New Delhi. Formula 1 has achieved unprecedented popularity in the Indian subcontinent in the year 2025. The number of fans of this game in India has increased to a record 7.88 crores. This historic rise comes on the heels of a season marked by stellar performances, exciting championships and a drivers’ championship battle right down to the last race.
Kush Maini’s fighting victory in Monaco and Arvid Lindblad reaching the Formula 1 grid were the highlights of the season. At the same time, Lando Norris’s title victory in the closest finale in 15 years thrilled fans around the world.
The 2025 campaign will go down as a classic in the modern history of Formula 1. Lando Norris made history by winning his first career world title, while McLaren’s return to the top ended a long-running title drought. The popularity of this sport also reached a new peak at the global level, where a record 67 lakh spectators came to race tracks around the world and enjoyed the matches.
For the Indian market, the connection to Formula 1 is stronger than ever. Record viewership has made India an important pillar of the game’s global strategy. Along with this, the extension of the exclusive broadcast partnership with FanCode till 2028 is a news of great relief and excitement for the Indian fans, due to which they will remain connected to this thrill in the coming years also.
The 2025 season was not just about thrills on the track, but it also laid the foundation for a strong return of Indian talent to the global stage in 2026. Despite suffering technical problems, Kush Maini performed brilliantly for Invicta Racing and played a key role in helping the team win the Formula 2 Constructors title. His memorable victory in the prestigious sprint race of Monaco Grand Prix was a proud moment for Indian motorsport. Following impressive performances for Alpine in post-season testing, Kusch is now set to step up to the top level with his new Formula 2 team ART Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Red Bull Junior Team’s rising star Arvid Lindblad, whose roots are in India, has been promoted to the Racing Bulls team. In 2025, his brilliant racecraft and speed caught everyone’s attention. His entry on the Formula 1 grid in 2026 will bring a new hero for Indian fans, who will challenge the world’s best drivers under the new technical regulations.
Formula 1 has now become the world’s most popular global sport, with a fanbase 11.4 percent larger than the second-largest sport, the NBA. The sport has also been the fastest-growing global sports league on social media for the fifth consecutive year, with over 2.3 billion engagements recorded across Formula 1 platforms—ahead of the NBA, UEFA Champions League, NFL and Premier League.
Formula 1 also achieved great success off the track. Formula 1 The Movie performed well at the box office, becoming Apple’s highest-grossing film to date and the most successful sports movie in history. The film was released on more than 44,000 screens in 78 markets outside the United States and Canada, with a global gross of over $630 million. Its impact was also visible on the younger audience, where 43 percent of the total fanbase this year was under the age of 35.
Now eyes are on the new rules for 2026, where the sport will enter a new era with sustainable fuels and new power units. With the entry of Audi and Cadillac on the grid and the hopes of the tricolor in young faces like Lindblad and Kush Maini – the next chapter of Formula 1 is going to be very special and exciting for Indian fans.
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