F1’s 2022 season breaks TV viewership record in USA

In brief

F1 breaks record for TV audience size in USA

The media network combined viewership across the ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC channels for calculating its figures, which was a 28% increase on the previous record set last year of 949,000 viewers on average per race.

Another record was also set by the Miami Grand Prix, which attracted 2.583 million viewers in the US and therefore became the most watched F1 race ever in the country. There was also a significant increase in female viewership, which on average equated to 352,000 viewers per pace (an increase of 34% over 2021) and an improved 72/28 gender split in the audience.

Ukraine solidarity group projects message on Red Bull F1 HQ

Ukraine Solidarity Project, an activism group that calls out international companies for continuing to maintain a business presence in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, projected a message on the side of Red Bull’s Formula 1 headquarters in Milton Keynes on Monday night seeking for the brand to stop selling its energy drink in Russia.

The two-minute long statement was read out by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Oleksandra Matviichuk, and began with “this is a message for Max Verstappen and all Red Bull athletes” as the project requested that brand ambassadors ask Red Bull about their continued presence in Russia.

Red Bull have been approached for a comment.

F2 testing begins in Abu Dhabi

MP Motorsport’s Dennis Hauger was fastest in the morning, heading Virtuosi Racing’s Jack Doohan and Verschoor. A cooler track meant quicker laps later in the day, and Verschoor just pipped Prema duo Frederik Vesti and Ollie Bearman to the top.

Trident’s Roman Stanek and Hitech GP’s Jak Crawford both caused red flag stoppages during the day, with Crawford suffering a crash at turn two that required the barriers to be repaired.

Van Amersfoort announced Juan Manuel Correa will partner Verschoor in their line-up today.

McLaren Applied to continue supply of F1’s spec ECU until 2030

McLaren Applied has extended its contract to supply Formula 1 with its Standard Electronic Control Unit (SECU) until 2030.

The company, which was sold by the McLaren Group in August 2021 but is still based in the same building as the group’s racing and automotive subsidiaries, first became F1’s SECU supplier in 2008 and has had its contract renewed several times by the FIA in the years since. Its current deal ends with the 2025 F1 season, and the new contract will then cover off the five seasons after that.

“Motorsports remain our absolute focus, and we’re delighted to extend our partnership with the FIA for the supply of the standard SECU to all teams in F1,” said McLaren Applied chairman Nick Fry.

“Our current SECU has done over 1.5 million race kilometres without a reported in-race failure since its introduction in 2008 and we look forward to maintaining this exemplary record to 2030 and beyond.”

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem says it’s been challenging yet enjoyable 11 months (Khaleej Times)

'Sulayem said when he began his term, there were certain legal and financial issues, which had been sorted out, which means now he can focus on growing the sport.'

Reassurance that Adelaide circuit build on-track (Speedcafe)

'The boss of the Adelaide 500 has provided assurances that the circuit will be ready next week, despite tight timelines and reports of delays. The track is set to host the S5000 series on December 2-4.'

RLL reassigns entries for Harvey, Lundgaard for 2023 season (IndyCar)

"Jack Harvey will take over the No. 30 entry, while Christian Lundgaard will drive the No. 45 Honda-powered entry. Graham Rahal will continue in the No. 15 entry."

The Spanish F4 championship announces its 2023 calendar (F4 Spain)

'Spa-Francorchamps, Aragón, Navarra, Jerez, Estoril, Cheste and Barcelona will be the venues for the events that will make up the 2023 calendar of the Spanish F4 Championship ahead of the eighth season in the history of the event.'

Sébastien Buemi in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Hall of Fame (Autohebdo)

'Sébastien Buemi, former F1 driver and quadruple winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has entered the Hall of Fame of the classic race.'

The timeline of Piastri’s journey to an F1 seat (Formula Scout)

'From starting his car racing career to becoming a McLaren driver, this is the drama and win-filled route Oscar Piastri took to becoming a Formula 1 racer.'

F1’s highest-paid drivers 2022: Max Verstappen zooms past Lewis Hamilton (Forbes)

'Max Verstappen already passed Lewis Hamilton on the track, winning last season’s Formula 1 drivers’ championship in a nail biter of a finale. Now, with a second straight title sewn up weeks ago, Red Bull Racing’s 25-year-old star is outpacing his Mercedes rival in the financial race, too.'

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Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

.@Vegas president and CEO Steve Hill thinks that there's the possibility to host a future @NASCAR street race on The Strip, among other events, if @F1LasVegas goes well.

🗨: "I think that would be something that everyone involved would at least have some interest in discussing." pic.twitter.com/2mGUN0gqma

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) November 23, 2022

POV: You see a gap 👀 pic.twitter.com/iu72C73rb6

— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) November 23, 2022

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• Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory

Comment of the day

Several drivers have said that the changes made to Yas Marina Circuit last year, and with this year’s F1 cars in mind, have not made for entertaining racing as some predicted they would. Overtaking is still difficult, and it could be further tweaks that truly unlock the racing potential of the track.

I honestly love turn nine, and just because it isn’t a heavy braking zone doesn’t mean it should go. Plus you make it a heavy braking zone it will go back to back-to-back motorway DRS passes that Abu Dhabi used to have before, where passes would cancel each other despite the best efforts of the driver behind.

I agree that work needs to be done on sector three, but hey, can’t remove that luxury hotel can we. They could change the camber on some of those corners though, it would increase cornering speeds and make it easier to follow more closely than the current point-and-squirt 90-degree configuration.
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On this day in motorsport

• 10 years ago today championship rivals Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso took fourth and eighth places on the grid respectively for the title-deciding race at Interlagos