Why Netflix isn't the sole reason behind F1's modern-day boom

OPINION: With a colossal surge in popularity and sell-out crowds at grands prix, Formula 1 is currently enjoying something of a boom. Netflix's Drive to Survive series is commonly credited with bringing F1 into the mainstream - but is it the root to its current success, or simply a symptom?

The pent-up demand from Formula 1 fans after the many behind-closed-doors grands prix that took place during the coronavirus pandemic was always going to result in a quick bounce back in race attendance figures. But even the most optimistic of F1 chiefs would not have predicted just how much interest there would be among the audience to get themselves trackside.

The Australian Grand Prix’s record-breaking figures of 420,000 for the weekend put it among the biggest-ever F1 races – and up on the 400,000 from Austin and 356,000 at Silverstone last year. But it seems Melbourne is not going to be alone in packing out the rafters this season. Getting hold of tickets for race days is proving a headache for those who have not got in early, and some events have been instant sell-outs.

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Author Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble is Motorsport.com’s Formula 1 editor. Having graduated from University of Sussex Jonathan worked for sports news agency Collings Sports reporting on F1, F3, touring cars and other sports, with articles appearing in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Reuters, Autosport and other publications. In 1999 he moved to Haymarket Publishing to become a senior editor at Autosport Special Projects, and one year later he became Autosport’s grand prix editor. In 2015 he moved to Motorsport Network, becoming the F1 editor for Motorsport.com. He is also a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and sits on the FIA Media Council.