This document provides an analysis of Formula 1 teams' use of social media in February 2014. It finds that while higher budget teams do not necessarily use the most social media channels, all teams utilize Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Ferrari leads most metrics due to including its production car business, but Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes also rank highly. The analysis shows variations between teams in their adoption and use of different social media platforms to engage fans.
2. ABOUT THIS SLIDE DECK
•
This deck was prepared to illustrate the levels of adoption of social media by Formula 1
teams. The deck can provide a benchmark on social media usage at about one month
prior to the first race of the 2014 season.
•
There are two slides for each metric. The first slide provides the data in rank
order, largest to smallest, while the second slide provides the data in order of the team’s
finish in the 2013 F1 Constructors Championship.
•
In addition to tracking all of the teams, the related sites from FIA F1 are included for no
reason other than curiosity.
•
All data were collected during a four-hour period on February 12, 2014.
•
All registered marks and trademarks belong to their respective owners. No warranties or
guarantees are provided. Use at your own discretion, please provide attribution to Bill
Herring. Please direct any questions to billherring@icloud.com.
•
Copyright 2014 by Bill Herring.
2
3. SOME OBSERVATIONS
•
One might be tempted to think the higher budget teams use the most social media
channels, but that would be wrong. Caterham and Lotus make use of all eight channels
measured in this study, while McLaren make do with six channels.
•
All of the F1 teams and FIA F1 use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn – with one
exception. Marussia does not seem to have a team-managed presence on YouTube.
There are Marussia-related videos on YouTube but there is not a formal Marussia teammanaged channel.
•
The top three finishers in the 2013 Constructors Championship happen to be the top three
teams in number of Facebook Likes. However, Mercedes, which finished second in the
championship, had the most number of Likes followed by Red Bull and Ferrari.
3
4. MORE OBSERVATIONS
•
All teams utilize Twitter though there is a large disparity in number of Twitter Followers.
Ferrari have a comfortable lead with more than 700,000 Followers while Toro Rosso have
the fewest Followers at 133,000. Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Lotus enjoy
the top five Twitter followers whilst also making up the top five Constructors finishers.
•
There is an inverse relationship amongst the top four Constructor finishers and their
usage of Twitter. Lotus, #4 in the championship, have the most Tweets at 31,400. This
tapers down to 6,056 Tweets by champion team Red Bull.
•
Ferrari lead in terms of YouTube Subscribers and number of YouTube views, undoubtedly
since they have a single YouTube channel for their production cars as well as the F1
team. If we ignore them, Red Bull, McLaren and Lotus are the top three teams in terms of
YouTube Subscribers.
•
Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes enjoy the most number of Views on YouTube.
4
5. MORE OBSERVATIONS
•
All of the teams have a Google+ site. Ferrari dwarfs the other teams in number of Google+
Followers due to their site serving the Ferrari production car business as well as the F1
team. Red Bull and McLaren complete the top 3 teams on Google+ with the remaining
teams providing a small presence.
•
Amongst the photo-sharing sites Instagram, Flickr and Pinterest, Instagram has the most
usage from nine of the 11 teams. Flickr and Pinterest are both used by five of the teams.
Lotus and Caterham happen to use all three of the channels.
•
Red Bull, Lotus and McLaren are ranked 1, 2 and 3 respectively in terms of number of
Instagram Followers. However, Lotus, Ferrari and McLaren have posted the most photos to
Instagram.
•
The top three users of Flickr are Caterham, Ferrari and Sauber.
•
Lotus is the heaviest user of Pinterest, followed by Williams and Force India.
5
6. FINAL OBSERVATION
•
Lastly, all teams have a presence on LinkedIn. Ferrari have the largest number of
Followers on LinkedIn (128,000), again due to their presence representing the production
car business as well as the F1 team. Leaving them to the side, the remaining teams have
22,000 Followers (McLaren) down to 800 (Sauber).
•
Forthwith, the charts….
6
7. # OF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS UTILIZED*
BY RANK ORDER
8
8
8
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
# of Social Media Channels
6
5
5
5
4
4
3
2
1
0
Lotus F1
Team
Caterham Mercedes
AMG
Petronas
Scuderia
Ferrari
Williams Infiniti Red Sauber F1 McLaren
F1 Team
Bull
Team
Mercedes
Racing
Sahara
Force
India
Scuderia
Toro
Rosso
Marussia
F1 Team
FIA F1
* See Backup for table of channel use for each team.
