F1 has never been shy about dreaming big, but even by its own ambitious standards, the last two years have felt completely different. The sport that once worried about empty grandstands and shrinking TV audiences is now riding a wave that keeps getting stronger. From packed circuits to buzzing social feeds, F1’s recovery after Covid has been eye-opening.
A New Generation Finds F1
One of the most striking changes is in the number of people watching F1 now, as the global fan base has climbed to a record 827 million, which puts the sport ahead of the NBA by more than 11%, a notable achievement in a short space of time.
Even more telling is the age profile, as around 43% of fans are now under 35, and confirms that the sport is winning over a younger audience group, which is not easy in modern sport, where attention is short and competition is fierce. The rise in female fans has also been substantial, with women now accounting for 42% of the total audience, which includes 43 million new fans compared to the previous season.
Television figures back this up, as by the end of November 2025, more than one billion viewers had tuned in to watch Grands Prix, with the average race weekend drawing around 70 million viewers, while sprint weekends saw a 19% jump. The United States, China, Australia, Canada, and Brazil all posted noticeable increases, with the TV audiences in the US growing by 7%.
Digital growth has been equally impressive, with highlights on the official F1 YouTube channel up 30%, and more than half of those viewers are under the age of 35. Social media followers across platforms have reached 111 million, driven mainly by TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Industry reports continue to label F1 as the fastest-growing sport on social media, which says a lot about how well the brand connects with younger fans.
Big Crowds and Even Bigger Money for F1
The boom is not only about viewership numbers, but also about money, and lots of it, since F1 is on track to post revenues of nearly $4 billion for the 2025 season, which is up from $3.65 billion in 2024. For the teams, the share distributed by Liberty Media is expected to approach $1.4 billion, which would be a new high.
This money has reshaped the F1 paddock, as in 2020, Dorilton Capital bought Williams for $170 million, which has a suggested valuation close to $1.8 billion today. Mercedes has also demonstrated the value of teams, as Toto Wolff’s sale of a 5% stake in the team was valued at around €265 million, placing the overall valuation of the team above €5 billion.
The budget cap has played a big role in this shift, as costs are more controlled today, and financial planning is also more predictable. Public data for 2025 shows Mercedes posting a net profit of over €130 million, with revenue exceeding €700 million. In the past, profits like that would have been reinvested in development.
Nearly 7 million fans attended races across the 24 events on the calendar, with only five races not selling out, and Silverstone led the way with around 500,000 spectators over the weekend.
With all this growth, the big question is how far it can go, as the calendar is already at 24 races and team slots are locked in, especially after Cadillac’s entry, which limits easy expansion.
F1 may be heading into a phase of steady growth rather than explosive expansion, as the foundations are now strong, and the teams are financially healthier than ever. The next challenge will be to keep the racing close and exciting, especially with the big 2026 regulation changes on the way.