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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsApple’s reported negotiations for Formula 1’s U.S. streaming rights are over. Apple and Formula 1 announced on October 17, 2025, that Apple would become F1’s exclusive U.S. broadcast partner for five years beginning with the 2026 season. Apple TV is now the U.S. home for live Formula 1 coverage, replacing ESPN after the 2025 season.
The original report was accurate as a negotiation story, but it is no longer correct to describe the rights as undecided. The completed agreement covers every U.S. Grand Prix, practice session, qualifying session and Sprint session for Apple TV subscribers.
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What the original report said
In 2025, Apple was reported to be in active negotiations for Formula 1’s U.S. rights beginning with the 2026 season. The talks involved F1 and its commercial-rights holder, Liberty Media, after ESPN’s exclusive negotiating window reportedly expired.
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At that stage, Apple had not won the rights. The story described negotiations and a bid, not a signed agreement or a completed takeover from ESPN.
What happened next
On October 17, 2025, Apple and Formula 1 formally announced a five-year U.S. partnership beginning in 2026. Apple became the sport’s exclusive U.S. broadcast partner, and Apple TV took over the live-rights arrangement from ESPN after the 2025 season.
Apple’s first F1 season began with the Australian Grand Prix on March 7, 2026. As of August 18, 2026, Apple TV is already the active exclusive U.S. platform for live F1 coverage—not merely a prospective bidder.
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“Exclusive” also needs a geographic qualification: this is an agreement for the United States. It does not establish Apple as F1’s worldwide broadcaster and does not automatically apply in Canada or other countries.
What Apple TV carries
According to Apple’s official F1 viewing guide, U.S. Apple TV subscribers receive the full live F1 package:
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- Every practice session
- Every qualifying session
- Every Sprint session
- Every Grand Prix
- Full replays and highlights
- English and Spanish commentary
- F1 TV and Sky Sports broadcasts
- Onboard cameras, data feeds, driver tracking and podium feeds
Compatible Apple devices also support Multiview, allowing viewers to follow multiple feeds at once. Apple says Multiview can show up to four feeds on supported Apple TV 4K, iPad and Vision Pro configurations, subject to compatible hardware and software.
This is more than a conventional channel change. Apple is moving the U.S. rights into a streaming product that can combine the main broadcast with timing, telemetry, onboard views and alternate commentary. Whether that experience is better for a particular viewer depends on the device, interface and viewing habits; Apple’s feature list does not by itself prove that it is universally superior to ESPN’s presentation.
Do you need an Apple TV subscription for every session?
For the complete live U.S. championship, an Apple TV subscription is the relevant requirement. However, Apple says that every practice session and a select number of race weekends are available without a subscription.
That free access is useful for occasional viewers, but it is not the same as free access to the full season. The available free-race schedule and promotional terms can change, so viewers should check Apple’s current F1 page before relying on a particular weekend being available.
Apple TV can be watched through supported Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, eligible Android devices, Windows devices and the web. You do not need to buy an Apple TV streaming box. “Apple TV” may refer to the subscription service, the Apple TV app or Apple TV 4K hardware; the hardware is optional.
Apple TV price and trial
Apple’s U.S. subscription page listed Apple TV at $12.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial for eligible new subscribers, when checked on August 18, 2026. Prices, trial eligibility and promotions can change, so confirm the current terms at Apple’s U.S. signup page.
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Apple TV can also be included in Apple One bundles, and Family Sharing supports up to five additional family members. Bundling can improve the value for a household that already uses Apple Music, iCloud+ or other Apple services. It is not automatically cheaper for an F1-only viewer.
Apple also lists Apple TV and Peacock bundles on its U.S. page, including a $14.99-per-month option with Peacock Premium and a $19.99-per-month option with Peacock Premium Plus. Those bundles are relevant only if the household also wants Peacock; they are not necessary for watching F1.
What happens to F1 TV?
F1 TV remains relevant in the U.S., but it should not be described as an independent replacement for Apple TV’s live rights. Apple says U.S. Apple TV subscribers receive access to F1 TV Premium at no additional cost by linking their Apple Account through F1’s designated linking process.
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Is F1 still on ESPN?
