Formula 1 has confirmed a landmark five-year agreement with Apple that will see it become the sport’s exclusive broadcast partner in the United States from 2026.
The deal unites two global giants that share a commitment to innovation and entertainment.
It also extends a successful working relationship built during the production of F1 The Movie. The high-profile racing feature premiered in cinemas earlier this year.
The film took nearly $630 million at the box office and became the highest-grossing sports film of all time. It will stream globally on Apple TV from 12 December 2025.
Apple’s wide-reaching ecosystem is seen as a key asset in growing F1’s fanbase across the US.
According to the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, almost half of new American fans who have followed the sport for five years or less are between 18 and 24 years old.
Over 50 per cent are female, pointing to a rapidly expanding and more diverse audience.
A new era for Formula 1 in the US
From 2026, Apple TV will air every session of the F1 season. This includes practice, qualifying, Sprint events, and Grands Prix.
Selected races and all practice sessions will be available to stream free through the Apple TV app.
Meanwhile, F1 TV Premium will continue to operate in the US exclusively via Apple TV, with free access for subscribers.
Apple will promote further F1 content on its wider suite of services.
Further details on the production, coverage plans, and fan features will follow in the coming months.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, described the partnership as a pivotal moment for the sport.
“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula 1 and Apple that will ensure we can continue to maximise our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels,” he said.
“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. 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.
“I want to thank Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and the entire Apple team for their vision, enthusiasm and passionate approach to delivering this partnership, and we are looking forward to the next five years together.”
For Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, the deal carries personal significance.
Speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange: New York, Cue shared how his fascination with F1 began.
“I think it started when I was about 10 years old, I grew up in Miami, and when you’re as old as I am, Formula 1 races were not on television here in the US,” he recalled.
“But I went to the library and discovered this magazine and there was a page in there about F1. And so that’s how I discovered this sport.
“I grew up always loving cars. And Ferrari was really good at that time, so I was a big Ferrari fan because it was red.
“That’s how it all started. And over time, I was very lucky to be a part of, I’m on the board of Ferrari, been there for a long time.
“And I got that insider view of Formula 1 from that point of view, then we had the opportunity to build a movie.”
Cue believes F1’s combination of cutting-edge technology, elite athleticism, and international scale makes it an ideal fit for Apple’s philosophy.
“There’s a huge potential for the sport,” he explained. “When you look at it, it’s a sport that’s global, where actual events take place everywhere in the world, not in a single place.
“The athletes, they’re incredible athletes. There’s what they can do very few other athletes can do.
“So that’s another piece of it. You have those incredible brands, and I love Cadillac coming on board.
“So, you have all these brands of cars that are involved in it – it’s much more than just driving now.”
He also drew parallels between Apple’s technological innovation and F1’s relentless pursuit of performance:
“I think one of the things that we love about motorsports is the amount of technology involved in it,” Cue said.
“And obviously, Formula 1 is the epitome of that. So that’s a fun thing that ties to us, which is the combination – it is not just technology; there’s a human involved in this.
“We’re in this AI space and all of that stuff. But the human part is the key to the whole thing.
“Max Verstappen is the one who wins the race. Or Lando, or Oscar. But at the same time, there’s a level of technology that’s off the charts.
“So that’s near and dear to our hearts, who we are and what we try to do – and I love that part of Formula 1.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 season and beyond, Cue said Apple’s approach will bring fans closer to the sport than ever before.
“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. 2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1… and we look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.”
READ MORE – Review: How ‘F1: The Movie’ shines a fresh light on the sport we love
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