An average of 10.51 million – a 49-per-cent market share – and a peak of 11.54 million watched Schumacher race in the first Grand Prix of the season, in Bahrain at the weekend, the media magazine Variety reports. The average German audience for last year's Bahrain Grand Prix was around 5 million.
"This is a comeback of historic dimensions and will make 2010 a magical year for Formula One," said RTL's Manfred Loppe, who said interest from advertisers had bounced back strongly this year after a poor 2009. "Naturally a lot of that is due to Schumacher."
RTL is expecting a jump in Formula One audiences this year, helped by Schumacher and the five other German drivers on the grid.
