Overview
- ESPN averaged about 1.3 million viewers per race in 2025 (Sports Media Watch reports 1.32 million), the highest U.S. season average on record, with 16 of 24 races setting individual highs and 21 posting year-over-year gains.
- The Abu Dhabi finale drew 1.53 million viewers on ESPN, the largest U.S. audience ever for that race, as Lando Norris secured the championship and Max Verstappen won the Grand Prix.
- Nielsen’s 2025 methodology shifts, including nationwide out‑of‑home measurement and a Big Data + Panel approach, boosted live sports tallies and complicate direct comparisons with earlier seasons.
- Formula 1’s U.S. rights shift to Apple TV in 2026 under an exclusive five‑year deal reported at roughly $140–$150 million annually, and future audience figures may be less transparent because Apple has not routinely used Nielsen for sports.
- Major 2026 changes include lighter cars, redesigned power units, smaller tires, a budget cap increase to $215 million, GM/Cadillac joining as an 11th team, Audi running its own engine after taking full control of Sauber, and Red Bull producing its first in‑house power unit.