F1 YouTube stats suggest all isn't exactly up for Liberty

... and a look at streaming numbers for the UK's biggest one-off kart race vs what the FIA have to offer.

Based on the data available so far, F1’s YouTube view counts for GP highlight videos are actually trending slightly down in 2025 compared to 2024.

The Data and the Method

This is a very basic analysis, so take with a pinch of salt if you want. I’m simply using the public view counts from the official F1 YouTube channel, specifically the Highlights video for each Grand Prix from the 6th August 2025.

Caveat: There are several factors that influence YouTube view counts, beyond whether a race was “good”: Changing audience behaviour away from YouTube. View counts do continue to rise over time, but the majority of views land within the first few days of upload. Competing uploads: Other broadcasters and rights holders often post their own versions of highlights. These split the attention. Unexpected crashes, shock winners, or off-track drama often cause spikes.

So What’s the Verdict?

Looking purely at the cumulative numbers:

2024 after 14 rounds had 106.1 million views
2025 after 14 rounds has 97.9 million views

That’s a 7.7% drop year-on-year, despite a strong start to the 2025 season (Round 1 pulled 13M alone). On the surface, this is a bit surprising, especially when you consider the sport has arguably never had more global momentum. New fans, new markets, a Hollywood movie, and an expanding digital presence.