Formula One fan growth continues boosted by China

LONDON – Formula One added nearly 90 million new fans in 2024, with China showing the biggest percentage rise following the sport’s post-Covid return to Shanghai, according to data released by Nielsen Sports on March 19.

China was on the calendar last season for the first time since 2019 and the circuit hosts the second round of the 2025 campaign this weekend, although there is no longer a Chinese driver on the grid.

Zhou Guanyu is now a Ferrari reserve, after losing his race seat at Sauber.

Nielsen put Formula One’s global fandom at 826.5 million, 12 per cent more than in 2023, with a 39 per cent increase in fans following in China over the last 12 months.

The United States, a key growth market with three grands prix, showed a 10.5 per cent expansion. Canada (+31.5%),Argentina and Saudi Arabia (both +25.5%) were also strong.

The Argentine figures reflect the effect of Franco Colapinto last year becoming the country’s first driver on the grid since 2001 when he replaced dropped American Logan Sargeant at Williams.

Colapinto, 21, is now a reserve at Renault-owned Alpine and tipped to take a race seat there with Australian rookie Jack Doohan’s place seen at risk.

The 2025 season, the sport’s 75th, has already got off to a strong start with the official total estimated attendance at the opening Australian Grand Prix put at a record 465,498.

That total is more than 13,000 higher than 2024 and the race in Melbourne also drew a bigger TV audience than the previous year, with Nielsen reporting a 22 per cent increase.

Cumulative TV viewership was up more than 10 per cent in 2024 for the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

American broadcaster ESPN also reported its largest Australian GP audience on record last weekend