F1 On Apple TV? Now Possible As They Bag US F1 Media Rights

Did you ever think that you could watch premium Hollywood movies and Formula 1, all on the same platform? Because F1 on Apple TV is now possible. After months of swirling rumours and bidding battles, Apple has bagged an exclusive U.S. F1 media rights deal to stream every Formula 1 race, practice session, and qualifying event starting in 2026 for the next five years. Yes, you heard that right, one of the world’s most elite sports is now shifting to one of the world’s biggest tech giants.

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The F1 On Apple TV Marriage

This new partnership marks a monumental shift for Formula 1’s U.S. audience. For years, ESPN held the broadcasting rights, but Apple has now swooped in with a deal reportedly worth around $140-150 million per year, smashing ESPN’s $90 million offer. The total value of this five-year arrangement clocks in at about $750 million, instantly making it one of F1’s biggest media contracts in recent history.

Apple’s streaming takeover isn’t just about putting races online; it’s about transforming how fans experience the sport. Every Grand Prix weekend, from Friday practice to those adrenaline-filled sprints and glorious race-day finales, will now stream F1 on Apple TV. Select practice sessions and races will even be free to watch on the app. More importantly, F1 TV Premium will be merged into the Apple TV subscription at no extra cost.

Building The Ultimate Fan Experience

Apple isn’t stopping at just streaming live races. This collaboration will bring Formula 1 content across the entire Apple ecosystem, from Apple News coverage and Apple Music playlists to live data integration on Apple Sports and Apple Watch. Imagine checking your lock screen and seeing real-time qualifying updates or lap-by-lap leaderboards right there on your iPhone. That’s the future Apple wants to create for fans.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali even highlighted that this partnership is a “big step change” aimed at reaching deeper into American culture and households. With nearly 300 million iPhone users in the U.S., Apple’s involvement could make Formula 1 far more mainstream than ever before.

Hollywood Meets the Fast Lane

It’s no coincidence this deal follows the massive success of F1: The Movie, co-produced by Apple Studios and starring Brad Pitt. The film grossed over $630 million globally, earning the title of the highest-grossing sports movie of all time, and boosting Apple’s confidence in F1’s market power.

Simply put, Apple has seen the potential: a fanbase that’s young, global, and digitally native. By bringing F1 on Apple TV, the company is betting big on fusing sports and technology to shape how the next generation consumes racing. From 2026 onwards, tuning into a Grand Prix in the U.S. will mean logging into Apple TV, not flipping on cable. ESPN may have lost the rights, but F1 just gained a media partner that blends Silicon Valley innovation with Hollywood flair.

And if one thing’s certain, this isn’t just about who shows the race, it’s about who can redefine the entire race-day experience. Apple seems ready to take that challenge head-on, one overtake at a time.