7
8. # OF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS UTILIZED*
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
8
8
8
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
# of Social Media Channels
6
5
5
5
4
4
3
2
1
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes
Bull
AMG
Racing
Petronas
Scuderia
Ferrari
Lotus F1
Team
McLaren
Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia
Team
Toro
Rosso
Williams
F1 Team
Marussia Caterham
F1 Team
* See Backup for table of channel use for each team.
8
9. # OF FACEBOOK LIKES
BY RANK ORDER
3,000,000
# of Facebook Likes
2,500,000
2,833,494
2,298,675
2,000,000
1,349,939
1,500,000
1,195,399
1,000,000
819,385
494,804
500,000
315,583
265,276
217,475
214,918
90,118
64,374
0
Mercedes Infiniti
AMG
Red Bull
Petronas Racing
Scuderia McLaren Lotus F1
Ferrari Mercedes Team
Sahara
Force
India
Williams Sauber F1 Marussia Caterham
F1 Team
Team
F1 Team
FIA F1
Scuderia
Toro
Rosso
9
10. # OF FACEBOOK LIKES
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
2,833,494
3,000,000
# Facebook Likes
2,500,000
2,298,675
2,000,000
1,349,939
1,500,000
1,195,399
1,000,000
819,385
494,804
500,000
315,583
265,276
90,118
217,475
214,918
64,374
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Mercedes Scuderia Lotus F1 McLaren
Red Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Team Mercedes
Racing Petronas
Sahara Sauber F1 Scuderia Williams Marussia Caterham
Force
Team
Toro
F1 Team F1 Team
India
Rosso
10
11. # OF TWITTER FOLLOWERS
BY RANK ORDER
800,000
722,000
700,000
# Twitter Followers
600,000
500,000
523,000
437,000
396,000
400,000
375,000
300,000
211,000
190,000
189,000
200,000
178,000
176,000
133,000
123,000
100,000
0
Scuderia McLaren Infiniti Red Mercedes Lotus F1
Ferrari Mercedes
Bull
AMG
Team
Racing Petronas
Williams Sauber F1
F1 Team
Team
Sahara
Force
India
Caterham Marussia Scuderia
F1 Team
Toro
Rosso
FIA F1
11
12. # OF TWITTER FOLLOWERS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
800,000
722,000
700,000
# Twitter Followers
600,000
523,000
500,000
437,000
396,000
400,000
375,000
300,000
189,000
200,000
211,000
190,000
176,000
178,000
133,000
123,000
100,000
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia Williams Marussia Caterham
Team
Toro
F1 Team F1 Team
Rosso
12
13. # OF TWEETS
BY RANK ORDER
35,000
31,400
30,000
24,100
25,000
24,100
# Tweets
19,700
20,000
19,600
15,100
14,500
15,000
11,200
8,336
10,000
6,056
5,000
1,524
828
Williams McLaren Sauber F1 Infiniti Red Scuderia
F1 Team Mercedes Team
Bull
Toro
Racing
Rosso
FIA F1
0
Lotus F1
Team
Scuderia
Ferrari
Marussia Caterham Mercedes
F1 Team
AMG
Petronas
Sahara
Force
India
13
14. # OF TWEETS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
35,000
31,400
30,000
24,100
25,000
24,100
19,700
# Tweets
19,600
20,000
15,100
14,500
15,000
11,200
8,336
10,000
6,056
5,000
1,524
828
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia
Team
Toro
Rosso
Williams Marussia Caterham
F1 Team F1 Team
14
15. # OF YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS
BY RANK ORDER
180,000
165,597 *
160,000
140,000
# YouTube Subs
120,000
100,000
103,576
76,489
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
46,996
45,915
30,897
14,933
8,317
8,222
5,772
Sahara
Force
India
Williams
F1 Team
FIA F1
0 **
0
0
Scuderia Infiniti Red McLaren Lotus F1 Mercedes Sauber F1 Caterham
Ferrari
Bull
Mercedes Team
AMG
Team
Racing
Petronas
Scuderia Marussia
Toro
F1 Team
Rosso
* The subscriber count for Ferrari includes the Ferrari production car business as well as the F1 team.
