With new Formula One races in Miami and another new track being built in Las Vegas next year, Formula 1 has been gaining popularity in America at a growing rate. Here are the top 3 reasons behind the recent rise of Formula 1.
Number 3: Netflix serial “Drive To Survive”
Started in 2019, “Drive to Survive” has gained huge popularity outside of the core Formula One fandom. The documentary took the audience beyond “cars running in circles” and highlighted the on-track battles, team strategies, chicaneries, as well as drama between drivers. The first season, where Daniel Ricciardo stabs Red Bull in the back, is one of the most compelling storylines ever told on television. The second season, despite being in the middle of the COVID pandemic, featured the drama between Ricciardo and Renault that still captured the attention of millions of new fans across the world.
Number 2: F1 Video Games
Since 2019, Codemasters, the British Video Game Company behind the F1 games, has been making a constant effort to attract casual fans with an easier car handling model. In an interview with the senior game designer Lee Mather, he explained the specific improvement his team has made to the game, “We brought in a steering assist, to help people actually steer the car. We did an automatic reset to track, so instead of the frustration of getting out of the gravel that the hardcore [players] want, you can jump back on course. The off-track surfaces are simplified, so if you did go into the gravel, you could just drive right out. This year we have adaptive AI that adjusts its pace to keep you in the battle.” These efforts have paid off as the game has been doubling its fan base every year with last year’s F1 2021 game performing “ well above expectations” according to series publisher EA Sports.
Number 1: Youtube
The official Formula 1 channel provides the audience with not only F1 race highlights but also the coverage of lower junior series such as Formula 2, Formula 3, and Women’s Formula Championship. The recent addition of the trivia show with the drivers is a perfect example how F1 YouTube channel appease the demand of casual fans with some silly content while also allowing F1 enthusiasts to establish a greater connection with their beloved pilots. My personal favorite is the tech talks series, where previous F1 drivers and experts are invited to explain difficult racing technologies in day-to-day language. Overall, Formula 1 has done a phenomenal job with online marketing that meets the demand for everyone, from passing fans to F1 die-hards.
Number 3: Netflix serial “Drive To Survive”
Started in 2019, “Drive to Survive” has gained huge popularity outside of the core Formula One fandom. The documentary took the audience beyond “cars running in circles” and highlighted the on-track battles, team strategies, chicaneries, as well as drama between drivers. The first season, where Daniel Ricciardo stabs Red Bull in the back, is one of the most compelling storylines ever told on television. The second season, despite being in the middle of the COVID pandemic, featured the drama between Ricciardo and Renault that still captured the attention of millions of new fans across the world.
Number 2: F1 Video Games
Since 2019, Codemasters, the British Video Game Company behind the F1 games, has been making a constant effort to attract casual fans with an easier car handling model. In an interview with the senior game designer Lee Mather, he explained the specific improvement his team has made to the game, “We brought in a steering assist, to help people actually steer the car. We did an automatic reset to track, so instead of the frustration of getting out of the gravel that the hardcore [players] want, you can jump back on course. The off-track surfaces are simplified, so if you did go into the gravel, you could just drive right out. This year we have adaptive AI that adjusts its pace to keep you in the battle.” These efforts have paid off as the game has been doubling its fan base every year with last year’s F1 2021 game performing “ well above expectations” according to series publisher EA Sports.
Number 1: Youtube
The official Formula 1 channel provides the audience with not only F1 race highlights but also the coverage of lower junior series such as Formula 2, Formula 3, and Women’s Formula Championship. The recent addition of the trivia show with the drivers is a perfect example how F1 YouTube channel appease the demand of casual fans with some silly content while also allowing F1 enthusiasts to establish a greater connection with their beloved pilots. My personal favorite is the tech talks series, where previous F1 drivers and experts are invited to explain difficult racing technologies in day-to-day language. Overall, Formula 1 has done a phenomenal job with online marketing that meets the demand for everyone, from passing fans to F1 die-hards.
