Apple has won exclusive US broadcast rights to Formula 1, marking the first time the championship will move entirely to streaming.
Starting in 2026, Apple TV will show all races, qualifying sessions, and practice rounds, replacing ESPN as the official rights holder.
The move signals a major shift in how audiences will watch the global motorsport, with Apple stepping firmly into the live sports arena.
Apple reportedly bid between $140 million and $150 million annually for the rights, surpassing the $85 million per year that ESPN currently pays.
Apple and Disney-owned ESPN were the final bidders, but ESPN declined to match Apple’s offer.
While the full terms of the deal have not been disclosed, the agreement will last five years — longer than ESPN’s previous three-year contract.
According to Apple’s newsroom post, Apple is the exclusive new broadcast partner for Formula 1 in the US, and the collaboration will give fans access to all events through Apple TV.
Select races and practice sessions will be available for free, while F1 TV Premium, Formula 1’s subscription service, will be included at no extra cost.
Formula 1 expands its US reach through streaming
The partnership reflects Formula 1’s growing popularity in the United States and its effort to reach a broader audience through digital platforms.
Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddie Cue, described the collaboration as an opportunity to “elevate” the sport and create “incredible content” for fans.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the deal is a “natural step” in the sport’s media evolution, citing Apple’s quality, technology, and shared passion for Formula 1.
He said it would bring the sport closer to American audiences and strengthen fan engagement.
In a statement shared on Formula 1’s website, Apple becomes a broadcast partner for Formula 1 in the United States. Domenicali called the partnership a major milestone that will reshape how F1 connects with its growing US fan base.
Partnership builds on Apple’s Formula 1 connection
Apple already has a relationship with Formula 1 through F1: The Movie, its largest original film to date.
Starring Brad Pitt as an ageing driver who returns to help a struggling team, the film was shot at real F1 circuits with the full cooperation of race organisers.
It became a box office success, opening to $55.6 million in the United States and $144 million globally during its first weekend, eventually surpassing $600 million worldwide.
The success of F1: The Movie strengthened Apple’s ties with the sport and helped introduce the brand to a new audience of racing fans.
The film’s release demonstrated the growing overlap between entertainment and live sports — a connection Apple is now extending through its broadcasting strategy.
A new era for Formula 1 in the US
ESPN helped boost Formula 1’s visibility in the United States since acquiring broadcast rights in 2018, with viewership rising to an average of 1.38 million per race across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2.
All but two telecasts this season recorded higher ratings compared with the previous year.
While ESPN played a major role in the sport’s rise, Domenicali acknowledged that the new Apple partnership opens “a new chapter” for F1.
Apple plans to use its full portfolio — from retail stores and apps to Apple News, Music, and Apple TV — to promote the sport and expand its fan base.
The five-year agreement also positions Formula 1 alongside Apple TV’s other sports content, including Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball.
Cue described the collaboration as one of the highlights of his career at Apple, comparing it to standing on the podium after a race, a reflection of how significant this partnership is for the company’s streaming ambitions.
Balancing reach and monetisation
The deal arrives as Formula 1 faces the challenge of balancing global reach with the need to raise media revenues.
F1’s owner, Liberty Media, has been seeking to increase the sport’s value through exclusive rights and digital partnerships.
Domenicali said the key question remains how to maintain accessibility while improving monetisation.
For Apple, the agreement provides a chance to test how a global tech brand can reshape sports broadcasting.
By combining content, technology, and fan engagement in a single platform, Apple is betting on streaming as the future of Formula 1 viewership.
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