Apple’s Grip on F1 Brings Racing into the Stream, Teases New Interface

F1’s engines are gearing up for a significant shift in the United States next year. Apple recently signed a five-year deal to become the series’ sole broadcaster, and they are making all session footage available on their Apple TV platform. That means everyone with the basic $12.99 monthly membership will be able to watch all 24 races, practice runs, qualifying heats, sprint events, and the works for free. And the best part? There are no additional payments, and no advertisements to disturb the action.

The primary aim here is to promote the sport to a new audience while also satisfying current supporters. Newcomers can dip in and out with the free tier, which allows them to watch certain entire races and every practice session directly in the Apple TV app, with no subscription necessary. You don’t have to be dedicated to give it a try. For those who are ready to make the leap, the paid tier offers the entire package: live coverage of every qualifying lap and sprint duel, as well as on-demand replays that can be viewed whenever it is convenient. Spanish-language broadcasts accompany the English streams, and as a nice touch, closed captioning is available to all.

The season begins in Australia on March 7, 2026, but if you can’t wait, previews and preseason video should be accessible a little sooner, giving subscribers a head start on the schedule. Driver onboard cameras were previously only available to premium F1 TV subscribers, but they are now included in the general broadcast. Which essentially means you’ll be riding alongside Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen as they speed around those tight curves at 200 mph. These onboard streams overlay the main screen, and you can switch between them in real time. Larger screens make it even more fascinating; as with Apple TV boxes and the Vision Pro headset, the display may be divided into quadrants. So you can watch four separate angles at once: the lead car’s dash cam, a rival’s pursuit shot, aerial drone footage, and the typical broadcast mix, which makes for pretty exciting viewing.


To make all of this work on your Apple TV, they completely redesigned the user interface to suit the onslaught. There is now a brand-new F1 center at the app’s front, with simple menus that arrange sessions by kind and track. You can skip through upcoming events or go right to highlights from previous grands prix. And to make things even more personal, the app is beginning to learn your watching patterns. If you spend time watching strategy breakdowns, for example, you will see more post-race analysis video. Simply sign in with your Apple ID on the F1 TV website or app, and all of your old features will migrate over, with no repeated logins or forgotten passwords. Existing F1 TV Premium members in the United States may also seamlessly move their service to the Apple TV, with all of their old documentaries and behind-the-scenes video still available.


Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, called the timing perfect. “2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1, from new teams to new regulations and cars with the best drivers in the world,” he said in the announcement. Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1’s president and chief executive, echoed that sentiment. “We have a shared vision for live broadcasts, engaging content, and year-round fan engagement,” Domenicali added. Their words point to more than just rights acquisition. Apple plans to weave the sport deeper into its ecosystem, spreading highlights through Apple News feeds, mapping out race routes on Apple Maps, curating driver playlists on Apple Music, and even tying workouts to training regimens via Apple Fitness+.