Ahead of this weekend’s race in Silverstone, new data reveals that global racing series Formula 1is the largest annual sporting event in the world, powered in large part by Gen Z.
Nielsen’s latest global fan reach report shows F1’s fanbase to be an estimated 831 million worldwide, making it the fastest-growing sports property year-over-year outpacing the likes of the Premier League and NBA.
Critical to that growth is the key 16-29-year-old demographic, Gen Z.
“Formula 1’s growth story is no longer simply about attracting more viewers; it’s about attracting a new generation of fans,” said Andy Milnes, Market Lead for Sports, UK & Ireland at Nielsen Sports. “Younger audiences are engaging with the sport in greater numbers than we’ve seen in recent years, while iconic races such as the British Grand Prix continue to demonstrate the enduring appeal of live sport.”
For F1, the increase is bolstering television and streaming platforms. The Liberty Media-owned racing league has seen a sizeable uptick in fans watching events. Last year, Race Live audiences reached 21.9 million across the 24-race schedule, an increase of +22% compared with 2024 season.
With the Silverstone race in the U.K. this weekend, F1 will continue to focus on fan growth given its unique place in Formula 1 history. For the fifth consecutive season, the U.K. delivered Formula 1’s largest live audience of any market during the British Grand Prix, with the race attracting an audience 184% larger than the U.K.’s average Formula 1 race audience across the season.
The 2025 British Grand Prix attracted a total audience of 65.3 million viewers, up +4% year-over-year and +12% compared with 2023, marking the second consecutive
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