Formula 1 will move to Apple TV in the United States starting with the 2026 season, beginning with qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix on March 7 in Melbourne. The deal ends ESPN’s seven-year F1 broadcast run and gives Apple exclusive U.S. streaming rights for all races, practice sessions, and qualifying.
Apple’s five-year agreement is valued at around $750 million, nearly double ESPN’s previous $90 million-per-year deal. All content will stream ad-free through Apple TV+, with no extra fees. Coverage includes 24 Grands Prix, six Sprint weekends, all practice sessions, and qualifying, both live and on-demand.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, said the deal provides subscribers “front-row access to one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet.” F1 President Stefano Domenicali added that Apple TV will host all Free Practice, Qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix, with enhanced features such as AR overlays, multi-angle replays, and AI-driven highlights.
Subscriptions cost $9.99 per month, with promotional offers lowering it to $5.99 for six months. Some fans have expressed concern about leaving ESPN, while ESPN praised its collaboration with F1 over the past seven years.
Formula 1’s popularity in the U.S. has grown 30% year-over-year, boosted by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The 2026 season will feature new car regulations designed for closer racing, enhanced by Apple’s technology across platforms like Apple News, Music, Sports, and Fitness+.
The first live sessions on Apple TV will be FP1 and FP2 on March 6, qualifying on March 7 (10:30 p.m. ET), and the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
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