The 2021 Formula 1 season ended with a bang. There were plenty of memorable moments, and it was a season that will be remembered for a long time by fans across the world.

While many fans had the privilege to attend the F1 arenas, most did not. Formula 1 has released annual audience figures for the 2021 season. The figures are divided into TV audience, social and digital platforms, and race attendance.

 

 

 

 

 

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TV audience
The season finale in Abu Dhabi was watched by a total of 108.7 million viewers. This significantly increased the previous year's viewership and marked the highest single-race viewing figures.

The total TV audience for the season was 1.55 billion, up 4% from the previous year. The season opener in Bahrain was watched by an average of 84.5 million viewers. Moreover, the three Sprint weekends at Silverstone had 79.5 million, Monza 80.4 million, and Sao Paulo 82.1 million views.

In 2021, the average audience for a Grand Prix was around 70.3 million globally. This figure was up from the previous year's figure of 60.3 million.

Social and digital platforms

Formula 1 announces audience and fan attendance figures for 2021.

Our fans reacted to the season, new formats, and new venues, very positively and Formula 1 has seen growth in our TV audiences and on our digital platforms.https://t.co/YS1gF8hhgB

— F1 Media (@F1Media) February 17, 2022

Formula 1 continued to grow its follower base in 2021. It has seen the highest engagement rate among major sports leagues.

In 2021, the total number of followers across its Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitch, and Chinese social platforms grew 40 percent to 49.1 million, the number of video views also increased 50 percent to 7bn, and the total post engagement rose 74 percent to 1.5 billion.

In addition, the number of video views across F1.com grew 44 percent compared to 2020, and the app and social media users were up 63 percent. In China, the number of followers on various social platforms grew by 39 percent.

Race attendance
In 2021, around 2.69 million fans visited the events, even though some races were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although the number of fans dropped slightly from the previous year's figures, F1 expected the demand to return to normal once the pandemic subsided.

More than 300,000 people watched the three Grands Prix in Mexico, the US, and Great Britain. The number of fans attending those Grands Prix grew significantly compared to the previous year, with the US, Mexico, and Great Britain welcoming more fans than in 2019.

A total of 11 races attracted over 100,000 fans. Some of the most popular events include those in Belgium (213,000), Turkey (190,000), Brazil (181,000), Saudi Arabia (143,000), and Austria (132,000).

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said that the 2021 season was extraordinary, with a championship battle that went all the way to the end.

Despite the Covid outbreak, F1 could still welcome back its fans. Through the support of its supporters, the sport was able to continue to grow and attract new viewers.

"We are looking forward to our record-breaking 23-race season this year, with new cars, new regulations, and a new challenge for all the teams and drivers. I know all of our fans can't wait to get the season started," Domenicali expressed his excitement.