ESPN has issued a statement after the confirmation that Apple TV has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for Formula 1 in the United States from 2026 with a five-year deal.
The Disney-owned broadcaster acquired the broadcasting rights to F1 in the US in 2018 after previously broadcasting the series from 1984 to 1997. With its current contract expiring at the end of 2025, the door opened for other interested parties to engage in negotiations to take on the broadcasting rights, and while figures have not been confirmed, Motorsport.com understands that Apple's deal is worth more than $140million per year. In comparison, ESPN has reportedly been paying $90million per year since 2023.
"We’re 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," the statement from ESPN read.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali thanked ESPN for what it did with the championship over the past eight years.
"You know, David, it's not a matter of being hard or easy or difficult," he said when asked if it was difficult to walk away from the cable and broadcast network exposure. "I think that our duty is to look into the future and try to make sure that F1 can have the right platform of developing our growth. And therefore I really want to thank ESPN for what they did today together, because they invested in us when no one was really ready to invest in us many, many years ago."
Apple's interest in F1 was boosted by the success of the F1 movie, an Apple Original Film. The movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, has grossed almost $630million globally since its June 2025 release. This has made it the most successful sports movie in history and lead actor Brad Pitt's most successful film.
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