Formula 1 has made a big U.S. media move. Starting in 2026, Apple TV will become the exclusive home for Formula 1 in the United States under a five-year agreement.
If you’re a fan, the move will change where you watch, how you watch, and in some cases what you pay.
Why Formula 1 is teaming up with Apple TV
Below are the reasons for this partnership:
1. F1 wants to become a mainstream U.S. sport
F1 has been growing in the United States, and the leadership is very open about the goal. They want to make this sport part of everyday American sports culture.
Apple helps because it already sits on screens Americans use daily.
2. Apple can pay more and promise stability
Sports rights are a bidding war. ESPN covered F1 in the U.S. for years, but Apple reportedly came up with a much bigger number.
ESPN’s reporting described Apple’s deal as being believed to be worth around $160 million per year.
3. Attention year-round
F1 doesn’t want you to show up only on Sundays. It wants you thinking about the sport every week: news, clips, driver stories, highlights, tech breakdowns, and historical races.
Apple is good at that kind of “always-on” media.
4. The relationship already existed
This partnership didn’t come out of nowhere. Apple and F1 had already worked closely for years on “F1 The Movie”. Both F1 and Apple explicitly connect the broadcast deal to that relationship and the movie’s success.
What it means for fans
Now that you know why Formula 1 is teaming up with Apple TV, here is what this new deal changes:
1. You’ll watch in a new place in the U.S.
If you’re in the United States, F1 becomes an Apple TV product in 2026. You won’t be looking for it on ESPN the way you used to.
2. You may pay more or less
This is where your personal situation matters.
- If you were paying for Apple TV anyway, you might feel like you “got F1 included.” Apple says F1 TV Premium will be included for Apple TV subscribers in the U.S.
- If you were using a cheaper method before (like only F1 TV), you may end up paying more if Apple TV becomes the required gateway.
3. Some practice and some races are free
F1 and Apple both say all practice sessions and select races will be free to watch in the Apple TV app.
4. The deal is U.S.-only (for now), so most of the world won’t notice
This partnership does not rewrite global F1 rights overnight. In many countries, F1 is locked into other deals for years.