Formula 1 eighth most followed sport on social media

While eighth on the list, at first glance, may not be eye-catching until you consider that the F1 narrative revolves around a mere ten teams and 20 drivers, plus a scattering of reserves.

The UEFA Champions League is contested by 36 teams consisting of about 900 players, all heavily active on their respective social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Ditto NBA with its 30 teams and 580 players. The same story with the English Premier League, football World Cup, the NFL and even solo sports such as UFC with over 1,000 registered MMA fighters around the globe.

Therefore, F1's 20 drivers, 10 teams, Liberty Media and the FIA do an impressive job considering the size of the 'product' relative to the other major sports. From the excellent clips and highlights for the teenager brigade whose digestion of news and sports is vastly different to boomers

While F1's younger fans perhaps don't watch races from flag-to-flag live, they are spoilt for choice by the high-quality, and many times groundbreaking, social media coverage by motorsport at the highest level.

The coverage of F1, beyond social media, coverage is of the highest order from the global TV feed, the essential F1TV App with its live coverage and rich archive of full Grand Prix races dating back to the seventies. Murray Walker and James Hunt, among many F1 greats drivers immortalised.

Add to that a vibrant F1 YouTube channel, plus every team and a wealth of non-stop information pumped out by the F1 paddock and everyone connected, and we fans and media are spoilt for choice.

Thus eighth place on a list of social media reach - among the world's biggest sports, under the circumstances and conditions - is worthy of a standing ovation for for all in F1 who feed the social media beast.

Sportingpedia explained the methodology used to ascertain the numbers: "To determine the sports with the highest social media following, we conducted an analysis focused on major sports leagues and organizations.

"The goal was to identify the sports entities with the most followers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We recorded the follower count for each sports entity's official account and the ranking was determined based on the cumulative followers across all four platforms."

"In the age of digital connectivity, sports have transcended the boundaries of stadiums and television screens, finding a new arena for competition – social media. The power of a team or athlete is no longer solely measured by victories on the field but also by the size of their online following," the report adds.

1. Football: UEFA’s Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, the pinnacle of European football, has been captivating fans since 1992, inheriting the legacy of the European Champions Cup established in 1955.

2. Basketball: NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been a cornerstone of basketball history, captivating audiences since its establishment. The NBA’s format includes 30 teams.

3. Football: English Premier League
The Premier League, synonymous with English football excellence, has a storied history dating back to its establishment.

4. Football: FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup started in 1930 and is like the biggest football party. Teams from all over the world come together every four years to play and see who is the best.

5. MMA: UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has revolutionized the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) since its inception. With a dynamic format featuring solo fighters in various weight classes.

6. American Football: NFL
The National Football League has a rich history dating back decades, shaping the landscape of American football. The NFL’s format involves a competitive regular season topped by the Super Bowl.

7. Cricket: ICC
Cricket, with its timeless traditions, is overseen by the International Cricket Council. Even though ICC is not a league or a tournament, it is the most followed cricket-orientated account by a large margin.

8. Motorsport: Formula 1
Formula 1, established in 1950, stands as the epitome of high-speed racing excellence. Each year, elite drivers compete in a series of races to determine the fastest on the track.

9. Baseball: MLB
Established in the historical tapestry of 1869, Major League Baseball proudly stands as one of the venerable pillars of professional sports.

10. Hockey: NHL
Unveiling its skates in 1917, the National Hockey League has gracefully glided through a century, establishing itself as the domain of professional ice hockey.