Apple has won the rights to broadcast Formula 1 races in the United States for the next five years in a deal reportedly worth approximately $150m a year.
The deal builds on Apple’s deepening relationship with Formula 1 following Apple Original Films’ F1 The Movie, the highest-grossing sports movie of all time with over $629m at the global box office.
Starting in 2026, Apple TV will deliver coverage of Formula 1, with all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix available to Apple TV subscribers.
Select races and all practice sessions will also be available for free in the Apple TV app throughout the season.
Apple also said it will “amplify” the sport across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+. Apple Sports – the free app for iPhone – will feature live updates for every qualifying, Sprint, and race for each Grand Prix across the season, with real-time leaderboards, season driver and constructor standings, Live Activities to follow on the Lock Screen, and a designated widget for the iPhone Home Screen.
The deal forms part of Apple’s most significant push into sports broadcasting yet. Besides F1, it provides coverage of the US Major League Soccer. However, that is for an additional charge over and above Apple TV's basic subscription.
F1's previous US rights deal was with sports network ESPN, which was worth a reported $80m a year.
F1 TV Premium, F1’s own premier content offering, will continue to be available in the US via an Apple TV subscription only and will be free for those who subscribe.
Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Services at Apple, said: “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the US front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet.”
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO at Formula 1, concluded: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership for Apple and the whole of Formula 1 that will ensure we can continue to maximise our growth potential in the US with the right content and innovative distribution channels.”
Streaming service Apple TV+ recently rebranded as Apple TV in a press release about F1: The Movie. Discover more here.
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