Overview
- Apple and Formula 1 confirmed a five-year, U.S.-exclusive partnership starting in 2026 that moves all race weekend coverage to Apple TV, with every practice, qualifying, Sprint and Grand Prix available to subscribers and some sessions free in the Apple TV app.
- Industry reporting pegs the deal at roughly $140 million per year, a significant increase over ESPN’s package and a cornerstone of Apple’s broader sports push.
- Apple will promote F1 across its services, including Apple News, Maps, Music, Fitness+ and the Apple Sports app, which will offer live updates, leaderboards and widgets throughout race weekends.
- F1 TV Premium will remain available in the U.S. and be folded into Apple’s offering, according to Formula 1’s media-rights chief, preserving the series’ own streaming product and fan data access.
- Team principals lauded the deal’s growth potential while some fans and commentators raised accessibility concerns about leaving ESPN; a source told The Hollywood Reporter that coverage will include commercials but not during green-flag racing.