Apple Revs Up F1 Partnership with New TV+ Hub

Apple has launched a new "Get Ready for Formula 1" hub on its TV+ streaming service, the first public move in its exclusive, multi-billion dollar U.S. broadcast rights deal. The launch signals Apple is hitting the gas on its live sports strategy ahead of the 2026 season.

• All access pass: Starting in 2026, the five-year agreement makes Apple TV+ the sole U.S. home for every F1 race, practice, and qualifying session. The deal also folds in the F1 TV Premium service for subscribers, and to broaden the audience, all practice sessions will be available for free inside the TV app.

• Apple's sports playbook: The F1 deal anchors Apple's live sports strategy, building on existing partnerships with Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball. That enthusiasm, which F1 officials previously said helped seal the deal, is now on display with this early content push.

• Off the linear track: The move is a significant gamble, considering the series averaged 1.3 million viewers per race on ESPN in its final season. The decision has sparked concerns that walling the sport off from linear TV could curb its accessibility and stunt audience growth in the U.S.

Apple is betting that the gravitational pull of exclusive, high-profile sports content is strong enough to reshape viewing habits and drive subscriptions, even at the risk of leaving a massive linear TV audience in the rearview mirror.