F1 races will come exclusively to Apple TV next year as part of a five-year deal announced Friday between the tech giant and Formula 1.
Apple TV subscribers in the United States will have access to practice, qualifying, sprint sessions and Grand Prix footage, as well as F1 TV Premium, Formula 1’s subscription service.
Some races and practice sessions can be viewed for free on the Apple TV app. The Apple Sports app will show live updates on each Grand Prix, including real-time leaderboards, Apple said.
“2026 marks a new era of transformation for Formula 1, with new teams, new regulations and cars with the world’s best drivers, and we look forward to providing our customers with premium, innovative fan-focused coverage in a way that only Apple can,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, said in a statement.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said the partnership would help maximize the growth potential of Formula 1 in the United States. His company worked with Apple on “F1 The Movie,” starring Brad Pitt, released last summer. It was Apple’s first box office success.
“We have a shared vision: to bring this incredible sport to our fans in the United States and attract new fans through live streams, engaging content and a year-round approach to keep them hooked,” Domenicali said in a statement.
Apple paid about $140 million a year for the rights to broadcast the races, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly. The races have been broadcast on ESPN since 2018 under a deal that will end this year. ESPN paid an average of about $85 million a year, the source said. The financial terms were first reported by CNBC.
Apple and Formula 1 did not immediately respond to a request for comment and ESPN declined to comment on the financial terms of the deal.
“We are incredibly proud of what we and Formula 1 have accomplished together in the United States and we look forward to finishing this final season strong,” ESPN said in a statement. “We wish F1 good luck in the future.”
Streaming services are increasingly broadcasting sports on their platforms to attract more viewers who gather for big events. In addition to F1, Apple has deals to stream Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer games.
Apple also recently announced a deal to bundle Apple TV with NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service.
