Over the US Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Formula 1 management announced it had signed a five-year deal to bring exclusive broadcast rights in the US to Apple TV, starting in 2026.The deal is a huge shift in how F1 is accessed in the United States, so naturally there are plenty of key questions needing to be answered for F1 fans in the country.
Why is F1 going to Apple TV, and how much is Apple paying?
Initial reports pegged Apple's F1 deal at $140million per year for a five-year period, but Motorsport.com understands the figure is slightly higher than that, closer to $150m. In any case, it is a huge increase over the reported $90m current broadcaster ESPN is paying, so it is a big boost for F1.
But other than the financial element, Apple also offers F1 access to its huge user base across its many devices and services. Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue promised Apple would deploy "the brunt" of its ecosystem, with F1 set to enjoy a significant presence across its apps including Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Sports and Apple Fitness+.
In addition, F1 felt that moving to Apple would make it easier to further grow the series in the US, as it is now attracting a younger audience that is more likely to subscribe to streaming services like Apple TV.
Apple also promised to work with F1 on further improving its broadcast product, looking at ways to integrate technology used to film its wildly successful F1 movie starring Brad Pitt.
Will I still be able to access F1 TV in the US?
Yes and no. In 2026, F1 TV Premium will cease to exist as a standalone service in the US, but it will be folded into the Apple TV app. Fans will therefore be forced to use Apple TV to access F1 TV, but all F1 practice sessions, qualifying and races will be part of the standard offering for all Apple TV subscribers.
F1 TV Premium features like a personalised Multiview and 4K Ultra HD/HDR will continue to be available through Apple TV.
Ahead of the change, direct F1 TV Pro and Premium subscriptions in the US will be phased out:
- Annual subscriptions: From October 17 this year, US fans will no longer be able to purchase annual F1 TV Pro/Premium plans. From November 17 this year, existing annual subscriptions will no longer renew.
- Monthly subscriptions: From December 8 this year, US fans will no longer be able to purchase monthly F1 TV Pro/Premium plans and existing monthly subscriptions will no longer renew.
How much will F1 on Apple TV it cost?
F1 will be added to the Apple TV package at no additional cost. With a monthly subscription costing $12.99, both F1 and Apple feel they are offering good value.
Will every F1 session be behind Apple's paywall?
Apple promises that a select number of practice sessions and races will be available to watch for free on Apple TV, also for people without a subscription. Exact details will follow later on.
Will Apple bid for F1 rights in other countries?
At the moment there are no plans to expand to other territories, but given Apple's growing worldwide subscriber base it stands to reason that if the US deal is successful, F1 could look at replicating it elsewhere.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said he wanted to be "respectful of the deals we are [in] with the other partners", but didn't rule out exploring streaming opportunities in other markets to keep up with how fans want to watch F1.
At the same time, legacy broadcasters are also evolving and expanding their streaming capabilities, so it's not a black and white choice.
Will Apple TV take F1 TV's broadcast or add its own coverage?
Apple remained tight-lipped on what its live product would look like, and whether or not the streaming service will just take F1 TV's broadcast feed.
"We're still determining. You'll see several different things that we're working on around that," Cue told select media, including Motorsport.com.
But Cue promised that Apple has big plans for how F1 is broadcast. "We've got a lot of great ideas that we're going to work on together, and I think we're going to make this an amazing, transformative year for Formula 1."
What about other Liberty owned series MotoGP and Formula E?
F1's commercial rightsholder Liberty Media has recently completed its purchase of MotoGP, while parent company Liberty Global holds a controlling interest in Formula E.
Cue stopped short of confirming whether or not Apple is interested in those series too, but didn't deny there are obvious synergies.
"This is what we're doing for the next five years. In my mind I hope this is what we're doing forever," he said. "You're right, there are more opportunities to go, but we're focused on this. Make this a success, and then it'll be easier to keep growing and doing more."
Will F1 be available in Spanish in the US?
Yes, as is the case with current broadcaster ESPN Deportes and its ESPN app, Apple TV says its F1 broadcasts will be available in both English and Spanish in the US in 2026, and will include closed captioning.
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