2024 Canadian Grand Prix receives its biggest U.S. TV audience ever

The continuing growth of Formula 1 in the United States is huge. Record numbers of fans tuned into ABC to catch the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, making it the largest U.S. TV audience that has ever watched a Canadian Grand Prix after watching the rain-affect race.

As is usually the case at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit, the rain caused an action-packed race that saw Max Verstappen drive a near-faultless race to take victory behind Lando Norris and George Russell. Many fans in the USA were tuned into the race, with 1.8 million viewers watching the race-only portion of the broadcast.

Viewership of the race peaked at 1.97 million viewers halfway through the race as teams and drivers had to battle and work out what to do in the changeable conditions, making it a thrilling and entertaining viewing. The full broadcast, which included the pre-race show, averaged 1.3 million viewers.

But the TV audience in the USA has been huge in 2024, and viewership records have been set for three of the last four races this season, with races airing on ABC all setting records. The Miami Grand Prix averaged 3.1 million viewers in early May, an all-time record for U.S. TV.