Formula 1 Shifts Gears: Apple TV Becomes Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Partner from 2026
Formula 1, the global pinnacle of motorsports, has announced a landmark five-year partnership with Apple, designating the tech titan as its exclusive U.S. broadcast partner starting with the 2026 season. This highly anticipated shift will see F1 programming move from ESPN, which has held the rights since 2018, to Apple’s streaming service, Apple TV.
ESPN’s Legacy and Farewell
ESPN played a pivotal role in the significant surge of Formula 1’s popularity across the United States over the past eight seasons. Since acquiring the broadcast rights in 2018, the sports network has been instrumental in cultivating a new generation of American fans, witnessing the sport’s explosion in popularity. However, earlier this year, ESPN informed the series that it would not be extending its current agreement, paving the way for a new broadcast era.
Paving the Way: ‘F1 The Movie’
Apple’s strategic move into the F1 landscape was foreshadowed by an existing collaboration on “F1 The Movie.” This original feature film, starring Brad Pitt, debuted internationally in cinemas and IMAX in June, achieving remarkable success. It has already grossed nearly $630 million globally, making it both the most successful sports movie in history and the most lucrative film of Brad Pitt’s career. The movie is set for its global streaming premiere on Apple TV this December. This prior relationship positioned Apple as the clear frontrunner for the coveted U.S. broadcast rights. While financial terms of the five-year deal were not disclosed, industry observers anticipate a substantial investment from Apple.
Apple’s Vision: Comprehensive F1 Access
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, expressed immense enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “I feel like I am on the podium, this is amazing.” He highlighted Apple TV’s growth since its 2019 launch, evolving from nine original series to a robust library of over 300 shows, movies, and thousands of hours of content. “Everyone on Apple TV in the US will now get Formula 1,” Cue affirmed, emphasizing comprehensive access to “everything that Formula 1 has to offer.”
Integrated Ecosystem and Fan Perks
Beyond live races, Apple plans extensive integration of F1 content across its ecosystem, including Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Sports, and Apple Fitness+. Apple TV will be the central hub for all F1 action, featuring live broadcasts of practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and the Grand Prix events. Crucially for fans, select races and all practice sessions will also be available to watch for free within the Apple TV app. Furthermore, F1’s premium content offering, F1 TV Premium, will continue to be accessible in the U.S. through an Apple TV subscription, provided free to Apple subscribers, a significant value proposition. With Apple TV available in over 100 countries and regions and accessible on more than 1 billion screens—including iPhones, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles—the potential for reaching new audiences is immense.
Growing the American F1 Audience
Cue underscored Apple’s ambition to further expand F1’s reach in the United States, a market that has embraced the sport with increasing fervor, now hosting three Grand Prix events annually in Miami, Las Vegas, and Austin, Texas. “The many millions of Apple TV viewers that we have in the U.S., we know many of them are Formula 1 fans, hopefully, and we know that many of them are not yet,” Cue explained, seeing substantial “low-hanging fruit” in converting new viewers.
Industry Cheers for the Partnership
The deal has garnered praise from key figures within the sport, including Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the upcoming Cadillac Formula 1 team. Towriss remarked, “As we build a truly American team, Apple’s scale, influence, marketing, and most importantly, deep commitment to innovation will bring us to American audiences in exactly the ways we want to reach them.” Stefano Domenicali, F1 President and CEO, echoed this sentiment, calling it “an incredibly exciting partnership” that aligns with a “shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked.”
Acknowledging ESPN’s Legacy
While the spotlight now turns to Apple, Formula 1 leadership also acknowledged ESPN’s contributions. Domenicali praised the coverage and growth that ESPN facilitated over eight seasons. In a statement, ESPN expressed its pride: “We’re incredibly proud of what we and Formula 1 accomplished together in the United States and look forward to a strong finish in this final season. We wish F1 well in the future.” The upcoming 2025 season will mark ESPN’s last as the U.S. broadcast partner before Apple takes the reins in 2026.
