Formula One‘s growth in the USA has hit a major milestone as 25 percent of the population “follow F1 at least ‘somewhat’ closely,” according to a recent study, meaning one in four Americans keep up with the sport. Notably, the Gen Z population, aged between 18 and 29 years, emerges as F1‘s biggest fan base.
F1 has gained popularity in America since the takeover by Liberty Media Corporation in 2017. Fueling the growth of the sport was Netflix‘s Drive to Survive docuseries that served as a platform for new fans to understand and connect with the sport on a personal level.
A survey by Civic Science received 1949 responses between 11 June and 17 June, 2025, which released key statistics about F1 and its growing fan base in the USA. While Gen Z followers made up the largest part of the quarter of Americans who follow F1, Millennials aged 30 to 44 weren’t far behind, with 31 percent following the sport. The study revealed:
“CivicScience data show one-quarter of U.S. adult respondents report they follow F1 at least ‘somewhat’ closely. Those who follow are most likely to be Gen-Z (aged 18-29), Millennials (30-44), middle-income households (earning $50K-$100K annually), and residents living in the Midwest and South.”
CivicScience data find 25% of U.S. adults follow @F1 at least ‘somewhat’ closely, with Gen Z most engaged. Fans stand out in their spending, tech use, and outlook, making them a unique consumer segment. Full story: https://t.co/qvsqF3wfIW pic.twitter.com/q2859atL11
— CivicScience (@CivicScience) June 18, 2025
The study also suggests that American F1 fans use multiple screens, are open to summer travel this year, feel more optimistic about the future, and intend to replace at least one electrical appliance in the next six months. It stated:
“67% of F1 fans who own an appliance say they expect to have to replace at least one within the next six months, compared to the 23% of non-F1 fans.”
Revealing the summer travel trait, the study added:
“50% of F1 fans are ‘more’ likely to travel specifically to see friends this summer compared to last summer, far outpacing non-fans.”
On the point of using a second screen, the study highlighted:
“86% are using a second screen (e.g. phone, laptop, or tablet) while they watch TV. This includes 48% on mobile games or content and 23% scrolling social media (among device owners who watch TV).”
Addressing the point of F1 fans being optimistic, the study noted:
“45% say they’re at least ‘somewhat’ optimistic about the future, outpacing non-fans by 12pp (33%).”
The crucial role of docuseries such as Drive to Survive was also identified. It was found that “42% of Americans who’ve watched a behind-the-scenes sports docuseries about a sport they don’t typically follow say it encouraged them to start watching. Only 14% said the series pushed them away from the sport, while 45% said it had no impact.”
Notably, 57 percent of Gen Z fans were influenced by a docuseries, while the percentage dropped to 45 percent for Millennials. Among those aged 45 to 64, 36 percent were interested in F1 through a docuseries, with the figure falling to just 13 percent for viewers over 65.
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