F1 races are completely coming to Apple TV subsequent yr as a part of a five-year deal introduced Friday between the tech large and System 1.
Apple TV subscribers within the U.S. may have entry to observe, qualifying, Dash classes and Grands Prix footage, in addition to F1 TV Premium, System 1’s subscription service.
Some races and observe classes could also be free for viewing on the Apple TV app. The Apple Sports activities app will present reside updates on every Grand Prix, together with real-time leaderboards, Apple mentioned.
“2026 marks a transformative new period for System 1, from new groups to new rules and automobiles with the most effective drivers on this planet, and we sit up for delivering premium and revolutionary fan-first protection to our clients in a means that solely Apple can,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice chairman of providers, mentioned in an announcement.
Stefano Domenicali, System 1’s president and CEO, mentioned the partnership will assist maximize System 1’s development potential within the U.S. His firm labored with Apple on “F1 The Film,” starring Brad Pitt, which was launched final summer time. It was Apple’s first field workplace hit.
“Now we have a shared imaginative and prescient to carry this superb sport to our followers within the U.S. and entice new followers by way of reside broadcasts, participating content material, and a year-round strategy to maintain them hooked,” Domenicali mentioned in an announcement.
Apple paid roughly $140 million a yr for the rights to point out the races, in accordance with an individual accustomed to the matter who was not licensed to talk publicly. The races have been airing on ESPN since 2018 in a deal that may finish this yr. ESPN paid roughly $85 million per yr on common, the supply mentioned. The monetary phrases had been first reported by CNBC.
Apple and System 1 didn’t instantly return a request for remark and ESPN declined to touch upon the monetary phrases of the deal.
“We’re extremely pleased with what we and System 1 achieved collectively in the USA and sit up for a robust end on this closing season,” ESPN mentioned in an announcement. “We want F1 nicely sooner or later.”
Streaming providers have more and more been airing sports activities on their platforms to draw extra viewers who collect for main occasions. Along with F1, Apple has offers to air video games from Main League Baseball and Main League Soccer.
Apple additionally not too long ago introduced a deal to bundle Apple TV with NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock.
