The Miami Grand Prix has been an absolute banger in terms of viewership records ever since its establishment. However, the 2025 season experienced a significant drop in the TV viewership, just days after securing a record-breaking 10-year contract extension that will keep the race on the calendar through 2041.
How Much Viewership Did The Miami Grand Prix Drop?
This year’s Miami Grand Prix averaged 2.17 million viewers on ABC, marking a 29% drop as compared to last year’s record-setting audience of 30.7 million viewers. Despite the dip, it was still the third-largest F1 audience ever in U.S. TV history, especially as F1 is still an evolving sport in the country.
Why Did The Viewership Drop?
The viewership drop could be due to several reasons. Last year’s Miami Grand Prix benefited from airing immediately after an NBA playoff game, which boosted the viewership. Moreover, the Miami GP went head-to-head with the NASCAR Cup Series on FS1, which averaged 2.56 million viewers and outperformed F1 in the same time slot.
F1’s US TV ratings, while strong compared to previous years, still lag behind other major motorsport events in attracting a broader audience. With three US races now on the calendar, some fans may be spreading their attention, which could also be a cause of the dropped viewership of the Miami Grand Prix 2025.
Why Is It A Big Deal?
The news comes at a crucial time since the announcement of a 10-year contract extension of the Miami Grand Prix, ensuring its presence through 2041. This makes the Miami GP the longest-contracted race on the F1 calendar, surpassing Bahrain’s deal. Since its debut in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix has quickly become a centre of attraction, drawing over 275,000 attendees in 2024 and generating more than $1 billion in economic impact.
While the drip in viewership is concerning, it can he explained by the same time broadcasting of NASCAR. As F1 negotiates its next US media rights deal, the challenges will be to maintain momentum to not lose the record-breaking deal.
Also Read: Miami Grand Prix Secures 10-Year Extension Through 2041
