The 2026 Belgian GP TV audience confirmed Formula 1’s powerful appeal in Italy, with a combined 2.902 million viewers watching across Sky, Sky Go and TV8. The race at Spa-Francorchamps was won by Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who returned to winning ways, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second after keeping the fight for victory alive.
The sporting outcome gave Italian viewers two major reasons to follow the race: a home driver winning for Mercedes and Charles Leclerc placing Ferrari on the second step of the podium. The full Ferrari Belgian GP review also details Lewis Hamilton’s recovery to fourth place, while the updated 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ standings show the championship impact of the Spa result.
Belgian GP TV audience reaches 2.902 million viewers in Italy
Sky and Sky Go recorded 1.551 million viewers across television screens and connected devices. The figure was described as the fourth-best overall result of the season and the third-best under the aggregated measurement. Compared with the previous Belgian Grand Prix, the pay-TV audience increased by 251,000 viewers, underlining the growing interest surrounding Formula 1 in Italy.
Free-to-air channel TV8 attracted a further 1.351 million viewers. Although that represented a slight decline compared with some of the most recent races, it was still 132,000 higher than the audience for the previous edition. Combined, Sky, Sky Go and TV8 reached 2.902 million viewers, an increase of 383,000 compared with the equivalent figures from the previous year.
Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc drive Italian interest
Kimi Antonelli’s victory and Charles Leclerc’s second place naturally helped focus public attention on the Belgian Grand Prix. The Bologna-born championship leader delivered another major result for Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari supporters a genuine reason to remain engaged until the final stages. Kimi Antonelli later explained the challenge of managing the race while keeping the Ferrari behind in an analysis of his Mercedes victory at Spa.
Charles Leclerc’s performance was equally important to the Italian audience. Ferrari remained competitive at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, and the Monegasque driver believed there had been a real opportunity to achieve an even stronger result. A separate analysis explains why Charles Leclerc felt Ferrari missed the Belgian GP victory.
Formula 1 maintains strong television momentum in Italy
Sky continues to deliver high Formula 1 viewing figures through its subscription service, demonstrating its ability to retain committed fans. TV8 significantly expands that reach by making the action available to a broader free-to-air audience. Together, the two platforms allow Formula 1 to connect with both dedicated followers and more occasional viewers.
The Belgian GP figures reinforce Formula 1’s position as one of the most closely followed sporting events in Italy. Kimi Antonelli’s success and Charles Leclerc’s podium highlighted the sporting value of the race, while the television numbers showed the series’ continuing ability to attract viewers across multiple platforms. Attention now turns to Budapest, with the 2026 Hungarian GP timetable and TV coverage providing the next opportunity to assess whether that momentum continues.
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