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Yes. Apple TV became Formula 1’s exclusive U.S. broadcast partner when the 2026 season began. The five-year agreement, announced on October 17, 2025, covers every Grand Prix, practice session, qualifying session and Sprint in the United States. The Australian Grand Prix weekend began Apple’s live coverage in March 2026, so the original “starting next year” headline is now outdated. Apple is distributing the complete live package, while selected free video, Tubi altcasts and Apple Sports updates remain available separately.
Apple’s rights announcement and its 2026 launch announcement describe the U.S.-only arrangement. Apple is a media-rights holder, not the owner of Formula 1.
What Apple’s Formula 1 deal includes
The agreement gives Apple exclusive U.S. rights for five years beginning with the 2026 season. ESPN’s previous F1 rights ended after 2025. In practical terms, Apple TV is the home of the full official U.S. live schedule:
- Every Grand Prix race
- Every practice session
- Every qualifying session
- Every Sprint session
- Live and on-demand replays, highlights and condensed “Race in 30” programs
- English and Spanish commentary, plus additional data and viewing feeds described by Apple
The deal applies to the United States; it does not move worldwide Formula 1 rights to Apple.
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When did the switch happen?
Apple and Formula 1 announced the partnership on October 17, 2025. Coverage went live with the 2026 season in March 2026; Apple identified the Australian Grand Prix weekend, including the race scheduled for March 7, 2026, as the beginning of its F1 service. As of August 18, 2026, Apple is already the active U.S. broadcaster.
Source: October 2025 announcement and March 2026 launch coverage.
How much does Apple TV cost?
| Item | Current U.S. detail |
|---|---|
| Apple TV subscription | $12.99 per month |
| New-subscriber trial | Seven days |
| Monthly price over 12 months | $155.88 before tax |
| What the price buys | Apple TV programming and the U.S. F1 coverage; it is not an F1-only pass |
Apple has also advertised limited promotions, such as three free months for eligible customers who buy and activate a new Apple device. Promotions, taxes and billing terms can change, so check the subscription screen before paying. The official monthly price and trial are listed in Apple’s season-launch announcement.
What else can subscribers watch?
F1 TV Premium and support series
Apple says F1 TV Premium remains available in the U.S. through an Apple TV subscription and is included at no additional charge for Apple TV subscribers. Through the F1 TV app on supported Apple devices, subscribers can also access Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup events. The app interface and controls can vary by device, so inclusion of F1 TV Premium does not guarantee that every historical F1 TV feature looks identical everywhere.
Replays and alternative presentations
Apple lists full replays, spoiler-free catch-up viewing, highlights and condensed programs. It also identifies Sky Sports broadcasts as another way to watch race weekends within the service. Feed, language, replay and feature availability can depend on the session, device and rights for that event.
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Free ways to follow F1 in the U.S.
“Free” covers several different products; none should be confused with the complete paid package.
| Option | What it provides | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Selected Apple TV coverage | Apple’s original announcement promised selected races free in the Apple TV app and all practice sessions free during the season. | It does not make every race-weekend session free. |
| Tubi altcasts | Free creator-hosted alternative commentary for multiple selected 2026 races. | They are complementary programming, not necessarily Apple’s primary broadcast feed or the entire season. |
| Apple Sports | Free live updates, timing, leaderboards, standings, widgets and iPhone Lock Screen Live Activities. | It is a data companion, not full race video. |
See Apple’s rights announcement and Miami Grand Prix coverage announcement for the stated free offerings. Tubi’s service is at tubitv.com, and Apple Sports information is at apple.com/apple-sports.
Which devices work?
You do not need Apple-branded hardware. Apple lists the Apple TV app and web access on:
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- iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Apple TV 4K and Apple Vision Pro
- Supported Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and other smart TVs
- Roku and Amazon Fire TV
- Chromecast with Google TV
- PlayStation and Xbox
- Web browser at tv.apple.com
U.S. Roku customers can subscribe through Premium Subscriptions on The Roku Channel. U.S. Prime Video customers can subscribe to Apple TV through Prime Video. These are alternative billing and access routes, not separate F1 rights holders. Compatibility is model- and app-version-dependent; an app’s presence does not guarantee 4K, Dolby Vision or multiview on that television.
What viewing features does Apple offer?
Apple’s 2026 announcements describe the following features, subject to session, device and feed availability:
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- Multiview with up to four live feeds
- 4K video with Dolby Vision and 5.1 surround sound
- Up to 30 additional live feeds for some coverage
- Driver Tracker, session timing and other data feeds
- Mixed onboard and podium feeds
- Replays and spoiler-free catch-up programming
These are Apple’s stated capabilities, not a promise that every session or platform supports every feature. Details appear in the March launch announcement and April coverage announcement.
What happens to ESPN, F1 TV and Drive to Survive?
ESPN
ESPN no longer holds the U.S. F1 rights after the 2025 season. Fans accustomed to a cable channel now need the Apple TV service, a supported app platform or a browser for the complete live schedule.
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For U.S. viewers, Apple says F1 TV Premium access is routed through an Apple TV subscription and included with it. Verify current device support and interface behavior if you rely on a particular F1 TV control or data view.
Drive to Survive
The live-rights deal does not transfer Netflix’s series wholesale. Apple’s March 2026 announcement says Season 8 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive is available on both Netflix and Apple TV in the U.S.; that documentary arrangement is separate from live-race rights.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Apple TV worth it for F1 fans?
A strong fit
- You want every practice, qualifying, Sprint and Grand Prix in one U.S. subscription.
- You value replays, data feeds, multiview and onboard coverage.
- You already pay for Apple TV or want its other programming, including MLS and Friday Night Baseball.
- You want access to the support series available through F1 TV Premium.
A weaker fit
- You watch only one or two races and can use selected free coverage or Tubi altcasts.
- You do not want another monthly bill.
- Your television or streaming device is unsupported or too old for the features you want.
- You are outside the United States, where different territorial rights apply.
A seven-day trial can help a new subscriber test sign-in, device compatibility and playback before the first charge. There is no confirmed separate annual F1-only plan in the cited Apple information.
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Commercial viewing is different
A residential Apple TV subscription should not be assumed to authorize a bar, restaurant, hotel or other public screening. Apple identifies DIRECTV for Business and EverPass as commercial distribution routes for live sports, with separate business terms. See DIRECTV for Business, EverPass and Apple’s commercial sports reference.
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Why Apple pursued Formula 1
Apple presents the partnership as part of a broader sports strategy that includes MLS and Friday Night Baseball, and as an extension of its relationship with Formula 1 through F1 The Movie. It has also described possible connections with Apple News, Maps, Music, Fitness+ and Apple Sports. Apple reported 52 million U.S. F1 fans in 2024 and cited the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey; those are Apple-provided figures, not independently audited audience measurements.
Industry reports estimated the five-year agreement at roughly $700 million to $750 million, or about $140 million to $150 million annually. Apple and Formula 1 did not disclose financial terms, so those figures remain reported estimates. See Techmeme’s deal-value roundup, its announcement coverage and Thurrott’s report.
The Bottom Line
For U.S. viewers in 2026, Apple TV is the complete official Formula 1 destination: every race, practice, qualifying and Sprint, plus replays and additional feeds, for $12.99 a month. Selected free Apple coverage, Tubi altcasts and Apple Sports updates can serve casual fans, but they do not replace the full-season package.
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