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Formula 1 races into record books with blockbuster first half of 2025
MUMBAI: Full throttle, no pit stops! Formula 1’s 2025 season hasn’t just been about roaring engines and tight overtakes, it’s been a spectacle both on and off the track. From Brad Pitt’s F1: The Movie smashing box office records to sold-out Grands Prix pulling in millions of fans, the sport has hit top gear in its 75th anniversary year.
The season opened with F1 75 Live at London’s O2, where 16,000 fans watched all ten teams unveil their new cars alongside live music from global stars like MGK, Tems and Take That. The livestream drew 7.5 million viewers worldwide, setting Youtube records and proving that F1 knows how to put on a show as much as a race.
Hollywood soon joined the grid. Pitt’s racing blockbuster has already grossed more than 600 million dollars, making it the highest-earning sports film ever and his biggest box-office hit. Premieres in New York and London drew A-listers from Tom Cruise and Naomi Campbell to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, not to mention Formula 1’s biggest names behind the wheel.
On track, the numbers are just as electrifying. More than 3.9 million fans attended the first 14 races, which is the highest ever mid-season tally, with Australia and Britain each topping 400,000. 11 of the 14 events sold out, while record-breaking crowds turned up in Spain, Canada and Belgium.
Digital reach is also flying. Formula 1’s social media following has surged past 107 million, up 21 percent year-on-year, with Tiktok and YouTube highlights pulling in record views. Younger fans are driving the growth too: 43 percent of F1’s global fanbase is now under 35, and nearly half are women.
Commercially, the grid is just as busy as the paddock. Partnerships with Disney, Pepsico, LEGO, Barilla and luxury powerhouse LVMH have broadened F1’s global appeal, while quirky activations such as LEGO driver parades and gourmet pasta pop-ups, have kept fans talking.
And the best part? There’s still half a season left. With Zandvoort kicking things off this weekend, F1’s second act promises more drama, more speed and, if the first half is anything to go by, more records smashed.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
