Formula 1's Farewell to ESPN: A Milestone-Filled Journey
Formula 1's partnership with ESPN came to a close, leaving behind an impressive legacy of viewership milestones. The final race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was a fitting end to an era, attracting the largest audience ever recorded for the event, with an average of 1.53 million viewers on ESPN. This marked a significant 53% increase compared to the previous high of 1 million viewers.
But here's where it gets controversial... Nielsen's recent methodology changes, including expanding out-of-home viewing samples and incorporating "Big Data" from smart TVs, might have influenced these numbers. However, the substantial increase suggests that the sport's popularity was a key driver.
Max Verstappen's win, which also saw Lando Norris clinch the season title, was the last Formula 1 race broadcast on ESPN networks. Starting next season, F1 will move to Apple TV, marking a new chapter in its media rights journey.
And this is the part most people miss... Despite the methodological changes, 21 out of 24 races this season saw year-over-year increases, with only three races not hitting new highs. The most-watched race of the season, the Miami Grand Prix, lacked the NBA playoff lead-in that boosted last year's race to an all-time high.
The entire 2025 F1 season averaged an impressive 1.32 million viewers on ESPN networks, a 20% increase from the previous year. This makes it the most-watched F1 season in US television history, surpassing the 2022 season's high of 1.21 million viewers.
The last five F1 seasons, dating back to 2021, have consistently broken records, with each season surpassing the long-standing high of 748,000 set in 1995. ESPN's current run has aired the six most-watched F1 seasons of the past 30 years, a remarkable achievement.
When ESPN began its F1 journey in 2018, the first season averaged just 554,000 viewers, an improvement over the previous year's average on NBC Sports. This growth showcases the increasing popularity of Formula 1 in the US.
Comparing F1 to Other Motorsports
In terms of viewership, F1 was only slightly behind the IndyCar Series, which averaged 1.36 million viewers. However, it's important to note that IndyCar aired exclusively on broadcast television during its new rights deal with FOX.
As expected, NASCAR Cup Series viewership was higher, averaging 2.48 million across various platforms. F1 comfortably surpassed the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which aired exclusively on broadcast TV, averaging 1.05 million on CW.
The Future of F1 Viewership
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix may be the last F1 race for a while with publicly accessible viewership estimates. Apple, which now holds the media rights, has not subscribed to Nielsen measurement for its sports properties. This means that viewership data will likely be scarce and controlled by league executives.
However, as F1 heads into its partnership with Apple, it's clear that its viewership is at an all-time high and competitive with other domestic motorsports series. This partnership could open up new opportunities for the sport's growth and reach.
Written by Jon Lewis, founder of Sports Media Watch. Contact him here or on X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
