Formula 1 announced a five-year, $750 million deal with Apple to stream its US races starting in 2026, shifting from ESPN to Apple TV. The agreement includes comprehensive coverage for subscribers and free access to select sessions. This move coincides with the sport's growth and Apple's prior involvement in F1-related media.
The announcement came during the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas on October 17, 2025. Formula 1, which has expanded to 24 races per year, will end its ESPN partnership—acquired from NBC in 2018—and exclusively stream on Apple TV from 2026 onward.
Apple's involvement builds on its existing ties to the sport. CEO Tim Cook has attended F1 races, and the company released the film F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt earlier in 2025, depicting a driver's comeback after a career-ending crash. F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali highlighted the collaboration: “We are no strangers to each other, having spent the past three years working together to create F1: The Movie, which has already proven to be a huge hit around the world. We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the US and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked.”
Subscribers to Apple TV will access every practice, qualifying session, sprint race, and grand prix. Select races and all practice sessions will be free via the Apple TV app. Apple plans to integrate F1 content across its ecosystem, including Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+, with a dedicated iPhone home screen widget.
F1 TV Premium will persist in the US but only through an Apple TV subscription, free for those subscribers. Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for services, emphasized the timing: “2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1, from new teams to new regulations and cars with the best drivers in the world, and we look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.”
This deal replaces ESPN's coverage, which improved after initial challenges with commercials but will now end for F1 in the US.