Liberty Media-owned Formula 1 has agreed a multi-year extension of its broadcast partnership with the Walt Disney Company, ensuring that F1 races will continue to be shown on ESPN Networks in the United States through the 2025 season.

At least 16 races will air on ABC and ESPN each season, more than in each of the previous five years since F1 returned to ESPN Networks in 2018.

4. Formula 1 agrees long-term US rights deal with ESPN

Formula 1 have agreed on a multi-year extension of its broadcast partnership with the Walt Disney Company

Earlier this year, the inaugural Miami Grand Prix broadcast on ABC generated an average viewership of 2.6 million, the largest US audience on record for a live F1 Grand Prix.

Las Vegas will debut next year as a third US race after Austin, which hosted Sunday’s US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

2021 set a record as the most-viewed F1 season ever on US television with an average of 949,000 viewers per race. This year, live F1 broadcasts are averaging 1.2 million viewers on ESPN networks.

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All race broadcasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will continue the commercial-free presentation used over the past five seasons.

The new agreement also includes expanded direct-to-consumer rights, giving ESPN flexibility to roll out additional ways for fans in the United States to consume F1 content over the next three years, including on ESPN+.

All race weekends will continue to include live broadcasts of all practice sessions, qualifying (including the F1 Sprint) and races, as well as pre-race and post-race coverage. The new agreement includes an increased focus on qualifying, with more sessions airing on ESPN or ESPN2.

ESPN Deportes will continue as the Spanish-language home of F1 in the US and ESPN’s coverage of Formula 1 also includes a dedicated website that reports on the championship year-round.

Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO at Formula 1, said: “We are delighted to announce that our partnership with ESPN will continue. Formula 1 has seen incredible growth in the United States with sold out events and record television audiences, and the addition of Las Vegas to the calendar next season, alongside Austin and Miami, will see us host three spectacular races there.” 

Burke Magnus, ESPN president, programming and original content, said: “Formula 1 and ESPN have been a strong and successful team and we’re delighted to extend our relationship.”

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