The last Formula 1 season was not boring and predictable at all. The game has gained new fans around the world through the epic battle between Verstappen and Hamilton, social media and… Netflix. Discover how the king of motorsport has been able to touch the masses again.
The winner takes it all.
The winner of last race weekend heard Max Verstappen’s name. But the real winner of the bloody season finale was Formula 1.
The race was closely followed all over the world. 1 million American viewers didn’t think about their beloved NASCAR, with at least 7.4 million fans in the United Kingdom watching the final round in Abu Dhabi.
The king of motorsport has found his own formula for success: an epic duel. David against Goliath, Max against Lewis. The winner of the game was also allowed to celebrate the title immediately. Easy to understand, isn’t it?
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “We’ve got good wishes from stars like Tyson Fury for fans on the other side of the world. The popularity is enormous.”
“It was an epic battle this season between 2 gladiators who perfectly portrayed the beauty and combat in the game.”
Rating Cannon: The epic battle between Hamilton and Verstappen.
Social media and Netflix are causing a change
Back with a Vengeance: Both Formula 1 enthusiasts and fans.
The general public showed little interest in the game. Under Bernie Ecclestone’s 40-year reign, F1’s marketing machine was called “Corney and Stiff”.
The race was on pay channels. To catch a glimpse of the fastest cars on our planet, sports enthusiasts have to watch the news. But those summaries didn’t leave the public hungry for more.
So the 91-year-old Briton’s successor Chase Carey was in the clear. “We need a fresh start,” said the American.
“Down with Exclusivity, More Global Inclusion”, was the slogan from now on. The calendar was full of races that became a real event for fans around the world.
Funny clips surfaced on Twitter and Instagram. The public lost its heart for young drivers like Verstappen, Norris and Russell and looked to the textbook example of a top athlete: Lewis Hamilton.
And all because he gave us a glimpse into his life.
Not only that the racing fans again found their way in the fastest car race. The game attracted a young crowd, including several women.
Female viewership doubled between 2017 and 2020. The entire audience was given an average age of 32 years instead of 37 years.
And Netflix has something to do with it…
The “Drive to Survive” series shows what life is like in a frog. Names on the starting grid are given a face, a story, and a reason to follow the ins and outs.
The X-factor is also present. Netflix is bringing it since March 2019′real life drama“From F1 to everyone’s TV screens. The hatred between Mercedes and Red Bull can be felt in the living room through Drive to Survive.
Living rooms that are so little filled with knowledge of the sport that it becomes a permanent appointment for a new generation of F1 fans.
Taste of Drive to Survive:
A downer for Netflix: Max Verstappen — last season’s star — won’t show much of his behind-the-scenes life for Drive to Survive.
The Dutchman does not wish to cooperate as he believes the rivalry was escalated during the previous years to increase the drama of the series. Verstappen doesn’t like someone who prioritizes “facts, things that actually happen”.
