The research found that each of the motor sport’s 17 races produce an average revenue of $229 million per event – nearly ten times that of its closest competitor, the National Football League, which generates $24 million per game.
Figures from Deloitte Sports Business Group show the NFL and Major League Baseball’s overall revenue was $6.5 billion and $5.1 billion in 2006 respectively – substantially higher than F1’s total revenue of $3.9 billion, although both the NFL and MLB had significantly more events. The English Premier League clubs' combined revenue was $3 billion in the 2006/07 season.
Caroline Reid, co-author of Formula Money, said: "with a ready supply of emerging markets looking to put themselves on the global map in front of F1's 597 million unique television viewers, the sport is likely to grow further east in future. However, at the same time it must make sure it doesn't lose track of its historic heartland”.
Formula One's $3.9 billion is comprised of commercial rights revenues (race sponsorship, corporate hospitality and broadcast fees), team revenues (including sponsorship and contributions from partners and owners) and circuit revenues (from ticket sales and sponsorships).
