Formula 1 is going all-in on streaming in the U.S., with Apple securing exclusive broadcast rights starting in 2026. The five-year deal, reportedly worth $140 to $150 million annually, will move all F1 race coverage, including practice, qualifying, and sprints, to Apple TV, ending ESPN’s eight-year run as the U.S. media partner.
It’s a calculated move by Apple to integrate a premium global sports brand into its services ecosystem and reshape the way sports content is packaged, accessed, and monetized across its platform.
Streaming-Only for the First Time
Under the new agreement, every F1 race and session will be available ad-free for Apple TV+ subscribers at the standard $12.99 monthly rate. Select races and all practice sessions will also be accessible for free through the Apple TV app, a key entry point for newer fans.
F1 TV Premium, the sport’s direct-to-consumer offering, will now be bundled into Apple TV, removing the need for a separate subscription. This aligns with Apple’s focus on reducing platform fragmentation and simplifying how sports content reaches viewers.
ESPN Grew the Sport, Apple Wants to Own the Funnel
ESPN, with help from Netflix’s Drive to Survive, played a central role in driving F1’s U.S. growth over the past several years. In 2024, the sport is on track to surpass NASCAR in U.S. TV viewership for the first time, a milestone few would’ve predicted just five years ago.
But ESPN declined to match Apple’s higher bid, which paved the way for F1’s shift to an all-streaming model. While Apple acknowledged ESPN’s role in F1’s rise, the company made clear that its goal isn’t just to broadcast the sport, it’s to embed it inside a fully owned content ecosystem.
The Value Prop: Control Over Reach
Apple is not trying to build a traditional sports network. Instead, it’s focused on a small number of rights deals that allow for complete control over product, presentation, and distribution.
- Major League Soccer is already fully integrated via MLS Season Pass
- MLB’s Friday night games are included in the Apple TV+ subscription
- Now Formula 1 joins as the company’s most globally relevant sports acquisition to date
Rather than chase volume, Apple is optimizing for quality and control. F1 content will be promoted and distributed through Apple News, Maps, Music, Fitness+, Podcasts, and even retail, with the goal of creating a unified, differentiated experience that ties back to the Apple ecosystem.
Will F1 Be Enough?
Apple’s track record in sports has been mixed. While its partnerships with MLS and MLB gave it a legit seat at the table, they haven’t materially moved subscriber numbers. According to reports, Apple TV+ has around 45 million subscribers globally and is still running a billion-dollar annual loss.
F1 brings new upside:
- A globally recognized brand with growing traction in the U.S.
- Ongoing cultural relevance driven by Drive to Survive
- A halo effect from F1: The Movie, which grossed over $600 million and lands on Apple TV in December
Importantly, Apple has said Drive to Survive will remain on Netflix. Cue called it a “win-win,” underscoring that Apple is more interested in controlling the back-end experience than owning the entire discovery funnel.
Looking Ahead: What Comes After F1?
Apple’s model depends on exclusivity and product integration. That approach narrows the field of potential rights partners, especially in a U.S. market where most major leagues divide up packages across multiple broadcasters.
Unless more leagues shift toward unified streaming packages, Apple’s path forward may involve acquiring rights to under-monetized global properties or continuing to invest in high-end sports storytelling like F1: The Movie. F1 is a high-profile experiment, and one that will likely shape how Apple approaches live content going forward.
The Streaming Wars Take
This deal checks every strategic box for Apple, strong IP, global appeal, and complete control over the experience. But the real test is whether control can overcome the reach that ESPN provided.
Apple isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s trying to be essential to a specific subset of users who value quality, design, and convenience. In that context, F1 fits perfectly.
The risk is that, even with growth, the audience may still be too niche to drive (pun intended) meaningful scale. Sports typically benefit from broader context, being part of a larger sports content universe. Apple’s model doesn’t offer that. It offers isolation, exclusivity, and a promise of a better experience.
Formula 1 is either the crown jewel of this strategy or the first piece of a broader expansion. Either way, Apple just made its most ambitious move yet in live sports, and now it has to prove the model works.
