2024 Miami Grand Prix sets U.S. F1 viewership record

The numbers will be encouraging for F1. The series achieved unprecedented popularity in the States in 2022 after a dramatic championship race and the influence of Netflix's drama series 'Drive to Survive.' But that popularity dipped significantly in 2023, with average race viewership figures dropping 9.1% from the previous season. Miami's strong viewership figures represent a return to form for F1 in the States.

Several factors influenced Miami's viewership spike. The first — and most pressing — was its time slot. The Miami Grand Prix aired at 4 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. PT and was clearly targeted toward American fans. By contrast, 2023's inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix aired at 1 a.m. ET and 10 p.m. PT to attract viewers in Europe and Asia.

Second, the Miami Grand Prix aired on ABC instead of the ESPN family of networks. This big-network showing made the race discoverable for casual fans and accessible to everyone. It also offered F1 something it hadn't received in the past: a sporting "lead-in". Game 7 of the NBA series between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers aired on ABC right before the Grand Prix; many basketball fans stayed on ABC to check out F1 once the game had ended.

Third, the Miami Grand Prix offered a break from the Red Bull / Max Verstappen dominance that has clouded F1 since the end of the 2021 season. While Verstappen's excellence is worth celebrating, it has made F1 predictable and turned off the casual fans who enjoy intense competition. Miami's high track temperatures, difficult corners and lack of downforce provided some much-needed chaos on track.

These are all valuable lessons for F1 — lessons that can apply to future broadcasts in North and South America.

F1 returns on Sunday, May 19, for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. It returns to America for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montréal on Sunday, June 9.