Three Grands Prix topped 300,000 spectators in 2021

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As Formula 1 steered itself back to normality in 2021 despite the ongoing Covid pandemic, the sport has revealed that three Grands Prix enjoyed an attendance of over 300,000 spectators over the race weekend.

Following its 2020 campaign during which races were held behind closed gates, Formula 1 welcomed 2.96 million fans back to the grandstands last year, although most events still had limited capacity or sanitary restrictions.

The figure was logically lower than the pre-pandemic 4.16 million number, but three events – Austin (400,000-, Mexico City (371,000) and Silverstone (356,000) welcomed more spectators than 2019.

F1 stated that a total of 11 events attracted crowds of over 100,000, including Belgium (213,000), the Netherlands (195,000), Turkey (190,000), Brazil (181,000), Abu Dhabi (153,000), Saudi Arabia (143,000), Austria (132,000) and Hungary (130,000).

Furthermore, F1's cumulative TV audience for 2021 was a record-smashing 1.55bn viewers, up +4% from the 2020 season.

Grand Prix racing's controversial season finale in Abu Dhabi unsurprisingly produced massive ratings with 108.7m viewers tuning in to watch the race, the highest viewing figure for the 2021 season.

The effect of Max Verstappen's popularity in the Netherlands boosted the country's TV audience by 81% year-over-year while strong growth was also recorded in the US (+58%), in France (+48%), in Italy (+40%) and in the UK (+39%).

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"The 2021 season was something very special," said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as he commented the numbers.

"We had a championship battle that went to the last race with huge excitement throughout the whole championship.

"We began to welcome back our fans who are the heart and soul of our sport and although we were limited in our capacities due to COVID, it was fantastic to see 2.6 million fans in the grandstands around the world. We have also seen some very strong figures across broadcast and our digital platforms, showing once again the momentum, excitement and interest that is all around Formula 1.

"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."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.