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via Reuters

Formula One has become more accessible since Liberty Media took over the sport in 2017. The F1 owners have worked towards building a more friendly, commercial, and global sport from a very niche and Europe-centric one under Bernie Ecclestone.

Liberty Media has targeted big countries such as Russia, the USA, and China to gain more fans. They have made several changes to the sport, making it more accessible to the fans. This has also helped in bringing in new fans of the sport.

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According to a recent fan survey by Nielsen Sports, the average age of an F1 fan has dropped from 36 years old to 32 years old since 2017. The stat also reflects that F1 has a younger fan base than MLS, NBA, NHL, and NFL.

This is all possible because of the efforts of Liberty Media and the push for a digital-first approach. The new owners recognized the power of social media and the internet and used it to make the sport more popular in the superpower nations.

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We are extremely pleased with what we have heard: Formula One CEO

As reported by Sky Sports, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali mentioned he is happy with the results shown in the Nielsen fan survey. He also highlighted that the views of the F1 fans are very important to him.

“Their views are very valuable to all of us, and we are extremely pleased for what we have heard. We take that very seriously.” said Domenicali.

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“One very important element for us is it shows that today Formula 1 is the most followed platform internationally, and this is really great. This is something that shows who we are and the things that we need to do in order to progress with this growth that we are living today.

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It’s clear that we are reaching new fans and people that are also coming to the sport with a different vision. ” said the F1 CEO.

The survey also showed that F1 fans have really connected with the younger generation of drivers. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris came out as the Top-2 most popular drivers on the grid right now.

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The sport has successfully transitioned from being closed and Europe-centric to young, vibrant, and international under the new owners.

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Written by

Devang Chauhan

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Devang Chauhan is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. Having completed his graduation in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has a keen eye for writing engaging and detailed articles on F1. Previously a writer for Sports Social's 'Chase Your Sport' Magazine, Devang has been an ardent follower of the sport for over a decade and has attended two editions of the Indian Grand Prix.
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