Apple Wins F1 U.S. Streaming Rights in Landmark $150 Million Deal

Apple has won F1 U.S. streaming rights with a huge bid of at least $150 million per year. Apple is making a big move into sports, according to Business Today. If the deal is finalised, Apple will start streaming Formula 1 races in the U.S. from the 2026 season on its Apple TV+ platform.

This deal will be Apple’s most expensive sports investment so far. It will also nearly double ESPN’s current annual spend, which is around $85 million. ESPN, which is owned by Disney and currently holds the rights, has decided not to match Apple’s offer.

Apple Takes Over F1 U.S. Streaming with Bold Investment

The news comes right after Apple released its original Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt. The movie got a lot of attention and showed Apple’s growing interest in sports. Now, with this new deal, Apple is taking the next big step by going after the real thing, live Formula 1 races.

If the deal is confirmed, it will become Apple’s third major sports partnership. Apple already streams Major League Soccer and Friday Night Baseball. Now that Apple has taken over F1 U.S. streaming, the company is trying to expand its sports content even further.

Interestingly, Netflix, whose hit show Drive to Survive helped boost F1’s popularity in the U.S., did not take part in this round of bidding. In 2022, Netflix had shown interest in Formula 1 rights but chose not to compete this time. Other companies also stayed quiet, giving Apple a better chance of winning.

With its $150 million annual F1 bid, Apple is betting on the growing sports audience in the U.S. Formula 1 has become very popular among young people in the country. Apple sees this as a chance to attract new users and expand its streaming service to a global fan base.

ESPN Loses F1 Rights as Apple F1 Streaming Takes Off

ESPN loses F1 rights after six years of broadcasting the races in the U.S. Since ESPN started airing F1 in 2018, viewership has more than doubled. Today, the average race attracts around 1.3 million American viewers.

But despite this success, ESPN decided not to compete with Apple’s offer. As sports rights become more expensive, ESPN is focusing on other content.

A media expert shared, “This is a smart move by Apple. Formula 1 is a global sport, and it’s growing quickly in the U.S. It fits Apple’s plan to invest in content that can attract fans from all over the world.”

With Apple streaming F1, the tech company hopes to bring in more sports fans and boost subscriptions to Apple TV+. Unlike the NFL or NBA, Formula 1 offers a young and global audience that matches Apple’s brand and customer base. This could be a long-term win for the company.

By 2026, if the deal is finalised, Formula 1 fans in the U.S. will likely watch their favourite races on Apple TV+. This could change the way live sports are streamed, and Apple wins F1 U.S. streaming rights may be just the beginning of more sports coming to Apple platforms.