IMAX theaters will soon offer US fans a new way to watch F1 races. Grab your popcorn, Junior Mints and get ready feel race for the first time
Apple TV+, the new exclusive home for F1 broadcasts, joins with IMAX to bring five major grands prix to its big screen network spanning at least 50 venues across the United States. The first race in IMAX will take place on May 3 for the Miami Grand Prix.
Races shown in IMAX include Monaco on June 7, the British Grand Prix on July 5, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 6 and the US Grand Prix at Austin on October 25. The complete experience includes practice sessions and qualifying events and the actual race, which will be shown in IMAX's large screen format and its powerful audio system. This immersive experience will include all the sounds of F1 like never before.
"F1 is a rapidly growing force in sports and culture in America, and by bringing F1 live on Apple TV to IMAX theaters across the country, we're bringing the energy and excitement to even more screens," said Apple's Oliver Schusser.
F1 fans who have watched the game over the years understand how much everything has changed and grown in the sport. Before 2019, the average American TV audience per race was about 500,000 viewers. The Netflix series "Drive to Survive" brought new viewers interested in watching the drivers and teams involved, and the drama emphasized by reality shows. The number of fans exploded. According to the latest figures, the number of F1 fans in the US has increased to 52 million, as the fan base continues to expand annually.
Liberty Media and the American company bought the game in 2017 and worked hard in the United States, including races in Miami, Austin, Las Vegas. American spectators have flocked to state-side races, with Austin even attracting 440,000 spectators over a weekend in 2023.
F1: The new golden goose for the movie business?
IMAX's announcement shows that interest in F1 is still growing, despite analysts' predictions that the sport will experience slower growth than its previous peak.
The dimly lit environment and powerful Dolby sound will provide a whole new experience for American F1 viewers. They'll be able to watch Max Verstappen or their favorite driver navigate a turn, set to deep bass that creates body-shaking vibrations. The system serves as an alternative to traditional trackside seating, providing new access to racing events for people living away from the circuit and wishing to experience racing at its most intense level.
The sport of F1 has evolved to more closely align with the American appetite for entertainment. The entertainment industry is totally on board with this trend, as evidenced by the success of the Academy Award-nominated film f1 Starring Brad Pitt. Now, the struggling movie theater industry is looking to F1 to attract new fans.
