The dust has settled on the inaugural Miami Grand Prix and now the task for those involved is to assess just how successful it was.
The event organisers certainly pulled out all of the stops to generate some hype around the event, with a big opening ceremony, a host of celebrities on the grid and a great deal of American-themed twists on F1 traditions like NFL helmets being placed on the top three on the podium as opposed to the usual caps.
The key to the event for F1, though, would have been to see just how it was received by a US audience and whether it's going to help them garner more interest in the sport, with the TV viewing figures naturally a good guide for that.
And, as per a release from ESPN, it appears as though it was job done with a record set for a live F1 telecast on US TV:
"ABC’s live telecast of Sunday’s inaugural Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix attracted a record average viewership of 2.6 million, the largest audience for a live F1 telecast ever on U.S. television," report ESPN.
"The race telecast, which aired from 3:30 p.m. until 5:36 p.m. ET from the Miami International Autodrome, peaked at 2.9 million average viewers in the 4:45-5 p.m. quarter-hour as defending World Champion Max Verstappen steered his way to victory. The race averaged 735,000 viewers in the Persons ages 18-49 demographic."
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 08: Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving (16) the Ferrari F1-75 leads Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari F1-75 and the rest of the field off the line at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome on May 08, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The Grand Prix itself was won by Max Verstappen as the Red Bull man held off a late challenge from Charles Leclerc following a Safety Car period.
Carlos Sainz completed the top three, meanwhile, as he managed to keep Sergio Perez at bay in the closing stages.
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