Results from the Motorsport.com survey are in.
"Conducted in 15 languages and receiving fan feedback from 194 countries, the 2017 survey had 215,872 participants a sample set even larger than the previous 2015 Motorsport Network/Grand Prix Drivers Association survey.
The contribution made by the respondents represents more than 25,000 hours of fan feedback to create the biggest motorsport marketing research project ever conducted, and one of the biggest sports surveys of all time."
"Data from the 2017 survey indicates the average age of the Formula 1 fan is becoming younger and more diverse, with more female respondents than ever before. However, the declining availability of free-to-air television coverage is having an impact fewer fans are watching the sport regularly compared to the 2015 survey.
The survey results show Lewis Hamiltons popularity has doubled since 2015; he now commands a level of global fan support not seen since that enjoyed by the great Michael Schumacher. Hamilton was voted as the most popular driver in Formula 1 beating Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.
Ferrari has strengthened its position as the worlds favourite F1 team in the latest survey, with nearly one-third of the global fanbase ranking it at #1. Ferraris support is almost double that of its nearest competitor the fast-rising Mercedes AMG F1 team."
Other fast facts from the 2017 survey include:
Respondents to the 2017 survey spent $8.8m on F1 merchandise in 2016
6,249 Finns took part - nearly all, bar 399, voted for Kimi Raikkonen or Valtteri Bottas as their favourite driver
Mercedes AMG F1 is the most popular team in the UK, but not in its 'home' market of Germany
25 per cent of 16-34 year olds want to watch F1 live streaming, via laptop or mobile; while only 7 per cent of 45+ year olds do
Less than 0.5 per cent of fans want to watch in highlights-only format
Over two thirds of fans completed the survey on mobile or tablet
Max Verstappen is more popular among 45+ age group than 16-24 year olds
Only nine recognised United Nations countries werent represented in the survey - South Sudan, Palau, Marshall Islands, Sao Tome & Principe, Samoa, Vanuatu, Nauru, Aruba & Equatorial Guinea
Nearly two thirds of all respondents put Monaco, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone in their list of five essential Grands Prix
The percentage of fans describing Formula 1 as exciting nearly tripled between 2015 to 2017