Formula 1 2026 records record crowds, soaring viewership and greener race weekends

The 2026 Formula 1 season has reached the halfway point with all 11 race weekends sold out, drawing about 3.7 million spectators – a 6 % rise on the previous year. Circuits set attendance records, notably Silverstone with 564,000 fans, Australia with 484,000 and Belgium with 400,000, while Japan and the British Grand Prix also saw double‑digit growth. Television audiences surged: Brazil’s race‑weekend viewership jumped five‑fold, the British Grand Prix attracted 18 million Brazilian viewers, Italy’s audience grew 27 %, Chinese viewership more than doubled and Monaco reached nearly 80 million worldwide. Digital reach expanded to over 125 million social followers, a 19 % increase, and video views rose 54 %. The overall fanbase now exceeds 830 million, with women at 42 % and under‑35s at 43 %; 66 % of fans rated the action “good” or “excellent,” up from 60 % last season, with Canada leading at 84 % approval. Commercially, F1 added 20 licensing partners, welcomed 60,000 hospitality guests and secured new or extended agreements in Malaysia, Türkiye, Las Vegas, Barcelona, Spa and Portugal. The Sim Racing World Championship saw a 72 % rise in live viewers, and the sport reported a 35 % reduction in its carbon footprint since 2018. Meanwhile, the way fans consume the sport has shifted to a three‑day narrative, with practice sessions, technical data and mobile betting markets influencing championship odds from Friday onward, reflecting deeper engagement and a broader betting integration across regulated platforms.