Apple has secured an exclusive deal for the US broadcast rights to Formula 1 racing. Under the terms of a five-year pact with F1 parent company Liberty Media, Apple TV will air every F1 race starting in 2026.
The company says subscribers to the newly rebranded Apple TV will be able to watch every Grand Prix, along with each practice, qualifying and sprint session. Non-subscribers will be able to watch "select races" for free in the Apple TV app. You won't have to pony up to watch practice sessions.
Through the Apple Sports app, F1 fans can get live updates on qualifying and sprint sessions as well as Grands Prix. Expect real-time leaderboards (including for the driver and constructor championships), along with an iPhone home screen widget and Live Activities on the lock screen.
Apple will bring F1-related features to its News, Music, Maps and Fitness+ apps as well. The company will reveal more about "production details, product enhancements and all the ways fans will be able to enjoy F1 content across Apple products and services" in the lead up to the 2026 season, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix in March.
Formula 1 has its own dedicated streaming service and that's not going away entirely in the US, but F1 TV Premium will be exclusively available through Apple TV. In fact, F1 TV Premium (which currently costs $130 per year) will be a free perk for Apple TV subscribers in the US. You'll just need to link your F1 TV account to an Apple Account that has an active Apple TV subscription.
F1 TV Premium includes access to features like multiview, driver cams and team radio chatter, along with live telemetry and tire usage data. Live F2, F3, F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup coverage is included too.
The F1 deal will diversify Apple's sports offerings. The company already has a long-term pact with MLS for exclusive rights to air games from North America's top soccer league. However, the future of baseball on Apple TV is murky, with reports suggesting that Apple is set to cut ties with MLB.
It was rumored in July that Apple might be looking to add the driving event to its sports programming. The company allegedly bid between $120 million and $150 million a year for access to F1, which lapped the $90 million a year offered by ESPN, which previously had the US rights. The company may also be looking to capitalize on the success of its F1 the Movie project, which Engadget's Devindra Hardawar found to be an excellent racing film, a flashy summer blockbuster and an ostentatious commercial for Apple in his review.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-is-the-new-home-for-f1-racing-in-the-us-starting-in-2026-133619412.html?src=rss
