F1 announces new streaming agreement with Apple as landmark deal confirmed at US GP

Formula One has announced a landmark five-year agreement for Apple to become the series' exclusive broadcast partner in the United States. Starting in 2026, races will be shown on Apple TV, while the sport will receive extra promotion on the tech company's other platforms, such as Apple Music and Apple Fitness+.

The deal was announced ahead of the United States Grand Prix, in which Lando Norris will attempt to further cut down Oscar Piastri's 22-point World Championship advantage. With three races in the country following the successful additions of the Miami and Las Vegas events, F1 bosses are pushing hard to drive a popularity boost in the States.

This is not F1's first deal with Apple. The tech giant played a critical role in F1: The Movie, released earlier this year to critical acclaim and considerable financial success. The project became the highest-grossing sports film in box office history, bringing in £467million ($628m) worldwide.

"This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula One 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," F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said on Friday.

"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.

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"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."

The new agreement means that Apple TV will be the new home of all practice sessions, qualifying, sprint sessions and Grand Prix events over the next five seasons. Friday's announcement also confirmed that select races will be made free-to-view in the United States, while fans will also be able to tune into every free practice session for free on the Apple TV app.

Previously, fans in the United States have been able to watch F1 events through the F1 TV Premium platform, but this will now be available exclusively through an Apple TV subscription, at no additional cost.