The ‘F1‘ movie released in late June became a major financial success, breaking Brad Pitt’s personal box office records and significantly impacting Liberty Media‘s earnings. This surge played an essential role in a 40 percent year-over-year increase in revenue for the Formula One Group this quarter, reaching $1 billion.
Beyond financial gains, the film contributed to the expanding global cultural footprint of Formula One, as the sport experienced a rise in viewership and fan engagement worldwide. Liberty Media’s Formula One Group benefitted from higher F1 TV subscriptions, indicating a widening audience attracted partly due to the movie’s influence.
Formula One Growth Fueled by Strong Audience Engagement and Movie Popularity
Since the movie’s release, ticket sales have exceeded $545 million globally, marking it as Brad Pitt’s highest-grossing project to date. This growing attention mirrors increases in live viewership for Formula One, with a 7 percent jump so far this season in the United States alone. Social media continues to be a powerful platform for F1’s expansion, boosted notably by the movie’s marketing efforts.
Formula One president Stefano Domenicali emphasized that the movie’s influence goes beyond immediate financial benefits, suggesting it opens opportunities for broader growth.
I would say the effect of the movie is not only of course about the dollars and economical input, but the sport will have an incredible opportunity to grow its awareness and to generate, I would say, the circular economy around that,
Domenicali said.
He also highlighted that the movie’s full financial potential is yet to be realized, as it prepares for a release on Apple’s streaming platform by the end of the year.
If you think that after just couple of weeks, the movie itself brought more than $500,000,000 at the back office, it’s something that gives you the amount of interest that is generating. We don’t have to forget that this movie will be out on Apple platform later on at the end of the year,
Domenicali added.
Liberty Media Sets Sights on Expanding Motorsport Portfolio with MotoGP Acquisition
Building on the momentum from the movie and Formula One’s growth, Liberty Media has expanded its motorsport portfolio by acquiring an 84 percent stake in MotoGP at the end of July. This addition is expected to accelerate the global reach of the premier motorcycle racing championship.
Liberty Media’s plans include diversifying MotoGP’s revenue streams and increasing its presence in key markets such as the United States, aiming to replicate some of the success Formula One has experienced in audience growth and commercial development.
As Formula One and Liberty Media continue to leverage entertainment and digital platforms, the F1 movie success marks a pivotal moment in their strategy to boost revenue and deepen fan engagement worldwide.