Apple Secures F1 US Streaming Rights for 2026

October 17th, 2025, 1:30 PM
Apple Secures F1 US Streaming Rights for 2026
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Apple has secured the exclusive US broadcasting rights for Formula 1. The tech giant has struck a five-year deal with the premier racing series and will offer the races via its streaming service, Apple TV+, starting in 2026. This collaboration follows the success of F1: The Movie, the blockbuster featuring Hollywood star Brad Pitt as a fictional Formula 1 driver, which was co-produced by Apple.

Reportedly, Apple is paying around $140 million per year for the Formula 1 broadcasting rights. This is significantly more than the $90 million per season that ESPN – a subsidiary of Disney – has been paying. ESPN has held the exclusive broadcasting rights since 2017, but Apple aims to use the sport to further increase the market share of its streaming service. Despite receiving high praise for its original productions, Apple TV+ still has a smaller reach than competitors like Netflix. In addition to broadcasting the regular Formula 1 sessions, Apple plans to integrate the sport into other parts of its business, such as Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Sports, and Apple Fitness+.

Popularity in the US

The acquisition comes at a time when Formula 1 is more popular in the United States than ever before. Races in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas are attracting record numbers of spectators, partly due to the success of the Netflix series Drive to Survive. Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Apple Services, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are proud to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and provide Apple TV subscribers in the US with access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports in the world.””This is an incredibly exciting collaboration for both Formula 1 and Apple,” added F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “With this, we can continue to maximize our growth potential in the US with the right content. Apple is no stranger to us – we have worked together on F1: The Movie over the past three years, which turned out to be a huge hit worldwide. We share the same vision to bring this fantastic sport closer to our fans and attract new fans with live broadcasts and engaging content.” F1: The Movie, produced by Apple Studios and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, grossed nearly 630 million dollars worldwide, making it the most successful sports film ever made.

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