Formula 1 is making a major pit stop — this time with Apple in the driver’s seat. The sport announced a five-year partnership that will make Apple the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner beginning in 2026, in a deal reportedly worth $140 million per year for U.S. media rights alone.
“We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services. “2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1, from new teams to new regulations and cars with the best drivers in the world, and we look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.”
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali echoed the excitement:
“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for Apple and the whole of Formula 1 that will ensure we can continue to maximize our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels.”
Domenicali continued, “We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked,” per an Apple press release.
While Apple hasn’t revealed production specifics or viewing options across its platforms, it says more details will be announced in the coming months.
F1’s fast track to growth
Formula 1’s popularity continues to accelerate. The league’s U.S. fanbase reached 52 million in 2024, according to Apple. A 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey found that 47% of new American F1 fans (those who started following in the past five years) are aged 18-24, with over half being female.
The partnership, F1 says, is a “groundbreaking opportunity” to expand that reach through “Apple’s ability to reach a diverse range of consumers across its powerful ecosystem.”
F1 and Apple’s cinematic history
Apple and F1 already have a winning history on the track. The two collaborated on “F1: The Movie,” released earlier this year, which raced to $629 million at the global box office and was praised as “the most authentic racing feature ever made.”
“We are no strangers to each other, having spent the past three years working together to create ‘F1 The Movie,’ which has already proven to be a huge hit around the world,” said Domenicali.
Apple says “F1: The Movie” will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV Dec. 12.
Apple’s broader sports strategy
Speaking at Motorsport Network’s Autosport Business Exchange in New York City, Cue said Apple’s goal isn’t just about buying more sports rights — it’s on a mission to reinvent how fans experience live sports.
“You used to buy one subscription, your cable subscription, and you got pretty much everything they had. Now, there’s so many different subscriptions, so I think that needs to be fixed.”
“We’re not going to compromise,” said Cue. “We don’t have to do sports the way that they are. There’s plenty of people doing that. So the world doesn’t need us to do that.”
Apple is growing its sports portfolio, which already includes Major League Soccer and MLB’s “Friday Night Baseball.”
Fans react
On X, reactions to the Apple-F1 deal were mixed. Some celebrated the move, praising the impact it could have on the U.S. fanbase for the sport, with one fan commenting, “This is a premium, global sport finally getting the premium, world-class broadcast partner it has always deserved. A massive win for the fans.“
Others weren’t as convinced — one user called it a “step backwards for U.S. fans.”
Apple and F1 are betting big on the future of racing in America.