Formula 1 is experiencing strong audience growth in Brazil in 2026. The British GP recorded 18 million viewers combining broadcasts from TV Globo and SportTV3, reaching the highest audience for a single race in any market worldwide since 2020.
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The number also represents the highest audience for a British GP in Brazil in the last eight years and consolidates the country as the main market for the category in terms of TV viewership this season.
The growth in Brazilian audience had already been observed since the start of the championship. According to the released data, the total Formula 1 TV audience increased significantly compared to last year, with some stages registering numbers up to five times higher than in 2025.
A large part of this advance is attributed to the category’s return to TV Globo. After five seasons being broadcast by Band, Formula 1 returned to the country’s main free-to-air television broadcaster, significantly expanding its reach.
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Another factor pointed out as decisive is the presence of Gabriel Bortoleto on the grid. The 21-year-old Audi driver became the first Brazilian to compete in a full Formula 1 season since Felipe Massa’s retirement, helping to rekindle national public interest in the category.
The impact is already noticeable in the season’s accumulated numbers. Even halfway through the championship, Globo’s total broadcast reach had already surpassed all the audience recorded by Band throughout the 2025 season.
According to the presented data, Brazil currently has a base of 71 million Formula 1 fans, the largest among all international sports leagues present in the country. Although the return to Globo explains much of the audience explosion, Bortoleto’s presence is also pointed out as a fundamental element for the growth of Brazilians’ interest in the category.
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