All 11 Formula One races this season have been sold out, showcasing a surge in global interest in the sport [1, 2, 3, 4]. Total attendance across race weekends this year reached nearly 3.7 million, up from 3.4 million in 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4].

Six circuits set new attendance records in 2026, including Silverstone in Britain, which drew the biggest weekend crowd ever of 564,000 fans [1, 2, 3, 4]. Attendance grew by 18% in Japan and 13% in Britain compared to last year, reflecting broad regional increases [1, 2, 3, 4].

Television audiences also rose sharply. Italian TV viewership increased by 27% over the season’s first nine rounds through the British Grand Prix [1, 2, 3, 4], while Brazilian TV audiences were up to five times greater than a year ago. The British Grand Prix alone attracted a record 18 million viewers in Brazil [1, 2, 3, 4].

The Monaco Grand Prix, won by 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, reached nearly 80 million viewers worldwide [1, 2, 3, 4]. Antonelli has dominated the season with six victories in 11 races, marking him as the breakout star of 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].

Ferrari, which did not win any races last year, secured victories through Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc this season [1, 2, 3, 4]. Fan engagement remains strong, with 66% of fans rating the racing as good or excellent in 2026, up from 60% in 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4]. However, ratings for the British Grand Prix dropped by 20% year-over-year to 69% good or excellent [1, 2, 3, 4].

Women make up 42% of Formula One’s audience and account for three-quarters of new fans, while 43% of the total fanbase is under 35 years old [1, 5, 2, 3, 4]. Formula One’s new fans are more focused on the drivers and racing action rather than complex technical details like engine management, said Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali. He added, "There is a lot of action on the track, people are loving it. They are focused on what is happening on the track" [5].

Domenicali praised Antonelli as "fresh, still very new and very open" who has "brought a lot of new fans" and added "a new dimension" to the sport, calling him "an incredible asset for the future" [1].

Formula One’s next race is the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, scheduled for August 23, 2026 [1, 2, 4].