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A thriving formula
Updated On: 10 April, 2022 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Heena Khandelwal
The pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, has been witnessing a surge in fandom across the globe, including India. How has the niche sport expanded its reach from die-hard fans to newbies? We find out
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen (right), a young and aggressive Dutch driver, won the 2021 Formula One World Champion, beating the seven-time world champion Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton; (right) Formula 2 player Jehan Daruvala hopes to enter F1 next year. Pic courtesy/Prema Racing
The season finale of Formula 1 last year in Abu Dhabi drew 108.7 million viewers, clocking a 29 per cent rise in viewership from 2020, according to annual audience figures released by Formula 1. Sports channel ESPN’s ratings averaged 9,28,000 viewers per race in 2021 compared to 5,47,000 in 2018. It was a race that would decide the championship winner, pitting Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, current champion, seven-time winner and one of the greatest to ever sit in a Formula 1 race car, against Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, a young, aggressive Dutch driver. It was a race that Verstappen won, after Hamilton had been leading all along. An upset for many, a fortunate occurrence for some. But a thrill for everyone watching.
“I watched the championship finale in Abu Dhabi live on television. The overtaking part is better when you watch it live since it is unpredictable,” shares Zash Ferro, 15, adding, “It is the speed that makes it interesting, even half a second matters.” Ferro’s favourite driver is Verstappen. “He is a rebel. His passion and the fact that he can do anything to win is captivating. At times, he exceeds the track limit to overtake… he does get a penalty for it, but that’s okay.”
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