** The subscriber count for Toro Rosso was not available although they do have posted videos.
15
16. # OF YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
180,000
165,597 *
160,000
140,000
# YouTube Subs
120,000
103,576
100,000
76,489
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
165,597
45,915
30,897
14,933
8,317
0
5,772
0 **
0
0
Scuderia Infiniti Red McLaren Lotus F1 Mercedes Sauber F1 Caterham
Ferrari
Bull
Mercedes Team
AMG
Team
Racing
Petronas
Sahara
Force
India
Williams
F1 Team
FIA F1
Scuderia Marussia
Toro
F1 Team
Rosso
* The subscriber count for Ferrari includes the Ferrari production car business as well as the F1 team.
** The subscriber count for Toro Rosso was not available although they do have posted videos.
16
17. # OF YOUTUBE VIEWS
BY RANK ORDER
40,000,000
38,552,983 *
35,000,000
# YouTube Views
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,022,781
15,000,000
8,568,364 8,013,542
7,662,505
10,000,000
4,962,064
5,000,000
1,971,753
688,966
500,397
263,342
209,113
0
0
Scuderia
Ferrari
Infiniti Mercedes McLaren Lotus F1 Sauber F1 Caterham
Red Bull
AMG Mercedes Team
Team
Racing Petronas
Sahara
Force
India
Williams
F1 Team
FIA F1
Scuderia Marussia
Toro
F1 Team
Rosso
* The view count for Ferrari includes the Ferrari production car business as well as the F1 team.
17
18. # OF YOUTUBE VIEWS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
38,552,983 *
40,000,000
35,000,000
# YouTube Views
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,022,781
15,000,000
8,568,364
10,000,000
7,662,505 8,013,542
4,962,064
5,000,000
688,966
263,342
209,113
500,397
1,971,753
0
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Mercedes Scuderia Lotus F1 McLaren
Red Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Team Mercedes
Racing Petronas
Sahara Sauber F1 Scuderia Williams Marussia Caterham
Force
Team
Toro
F1 Team F1 Team
India
Rosso
* The view count for Ferrari includes the Ferrari production car business as well as the F1 team.
18
19. # OF GOOGLE+ FOLLOWERS
BY RANK ORDER
4,976,313 *
5,000,000
4,500,000
4,000,000
# Google+ Followers
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
372,968
500,000
351,916
68,041
56,332
42,074
29,194
19,217
5,439
77
25
0
0
Scuderia
Ferrari
Infiniti
McLaren Lotus F1 Sauber F1 Mercedes
Red Bull Mercedes Team
Team
AMG
Racing
Petronas
Sahara
Force
India
Williams Caterham Scuderia Marussia
F1 Team
Toro
F1 Team
Rosso
FIA F1
* The count for Ferrari includes all Ferrari businesses as well as the F1 team.
19
20. # OF GOOGLE+ FOLLOWERS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
4,976,313 *
5,000,000
4,500,000
4,000,000
# Google+ Followers
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
372,968
0
351,916
42,074
68,041
29,194
56,332
77
19,217
25
5,439
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Mercedes Scuderia Lotus F1 McLaren
Red Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Team Mercedes
Racing Petronas
Sahara Sauber F1 Scuderia Williams Marussia Caterham
Force
Team
Toro
F1 Team F1 Team
India
Rosso
* The count for Ferrari includes all Ferrari businesses as well as the F1 team.
