Hamilton win breaks TV viewing record
Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic victory over Max Verstappen in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix proved to be Sky Sports’ most-watched race since the broadcaster took on exclusive rights to show Formula One.
An average of 1.98million viewers tuned in as Hamilton pipped Verstappen, with the peak of 2.23million being the highest figure for a pay-tv race, passing two million for the first time.
Sky has been the home of F1 since securing exclusive rights in 2019, leading to a drop in UK viewing figures. Channel 4, which shared coverage with Sky from 2015 until 2019, retain the live broadcasting rights for the British Grand Prix.
The average audience at the weekend was a significant increase on last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, which attracted 1.39 million in November, as well as the 2020 season-opening Austrian Grand Prix (1.51 million).
F1 also said that 12 positive Covid-19 tests were recorded over the first week of the season from a total of 8,150 tests, with the Uk-based teams now having returned home to begin at least five days of quarantine.
Unlike last season, teams are not exempt from the Government’s travel protocols, so they will be restricted to staying at home and working at their headquarters until a negative Covid test can be provided after five days.
“I don’t mind the quarantine because I like staying in, I am that kind of guy,” said Mclaren driver Lando Norris, who finished fourth at the weekend.
“I can still go to Mclaren and work. I can stay at home, go for a run, train and play online with my mates or play on my simulator, so that’s a lot more than others.”