Formula 1 (F1) is experiencing a resurgence in popularity due in large part to the success and popularity of the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The racing sport’s popularity has particularly increased in the United States, where F1 has been struggling to attract new and younger viewers. After the first season of the series debuted in 2019, viewership for F1 races increased by 18 percent. By 2021, it had increased by 71 percent, attracting 934,000 average viewers per race.
The 2022 F1 World Championship, which began in March, is projected to be one of the most watched racing seasons on US TV and worldwide. The debut race, the Bahrain Grand Prix, had an average viewership of 1.35 million viewers on ESPN and peaked at 1.54 million. It was also the second-most watched F1 broadcast on ESPN, behind the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 23-race season concludes on November 20 with the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The following is a look at the first five races of the season.
1. Gulf Air Bahrain GP
Max Verstappen, 24, became the 34th F1 champion and fourth-youngest in history after winning the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021. He entered the 2022 season as the favorite (and was leading the driver standings by 54 points before the Rolex Australian GP on July 10) but had a forgettable start to the year at the Gulf Air Bahrain GP. Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez both recorded DNFs as they dealt with power unit issues and were forced to make multiple pit stops throughout the race.
Charles Leclerc won the 54-lap race in a time of 1:37:33.584. His Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz finished second, giving Ferrari a one-two finish after nearly 50 races without a single victory. Lewis Hamilton, the all-time leader with 103 career GP victories, finished third at 9.675 seconds behind Leclerc.
“Again, I keep repeating myself, but the last two years have been incredibly difficult for the team, and we knew this was going to be a big opportunity for the team and the guys have done such an incredible job building this amazing car,” Leclerc explained after the race. “So for now it’s starting in the best way possible. Pole position, victory, fastest lap, one-two today with Carlos, we couldn’t hope for better. Thank you to all of you guys who kept supporting us, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s incredible to be back at the top.”
2. STC Saudi Arabian GP
Unfortunately for Leclerc and Ferrari, they weren’t at the top for very long. Leclerc finished second at the ST Saudi Arabian Grand Prix the following week at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. He finished less than one second behind Verstappen, who won his first race of the season in 1:24:19.293. Sainz finished third at 8.097 seconds back of Verstappen. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, finished fourth after holding the pole position.
Leclerc did all he could to try and overtake Verstappen in the final lap, recording the fastest lap time of the race, but Verstappen held on to a narrow lead to win his first GP of the season.
3. Heineken Australian GP
Another DNF for Verstappen at the Heineken Australian GP paved the way for an easy race victory for Leclerc, who won the event with a 20-second gap over second-place finisher Perez. Mercedes’ George Russell finished third to claim his first podium finish of the season.
Verstappen trailed Leclerc for much of the race and was forced to retire after his engine caught fire on Lap 39. However, he has since won five of six races.
4. Rolex Emilia Romagna GP
Verstappen began his remarkable run of races at the Rolex Emilia Romagna GP at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 24. He finished the 63-lap race in 1:32:07.986. Perez and McLaren Mercedes’ Lando Norris finished second and third, respectively.
This time around, it was Ferrari that faltered on home turf as Sainz was forced to retire after a collision with Daniel Ricciardo and Leclerc finished sixth after spinning out late in the race.
5. Crypto.com Miami GP
Building upon the momentum he generated at the Rolex Emilia Romagna GP, Verstappen edged out Leclerc to win the inaugural Crypto.com Miami GP at the Miami International Autodrome on May 8. Verstappen crossed the finish line at 1:34:24.258, finishing 3.786 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Sainz finished in third place, 8.229 seconds behind Verstappen.
Leclerc held the pole position for the race but lost his lead on Lap 9, when he was passed by Verstappen. Leclerc fell further behind after experiencing a lock-up at Turn 17 on Lap 13, allowing Verstappen to pad his lead.
Verstappen won his third consecutive race at the Pirelli Spanish GP and, following a Perez victory at the Monaco GP, won the Azerbaijan GP and AWS Canada GP. Leclerc, meanwhile, failed to make a podium in any of the five races following the Miami GP.