Apple Secures Exclusive Formula 1 Broadcast Rights in the U.S. in Landmark Deal
CUPERTINO, CA & LONDON, UK – Apple has signed a five-year agreement to become the exclusive broadcast partner for Formula 1 in the United States, beginning in 2026. The deal grants Apple exclusive rights to broadcast all stages of the Formula 1 championship within the U.S., marking a significant expansion of the tech giant’s foray into live sports streaming.
The financial terms of the contract were not officially disclosed, however, reports indicate the agreement is valued between $140 million and $750 million annually. CNBC reports the deal is worth $140 million per year, a substantial increase from the $90 million previously paid by ESPN, owned by walt Disney, for each season of Formula 1 coverage. Arstechnica and Variety report a total deal value of $750 million.
under the agreement, Apple TV will broadcast practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and the F1 Grand Prix. Select races and training sessions will be available for free through the Apple TV app, while access to the F1 TV Premium platform will be exclusive to Apple TV subscribers in the U.S.
This partnership builds upon a prior collaboration between Apple and Formula 1, stemming from the production of the film “F1 The Movie,” featuring Brad Pitt. The film became the highest-grossing sports film in history, generating $630 million in revenue worldwide and will debut on Apple TV on December 12.
Apple’s move into Formula 1 follows its existing sports broadcasting ventures, including Friday baseball games and American championship football, beginning in 2022.The decision comes as Formula 1’s popularity in the U.S. has surged, fueled in part by the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. Television viewership has doubled since 2018, reaching an average of 1.1 million viewers per race in 2024, with the frist ten Grand Prix events of 2025 attracting an average of 1.3 million viewers.According to Nielsen Sports, the Formula 1 fanbase grew by nearly 90 million last year.
