In a survey of 6000 fans, 72% believe that F1 has improved over the last 2 years. In 2019, only 52% thought so. Additionally, 68% think that F1 is well managed by the new owner, Liberty Media. In 2019, 56% thought the same, representing a 12-point increase in satisfaction.
F1 fans were also more than 71% likely to rate F1 at least 8/10 in 2020. Only 44% in 2019 thought that F1 was worth at least 8/10.
The management of the COVID-19 pandemic
The championship started 5 months late in 2019, and everyone was impacted in one way or another by the pandemic. In this context, 90% of the fans believe that the health measures put in place by F1 were well managed, and over 80% think that they were well informed about the situation.
With 17 races, mainly in Europe, the situation was completely different compared to previous seasons, and we saw the return of some historic tracks like Imola, Nurburgring, and new circuits like Portimao or the Bahrain outer layout. As a result, 88% of fans liked this new calendar. However, 27% think that F1 did not properly manage the presence of spectators on site. Indeed, circuits repeatedly implemented tickets that were subsequently withdrawn. Notably, the Dutch Grand Prix was sold out, and the tickets had to be fully refunded or postponed to this year 2021.
The boost of e-sports
F1 during the lockdown period notably found a digital solution to further fuel fans’ passion for F1. With over 11.4 million viewers for the Virtual Grand Prix, presence on digital platforms increased by 98% compared to 2019. The latest event, which included three consecutive Grand Prix, saw engagement with 1.7 million comments, shares, and likes on social platforms. A record for F1 eSports.
