Apple and Formula 1 have signed a five-year media rights agreement that will make Apple TV the exclusive home for every F1 race in the United States beginning in 2026. The deal which was announced on Friday, marks another major step in Apple’s expansion into live sports streaming.
Under the agreement, Apple TV subscribers paying the standard $12.99 monthly fee will gain access to full coverage of all Formula 1 events, including practice, qualifying, and Sprint sessions, entirely ad-free. Additionally, select races and all practice sessions will be available to stream for free through the Apple TV app during the season, the companies confirmed in a joint statement.
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The structure of the deal differs from Apple’s existing partnership with Major League Soccer, which requires an additional purchase of the MLS Season Pass. Apple is reportedly paying around $140 million per year for the F1 rights, according to people familiar with the matter. Disney’s ESPN, the current media partner, had been paying roughly $85 million annually.
The agreement extends Apple’s growing relationship with Formula 1, following the success of “F1: The Movie” starring Brad Pitt — which became the highest-grossing sports film of all time.
In a statement, ESPN said the network is “incredibly proud of what we and Formula 1 accomplished together in the United States and look forward to a strong finish in this final season. We wish F1 well in the future.”
F1’s own streaming platform, F1 TV Premium, will remain available in the U.S. but will now be integrated into Apple’s ecosystem. Subscribers will need an Apple TV subscription to access it, with F1 TV Premium content included as part of the package rather than as a standalone offering. Coverage will feature commentary from both F1 TV and Sky Sports announcers.
Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, told CNBC that the company is selective about entering live sports, focusing on deals where it can “control the user experience.” Speaking at Motorsport Network’s Autosport Business Exchange NYC, Cue said, “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. And so our view around it is, if we can do something unique, then we’ll do it.”
“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.,” said Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1’s president and CEO.