Ricciardo Calls 2016 F1 Car Favorite, Fox Averages 1.14M Viewers

TL;DR: Daniel Ricciardo said the 2016 Formula 1 car was his favorite, describing it as narrow and go‑kart‑like, while Fox Sports averaged 1.14 million viewers for the season’s first six races.

Ricciardo made the comment during a recent interview, noting that the 2016 machines felt small, allowed clean air for overtaking, and were the most comfortable he had raced. He attributed the feel to the narrow width and development maturity of that era’s regulations.

Fox Sports’ broadcast of the opening six races drew an average audience of 1,141,000 viewers, with a peak of 890,000 during the 85‑lap race. The network highlighted the figure despite a year‑over‑year decline in overall motorsport consumption.

The weekend’s fastest lap was set by the #80 Mercedes‑AMG at 8 minutes and 14.957 seconds. The defending champion #1 Rowe BMW trailed by 3.112 seconds, and the #3 Verstappen Mercedes‑AMG finished third.

These data points show a driver’s nostalgic preference for a specific car generation alongside steady television interest in the sport’s early season. The lap times indicate close competition among top teams, suggesting tight racing that could sustain viewer engagement.

Looking ahead, audiences will watch whether the 2024 regulation changes affect car comfort and overtaking, and if Fox can maintain or grow its viewership as the season progresses.