F1 TV viewing figures have dropped - Liberty admits

Formula 1 chief Chase Carey has revealed that television viewership has decreased across the first four races of the 2018 season. Although the season-opener in Australia was far from a thriller, the subsequent grands prix in Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan have had no shortage of talking points.

Liberty Media has made clear that its aim is to boost the 'show' around F1 by enhancing their output across traditional and new media - an area previously neglected by Bernie Ecclestone.

This weekend's Spanish Grand Prix has also seen the launch of F1 TV - a streaming service in line with similar products offered to fans by the likes of WWE and UFC.

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Although the total number of fans tuning in from home has dropped, Carey says the drop can be pinpointed to two specific countries - Italy and Brazil - for differing reasons.

"TV viewership in the first four races is down a touch. Sort of down mid-single digits," Carey told The Independent.

"The down is driven by two factors, really two countries. Italy, where we have moved platforms from probably being more free to a bit more pay, so that has probably had the biggest impact.

"Brazil is a country without Felipe Massa racing.

"He was our Brazilian driver so that has an impact on viewership there.

"Actually, the majority of our countries, take the top 20 countries, the majority of them are up but the impact in those two markets brings it sort of down mid single digits."

Liberty is continuing to change the face of F1 in 2018, with plans being pushed ahead to introduce a new race in downtown Miami next year, as well as changes to the off-season in F1 as Carey and his team look to maximise earnings across the calendar.