Netflix & Apple TV Join Forces to Stream Formula 1 in 2026
F1 NewsThursday, 26 February 2026 at 18:45
Netflix and Apple TV have agreed a landmark content partnership that will see Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 8 stream on both platforms, while Apple becomes the exclusive United States broadcaster for the 2026 F1 season.
From 27 February, Season 8 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive will be available globally on Netflix and in the United States on Apple TV, marking the first time the series is carried simultaneously by two major streaming platforms in the same launch window.
The new arrangement also links documentary storytelling with live race action. As Apple TV takes over as exclusive United States broadcaster for all F1 sessions in 2026, Netflix will stream Apple TV’s live coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix in the United States later in the season.
The agreement strengthens Formula 1’s media footprint in its 75th anniversary era, with the sport seeking to convert documentary audiences into committed live viewers.
Season 8 returns on 27 February
Season 8 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive follows the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship campaign, a season defined by six rookies joining the grid, shifting driver line ups and management changes across the paddock.
The series promises behind the scenes access, unseen footage and interviews that explore both on track rivalries and off track tensions, as the 10 teams and 20 drivers battle for points, podiums and the championship.
The 2025 campaign, described as one of the most competitive in recent years, reportedly saw the title fight extend to the final chequered flag. Season 8 captures the decisive moments, teammate clashes and strategic gambles that shaped the outcome.
For Netflix, the continued global distribution underlines the programme’s role in expanding Formula 1’s audience beyond traditional motorsport markets. For Apple TV, carrying the series in the United States provides a direct content bridge into its newly acquired live rights package.
Apple TV takes exclusive United States race rights
From the opening round at the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix in early March, Apple TV becomes the exclusive United States broadcaster for all F1 sessions. That includes practice, qualifying, Sprint events and Grands Prix across the 2026 calendar.
In a further crossover between platforms, Netflix will carry Apple TV’s live coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix in May for United States viewers. The move allows Drive to Survive audiences to watch the rivalries and narratives they have followed on screen unfold in real time.
The collaboration reflects a broader trend in sports media, where streaming platforms increasingly integrate documentary storytelling with live rights to deepen audience engagement and retention.
For Formula 1, the dual platform strategy offers expanded exposure in its largest commercial market, while maintaining global continuity through Netflix’s established subscriber base.
With Season 8 launching on 27 February and the 2026 season beginning in March, the sport enters a new broadcast era that blends behind the scenes access with full race weekend coverage under a unified streaming ecosystem.
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