What does the Apple deal mean for Formula 1 fans in the USA?

The deal marks the end of ESPN’s eight-year run as F1’s American home, during which the championship’s popularity surged. ESPN had informed F1 earlier this year that it would not renew its contract, opening the door for Apple, already a major partner through the Brad Pitt-starring F1 The Movie, to step in.

That film, which premiered in June and will stream globally on Apple TV in December, has already grossed nearly $630 million, becoming the highest-earning sports film in history and the most successful of Pitt’s career.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, said the partnership was a natural evolution of Apple’s growing sports and entertainment platform: “I feel like I am on the podium, this is amazing. Our vision for Apple TV was to deliver the best stories from the most creative storytellers.

"We started with nine original series in 2019, and now we’ve got a deep library of over 300 shows and movies and 1000s of hours. Everyone on Apple TV in the U.S. will now get Formula 1. They’re going to get everything that Formula 1 has to offer," he added.

The agreement will make select races and all practice sessions available to watch for free on the Apple TV app, while F1 TV Premium will continue to operate via Apple’s subscription service, free to Apple TV subscribers.

Apple TV is available in more than 100 countries across over a billion screens, including iPhones, PlayStation, and Xbox devices. Cue said this scale offers huge potential for the sport’s U.S. expansion: “The many millions of Apple TV viewers that we have in the U.S., we know many of them are Formula 1 fans—and many of them are not yet. We’re going to be able to bring new fans to the table right away. That’s low-hanging fruit.”

The announcement was welcomed by Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the new Cadillac Formula 1 team debuting next season: “As we build a truly American team, Apple’s scale, influence, marketing, and deep commitment to innovation will bring us to American audiences in exactly the ways we want to reach them,” he said.

F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali hailed the agreement as a major milestone for the sport: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula 1 and Apple that will ensure we continue to maximize our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels. 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.”

ESPN, meanwhile, issued a statement reflecting on its successful partnership with F1: “We’re incredibly proud of what we and Formula 1 accomplished together in the United States and look forward to a strong finish in this final season. We wish F1 well in the future.”

A standalone Apple TV+ subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year in the United States as of August 2025.