Ariana Bravo is one of the faces of Formula 1 broadcasting through her roles with F1 TV, Track TV, and at the Fan Forum at Grands Prix throughout the course of each season. As part of Santander\u2019s Driving Tomorrow series, Bravo discusses the growth of Formula 1, the evolution of the fanbase, and her hopes for the next phase of the championship\u2019s development when it comes to viewer and spectator engagement.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re among the increasing number of fans who have attended a Grand Prix in recent years the chances are you\u2019ve seen and heard Ariana in her element.<\/p>\n
That may be interviewing drivers, speaking to paddock personalities, or engaging with those who have flocked to the Fan Forum at each event. It is that directness and closeness with Formula 1\u2019s expanding fanbase that has enabled her to be a first-hand witness to the championship\u2019s evolution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sport has changed in so many different ways,\u201d Bravo says. \u201cWe are no longer just all about racing: we’re now an entertainment spectacle that travels all around the globe.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so exciting to see from my perspective, because we see it reflected in the fans that come to the race tracks. The demographics have completely changed, we see Formula 1 overflowing into everyday life, and the fans love it \u2013 and they\u2019ve all got a place to belong within Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sense of belonging has been cultivated and grown across recent years, after particular efforts were made in promoting Formula 1 beyond just the spectacle of the racing action.<\/p>\n
The championship now reaches more fans than ever before, with 827 million worldwide, which is a year-on-year increase of 12 per cent and a gain of 63 per cent since 2018 \u2013 and part of that growth has been driven by delving deeper into the inner workings of the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great thing about Formula 1 is that we are able to offer something for everyone \u2013 we have world class racing from 20 of the best drivers in the world,\u201d Bravo says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut along with those 20 drivers you get 20 different personalities, and these drivers all bring their own flair to the sport, which allows all of our fans to identify with a different person.\u201d<\/p>\n
A prime example of that came at the Fan Forum at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where Franco Colapinto<\/a> disguised himself as a security guard, before revealing his true self to the surprised fans.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my role as a presenter, I have the honour of bridging the gap between the sport and the fans,\u201d Bravo says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do that in so many different ways: we have our traditional broadcast offering, F1TV, and then we have our Fan Forum interviews, where we bring the drivers out in front of thousands of people and really showcase the more fun and light-hearted side, letting them see behind the visor. Then we have these glamorous events like F175<\/a> as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Formula 1\u2019s ever-growing popularity has led the sport to welcome a younger and more diverse audience, with 43%now under the age of 35, and female fans now accounting for 42% of the fanbase.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been so special to see,\u201d Bravo says. \u201cOf course we value our hardcore long-term fans but this huge influx of young fans has brought this fresh energy to our sport.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom my perspective, when I’m on the stage and when I look out at the crowd, it’s amazing. There are fans of all ages there. We’ve got families, we’ve got little kids on parents\u2019 shoulders in their little merchandise supporting their drivers, and there\u2019s also so many women in the crowd now as well.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously to me that is something really important because I want our sport to feel as accessible as possible, and that is where it feels like we’re at right now. When I look out from the stage, I can see people from so many different backgrounds \u2013 not every sport has that.\u201d<\/p>\n As Bravo alluded to, there has been a growth of female fans in Formula 1, as well as more women working across different departments within the paddock.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have so many different initiatives to support young women who are interested in getting into the driving seat or into these engineering roles,\u201d Bravo says.<\/p>\n