Overview

• Apple has submitted a $150 million per year bid to secure exclusive U.S. streaming rights for Formula 1 races beginning in 2026.
• The proposed fee is nearly double ESPN’s current $85 million annual payment and Disney-owned ESPN has opted not to match the offer.
• Netflix and other potential bidders have shown limited interest, leaving Apple as the clear frontrunner.
• If approved, the deal would become Apple’s third major live sports partnership, following its agreements for Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer.
• American Formula 1 viewership has more than doubled since 2018 to about 1.3 million per race, driven by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and Apple’s own F1 film.