The Miami Grand Prix attracted significantly fewer American TV viewers this year than in 2024. According to figures from news agency Reuters and Nielsen Ratings, an average of 2.17 million people tuned in to the race, which was broadcast on ABC. This represents a drop of about thirty percent compared to last year, when the race reached a record number of 3.1 million viewers.
The peak in viewer numbers during the past race weekend was 2.4 million – again a clear decrease compared to the 3.6 million peak viewers in 2024. Despite this decline, the 2025 Miami Grand Prix remains the third most-watched Formula 1 race ever in the United States. Only the 2024 and 2022 editions attracted more viewers. For comparison, the 2023 edition drew an average of 2 million viewers.
Long-term Contract for Miami Grand Prix
Interestingly, Formula 1 was outperformed by NASCAR in its own country that weekend. The NASCAR Cup Series race in Texas, broadcast on Fox Sports 1, attracted an average of 2.5 million viewers and was thus the most-watched motorsport event of the weekend. However, the Miami Grand Prix remains a fixture on the calendar for now. In the run-up to the race weekend, the organization announced that it had signed a long-term contract with Formula 1. The circuit is now on the calendar until 2041.
The declining viewing figures for the Miami Grand Prix come at an interesting time for the sport in the United States. The current broadcasting contract of ESPN with Liberty Media – the parent company of Formula 1 – expires at the end of 2025. Reportedly, the sports channel pays between 75 and 90 million dollars for the exclusive rights. The recent figures could potentially influence the negotiations for a new contract.
