F1 American Explosion: Another Record Falls in Canada, Proving the Hype is Real
If you've been following the Formula 1 season, you know the buzz around its growth in the U.S. is palpable. Well, guess what? The latest television viewership numbers from the Canadian Grand Prix are in, and they're not just good – they're record-breaking, adding yet another bullet point to the undeniable story of F1's booming popularity stateside.
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Canadian Grand Prix sets new record for viewers in the U.S.
Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The recent race in Montreal, broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, June 15, pulled in an astonishing 1.9 million viewers for the race-only portion. That's not just a significant number, it's the largest audience ever for the Canadian Grand Prix on U.S. television, even surpassing last year's record of 1.8 million. And for those tracking the future of the sport, the demographic numbers are equally encouraging, with 854,000 viewers in the crucial 18-49 age bracket tuning in. Even Saturday's qualifying session on ESPN2 snagged a respectable 593,000 viewers.
This success wasn't a fluke. The favorable North American time slot, kicking off at 2 PM Eastern Daylight Time, meant many U.S. fans could watch the high-octane action in prime daylight hours, without setting early alarms or staying up late. This accessible timing, combined with the exciting on-track action, clearly resonated with American audiences.
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Related: F1 Growth Surge: How women are driving the sport forward
F1 growth in the U.S. continues to soar
Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
This isn't an isolated incident. Out of nine F1 races so far this season, all but one have seen year-over-year viewership increases, and five of them – Australia, China, Monaco, Spain, and Canada – have set event records. The Monaco Grand Prix alone drew the third-largest live audience ever for a Formula 1 race on U.S. television. Overall, F1 races are now averaging a robust 1.3 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, a solid 6% jump year-over-year for the season-to-date. The younger 18-49 demographic is seeing even steeper growth, up 13% over the season-to-date average.
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The momentum is undeniable. With the Austrian Grand Prix up next on June 29, F1 continues to cement its place as a major player in the American sports landscape.
Related: F1 vs. IndyCar: Key differences explained ahead of Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix
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