20
21. # OF INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
BY RANK ORDER
79,238
80,000
70,000
62,752
# InstaGram Followers
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
38,053
35,490
23,950
20,000
9,119
10,000
5,928
2,272
298
0
0
0
0
Infiniti Red Lotus F1 McLaren Williams Mercedes Scuderia Sauber F1 Caterham Marussia
Bull
Team Mercedes F1 Team
AMG
Ferrari
Team
F1 Team
Racing
Petronas
FIA F1
Sahara
Force
India
Scuderia
Toro
Rosso
21
22. # OF INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
79,238
80,000
70,000
62,752
# InstaGram Followers
60,000
50,000
38,053
35,490
40,000
30,000
23,950
20,000
9,119
5,928
10,000
0
0
0
298
2,272
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia
Team
Toro
Rosso
Williams Marussia Caterham
F1 Team F1 Team
22
23. # OF INSTAGRAM POSTS
BY RANK ORDER
500
465
450
415
400
# InstaGram Posts
350
283
300
250
268
194
180
200
150
117
100
28
50
0
0
0
0
0
Lotus F1
Team
Scuderia McLaren Sauber F1 Williams Infiniti Red Mercedes Caterham
Ferrari Mercedes Team
F1 Team
Bull
AMG
Racing Petronas
FIA F1
Sahara
Force
India
Scuderia
Toro
Rosso
Marussia
F1 Team
23
24. # OF INSTAGRAM POSTS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
500
465
450
415
400
# InstaGram Posts
350
283
300
268
250
194
180
200
150
117
100
50
28
0
0
0
0
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team
Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia
Team
Toro
Rosso
Williams
F1 Team
Marussia Caterham
F1 Team
24
25. # OF FLICKR PHOTOS
BY RANK ORDER
2,000
1,814
1,800
1,600
# Flickr Photos
1,400
1,200
1,000
937 *
800
600
400
200
249
64
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Caterham Scuderia Sauber F1 Mercedes Lotus F1
Ferrari
Team
AMG
Team
Petronas
FIA F1
Infiniti Red McLaren
Bull
Mercedes
Racing
Sahara
Force
India
Scuderia
Toro
Rosso
Williams Marussia
F1 Team F1 Team
* The count for Ferrari includes Ferrari production cars as well as the F1 team.
25
26. # OF FLICKR PHOTOS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
2,000
1,814
1,800
1,600
# Flickr Photos
1,400
1,200
937 *
1,000
800
600
400
200
249
0
0
64
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia
Team
Toro
Rosso
Williams
F1 Team
Marussia Caterham
F1 Team
* The count for Ferrari includes Ferrari production cars as well as the F1 team.
26
27. # OF PINTEREST PINS
BY RANK ORDER
2,000
1,950
1,800
1,600
# Pinterest Pins
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
379
400
348
200
256
42
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Lotus F1
Team
Williams
F1 Team
Sahara
Force
India
Infiniti Red Caterham
Bull
Racing
FIA F1
Mercedes Scuderia McLaren Sauber F1 Scuderia
AMG
Ferrari Mercedes Team
Toro
Petronas
Rosso
Marussia
F1 Team
27
28. # OF PINTEREST PINS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
1,950
2,000
1,800
1,600
# Pinterest Pins
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
256
0
379
348
0
0
0
0
0
0
42
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia
Team
Toro
Rosso
Williams
F1 Team
Marussia Caterham
F1 Team
28
29. # OF LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS
BY RANK ORDER
140,000
128,352 *
120,000
# LinkedIn Followers
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
22,140 **
20,000
13,924
8,791
5,413
4,490
4,406
2,576
2,066
1,864
1,830
Scuderia Mercedes Caterham Marussia
Toro
AMG
F1 Team
Rosso Petronas
FIA F1
819
0
Scuderia McLaren Williams
Ferrari Mercedes F1 Team
Lotus F1 Infiniti Red Sahara
Team
Bull
Force
Racing
India
* The count for Ferrari includes all Ferrari businesses as well as the F1 team.
** The count for McLaren is for McLaren Group Ltd.
Sauber F1
Team
29
30. # OF LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS
BY CONSTRUCTORS TITLE FINISH
140,000
128,352 *
120,000
# LinkedIn Followers
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
22,140 **
20,000
1,830
5,413
2,576
8,791
13,924
4,490
819
4,406
1,864
2,066
0
FIA F1
Infiniti Red Mercedes Scuderia
Bull
AMG
Ferrari
Racing Petronas
Lotus F1 McLaren
Team Mercedes
Sahara
Force
India
Sauber F1 Scuderia Williams Marussia Caterham
Team
Toro
F1 Team F1 Team
Rosso
* The count for Ferrari includes all Ferrari businesses as well as the F1 team.
** The count for McLaren is for McLaren Group Ltd.
30