Zandvoort, and Singapore.
2025 saw major calendar extensions securing races into the 2030s and beyond, including:
– Miami and Austrian Grands Prix to the 2040s (renewed until 2041).
– United States Grand Prix to 2034.
– Canadian and Monaco Grands Prix to 2035.
– Azerbaijan to 2030.
– Mexico City to 2028.
– A multi-year extension for Belgium (2026, 2027, 2029, 2031).
Formula 1 also announced a return to Portimão, Portugal, in 2027 and 2028.
As the sport prepares for 2026 — with new regulations, power units, sustainable fuels, Madrid joining the calendar, and new teams Audi and Cadillac — 2025 stands as a pinnacle of growth, excitement, and record-breaking success.