Apple to become exclusive Formula 1 broadcaster in the U.S. from 2026

Apple has announced a five-year exclusive broadcast partnership with Formula 1 in the United States, starting in 2026. The partnership comes at a time as F1 continues to grow in popularity worldwide, especially in the U.S.

F1 isn"t new to Apple, as the iPhone company has been slowly expanding its footprint in sports and entertainment, including the recent success of "F1: The Movie," which was released in cinemas and IMAX in June earlier this year. The film, starring Brad Pitt, grossed over $625 million worldwide and is set for a streaming release on Apple TV (the streaming service) starting December 12, 2025. F1"s growth in the U.S. can also be linked to the Netflix "Drive to Survive" series and the recent surge in American F1 fandom.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said:

“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula 1 and Apple that will ensure we can continue to maximise our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels."

The deal includes exclusive access to live races, highlights, and original content tailored to America"s viewers, putting an end to ESPN"s tenure as the series" U.S. broadcaster.

Apple is set to go beyond simple broadcasting and create immersive and innovative fan experiences across Apple News, Maps, Music, Sports, and Fitness+. Apple"s digital ecosystem will also prove an advantage to the company in this deal, as it would be easy to add interactive features, personalized content, and seamless integration across devices. Select races and all practice sessions will be available to the U.S. fans for free on the Apple TV app.

It isn"t certain whether Apple will produce its own F1 coverage or continue with Sky Sports F1"s international feed, which was also used by ESPN. F1"s own premier content offering, F1 TV Premium, will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription.