Formula 1 booms in India: Fanbase hits 78.8 Million as Kush Maini, Arvid Lindblad spark motorsport excitement
Formula 1’s popularity in India has surged to 78.8 million fans, boosted by stellar performances from Kush Maini and Arvid Lindblad. With record global engagement, successful F1® The Movie, and upcoming 2026 regulations, Indian motorsport excitement is at an all-time high
Hyderabad: Formula 1 has witnessed a monumental surge in popularity across the sub-continent, with the sport’s fanbase in India swelling to an impressive 78.8 million.
This historic growth coincides with a season defined by stellar performances, highlighted by Kush Maini’s gritty victory in Monaco and Arvid Lindblad’s meteoric rise to the F1 grid, and a Drivers’ Championship battle that went down to the absolute wire. As the world celebrates Lando Norris’s dramatic triumph in the closest season finale in 15 years, the Indian motorsport community looks forward with renewed optimism.
The 2025 campaign will go down as a modern classic; Lando Norris’s maiden title triumph highlighted a year where grit was necessary across the grid, while McLaren’s return to the top ended a historic drought. The sport’s growth continues to accelerate, with a record-breaking 6.7 million fans attending races globally.
For the Indian market, the connection to F1 is stronger than ever. This record-breaking viewership solidifies the country as a critical pillar of the sport’s global strategy. This growth is further bolstered by the extension of FanCode’s exclusive broadcast partnership through 2028, ensuring Indian fans remain close to the action as local talents prepare to take the world stage in 2026.
The 2025 season has not only delivered thrilling on-track action but has also paved the way for a resurgence of Indian talent on the global grid in 2026. Despite a season filled with mechanical troubles, Kush Maini helped Invicta Racing claim the Constructors’ title in Formula 2, headlined by a famous Sprint race victory at the prestigious Monaco GP. After an impressive show during the post season testing for Alpine, Kush Maini is eager to impress for his new Formula 2 outfit ART Grand Prix in a bid to propel him to the pinnacle of the sport.
Meanwhile, Arvid Lindblad, the Red Bull Junior Team prodigy who proudly traces his lineage to India, has been promoted to the Racing Bulls team. His 2025 campaign demonstrated raw speed and racecraft that caught the eye. His arrival on the F1 grid in 2026 marks a significant milestone, giving Indian fans a new hero to cheer for as he prepares to battle the world’s best under the revolutionary new regulations.
Formula 1 is now the most popular global sport, with a fanbase 11.4% greater than the second biggest sport (NBA). Formula 1 has also been the fastest growing global sport league on social media for the fifth year in a row, with F1 social platforms delivering more than 2.3 billion engagements; the most engaged tier 1 rights holder, outperforming NBA, UEFA Champions League, NFL and the Premier League.
Off the track, F1® The Movie performed incredibly at the box office, becoming both the highest-grossing Apple film, and the most successful sports movie of all time. With a global box-office figure of more than $630 million, F1® The Movie was shown on more than 44,000 screens in 78 markets outside the US & Canada, contributing to the growth of their young fanbase with 43% of the total fan base being under 35 years old this year.
As the sport gears up for the new 2026 regulations, featuring sustainable fuels and new power units, the stage is set for a new era. With Audi and Cadillac joining the grid and talents like Lindblad and Maini representing the tricolour’s spirit, the next chapter of Formula 1 promises to be unmissable for Indian fans.
