Breaking News: Apple Secures Multi-Million Dollar Deal with F1

Apple has secured exclusive Formula 1 broadcasting rights in the United States from 2026, signing a five-year agreement worth $150 million and replacing ESPN’s coverage.

The deal moves all live sessions to Apple TV, meaning US fans will need the service to watch races, qualifying, and practice from the start of the 2026 season.

Apple plans cross-platform promotion through Apple News, Maps, Music, Sports, and Fitness+, using its ecosystem to surface content, drive discovery, and deepen engagement around race weekends.

The timing is deliberate. Apple’s F1-themed feature, F1: The Movie, became the highest-grossing sports film, approaching $630 million worldwide and accelerating mainstream interest in the championship.

ESPN has held US rights since 2017, aiding F1’s growth. A pivot to streaming targets younger audiences, but adds subscription friction Apple must offset with value and accessibility.

On production, coverage will continue to rely on Formula One Management’s world feed, with scope for Apple-branded shoulder programming, data overlays, and original features to differentiate the viewing experience.

Commercial terms beyond exclusivity remain unconfirmed, including highlight windows, pricing, language offerings, and any free-to-air provisions. Clarification will determine breadth of reach and sponsor activation opportunities.

Apple’s ecosystem enables multi-touch engagement: curated Apple Music playlists, Apple News explainers, Maps race hubs, Sports alerts, and Fitness+ integrations linked to training metrics and high-intensity sessions.

On track, the 2025 season builds momentum stateside. McLaren leads, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris first and second, Max Verstappen third, then George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton.

The United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas runs on October 19, 2025, offering a domestic showcase as the series transitions toward Apple’s exclusive 2026 broadcast era.

For teams and partners, a streaming-led model favors digital activations, richer audience data, and targeted creative. Success hinges on seamless onboarding and keeping latency and reliability within broadcast norms.

Key unknowns remain: package pricing, bundle availability, Spanish-language coverage, device support, and archival access. Apple and Formula 1 are expected to outline specifics in the coming months.

The partnership’s impact will be measured by subscriber conversion, audience growth, and retention through competitive storylines. Execution, not exclusivity alone, will decide whether F1 broadens its US footprint.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.