Formula 1 has recorded another year-on-year rise of audience figures, as it continues to expand its reach both on TV and in digital markets.
Figures released by the championship on Tuesday claim that a global cumulative TV audience stood at 1.922bn, the highest since 2012, and an increase of 9 per cent compared to 2018.
In the leading 20 markets this figure reached 1.781bn, with the same year-on-year improvement.
Brazil, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were the top five markets, while there were high increases in Poland (up 256 per cent) and in the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region.
This was attributed to the return of Robert Kubica and a new agreement with MBC Group, which covers Formula 1 across MENA.
Greece (75 per cent), the Netherlands (56 per cent) and Italy (29 per cent) were among the biggest risers, while the audience continued to grow in the United States and China, regarded as two key markets for Liberty Media.
In terms of unique viewers there were 405.5m across the leading 20 markets, an increase of 0.3 per cent, albeit with a slight decrease globally, dropping 3.9 per cent to 471m.
Formula 1 reported that of the 21 grands prix held in 2019, 19 had a higher cumulative audience compared to the previous season.
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza had the highest audience of the season – at 112m viewers – and it was the most-watched event since the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix.
Formula 1 also reported an increase in the number of people watching live race and qualifying broadcasts, with a substantial gain (24 per cent) in those watching practice.
Formula 1 lagged behind its contemporaries on social media during the previous regime but this has been a key target area since Liberty Media’s acquisition of the championship in 2017.
Through 2019 Formula 1 claims that its followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube reached 24.9m, a year-on-year increase of 32.9 per cent, making it the fastest growing of the major sports leagues.
Over 400m pages were viewed on the official Formula 1 website while the F1 App saw a three-digit increase, up to 714.2m.
Formula 1 also claims that of the new fans accumulated through the last two years 62 per cent are under the age of 35.
It cites China, Brazil, Mexico, the USA and India as the top five countries by number of fans.
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