F1 News: Record 452,055 attend 2024 Australian GP F1 race

Australia TV broadcaster ‘Ten’ has aired Formula 1 for 26 years, and — as Paramount’s general manager of ad sales, Nick Bower, is keen to point out — the sport was hardly a slouch prior to Drive-To-Survive. When it came to drawing massive on-ground Australian GP crowds and loyal, obsessed television audiences, F1 was already doing fine, thanks.

But, everything has gone up a gear for this year’s Australian GP, with 452,055 ticket-holders passing through the gates over the four-day weekend, and 3.2 million motorsport fans tuning into Ten’s coverage – drawing in a whopping 82.7% of Melbourne viewers under 50 during the Sunday race.

Bower points to Ten’s role in elevating the sport’s popularity in Australia. “We are the access point for every single Formula One fan to come into the sport, check it out, experience it, and have a lot of fun,” he explains.

“Our broadcast has been going for over 26 years, and I think that’s really important to know. This is not just something that we just put on every now and then. We’ve done it forever, and we are a huge part of this growth at this moment, and we’re really proud of the work we’ve done.”

Bower credits Frank Smith, executive producer of sports at Network Ten with “refreshing, evolving, changing, and engaging audiences in this country” every year. He also credits the Formula 1 itself for sharpening the offering.

“There is more interest in Formula 1 now than ever before, but crucially, what Formula 1 has done is taken that interest and made sure that when people are coming in, the new audiences are coming in, they are seeing a better product.”

March 24, 2024

Formula 1’s popularity has never been stronger, as evidenced by the record attendance for the 2024 Australian GP at Albert Park this weekend, won by Carlos Sainz Jr. for Ferrari.

A total of 452,055 spectators attended across the four days, with numbers up on the same day last year all weekend.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, leads Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, and the rest of the field at the start during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday March 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images for Pirelli)

That marked an increase of 7424 fans versus a year ago, with race day boasting an attendance of 132,106

Tickets for the latter three days of the event were a sell-out, with 65,000 spectators passing through the gates on Thursday when Supercars headlined the action.

“What an incredible four days with a record-breaking crowd enjoying everything the Albert Park circuit has to offer,” Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Travis Auld told Speedcafe.

“Melbourne shone on the world stage and the fans who turned out in force were treated to a brilliant racing spectacle.

“We are grateful for the support of all the fans. They are the ones who make the Australian Grand Prix.”