ESPN’s U.S. live relationship with Formula 1 ended after the 2025 season. ESPN had been the U.S. partner since 2018 and expected to complete that season as the broadcaster.
This qualification matters: ESPN’s U.S. F1 rights ended, but that does not mean ESPN ceased to have every relationship with Formula 1 everywhere in the world. The relevant change is the U.S. live-rights arrangement, which now belongs exclusively to Apple under the five-year deal.
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Why Apple wanted Formula 1
For Apple, F1 offers a premium live sports property that can attract subscribers and create regular engagement around a global calendar. The deal also fits Apple’s broader sports strategy, which includes its relationship with Major League Soccer and its baseball offerings.
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Apple had an additional connection to the sport through F1 The Movie, its Apple Original Films project. Apple linked the rights agreement to the film’s success and can use F1 across its wider services ecosystem.
Formula 1’s announcements highlighted possible promotion through Apple TV, Apple Sports, Apple News, Apple Music, Apple Maps and other Apple services. That integration gives F1 more ways to reach existing Apple customers, promote race weekends and present live information beyond a traditional television broadcast.
Why Formula 1 accepted the deal
The reported bid suggested stronger rights economics than ESPN’s previous arrangement, although the final contract value was not publicly confirmed. A larger rights fee is attractive, but it is only one part of the decision. Formula 1 also wants to expand its U.S. audience, and Apple offers a large technology and services ecosystem for distributing and promoting live events.
The trade-off is reach. ESPN was available through broad pay-TV distribution, while Apple TV requires viewers to use a separate streaming service unless they already subscribe. Axios reported that F1 executives viewed the partnership positively while acknowledging that streaming could initially reach fewer casual viewers than cable.
For F1, the central business question is therefore not simply whether Apple pays more. It is whether Apple’s digital presentation, marketing and ecosystem can maintain or grow the U.S. audience while delivering the higher-value subscription relationship the sport wants.
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What the deal means for different U.S. viewers
Fans who watch every session
Apple TV is the essential U.S. destination for the full live package. The service combines every competitive session with replays, alternate broadcasts and additional data-oriented feeds.
Fans who watch only a few races
Check whether the races you care about are among Apple’s selected free race weekends. If not, the monthly subscription may feel less attractive than the old pay-TV arrangement, particularly if F1 is the only program you watch on the service.
Existing Apple TV subscribers
For an existing subscriber, F1 may be an added benefit rather than a new monthly expense. The same account can also be used to access the included F1 TV Premium benefit after linking.
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Households with multiple viewers
Family Sharing may improve the effective value for households that already use Apple’s ecosystem. Device support still varies, and Multiview is not guaranteed on every television, browser or streaming device.
Viewers outside the United States
Do not use this agreement to determine viewing options in another country. F1 media rights are territory-specific; check the local broadcaster or streaming service for the relevant market.
What alternatives exist?
After Apple’s 2026 takeover, the cited sources identify no competing rights-holder offering the complete live U.S. F1 package. ESPN should not be recommended as a current U.S. live-race alternative.
Non-subscribers may still have access to free practice sessions, selected race weekends, highlights and replays through Apple’s current offering. Fans who do not subscribe can also follow radio coverage, live timing, news and highlights, but those options do not replace the complete live video championship.
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The timeline in brief
- Before 2025: ESPN held the U.S. relationship with F1 beginning in 2018.
- Early 2025: ESPN’s reported exclusive negotiating period expired, allowing F1 to consider competing bids.
- 2025: Apple was reported to be pursuing the rights with a bid of at least $150 million per year.
- October 17, 2025: Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year exclusive U.S. agreement beginning in 2026.
- March 7, 2026: Apple’s first F1 season began with the Australian Grand Prix.
- August 18, 2026: Apple TV was the active exclusive U.S. home for live F1 coverage.
Bottom line for U.S. fans
The Apple negotiation report became a completed deal. Apple TV now holds Formula 1’s exclusive U.S. live rights for five years from 2026, covering practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions and Grands Prix.
The benefit is a digital-first package with alternate broadcasts, F1 TV Premium access, telemetry and Multiview on supported devices. The cost is additional subscription friction for fans who previously watched through ESPN or a pay-TV package, plus the possibility of less casual audience reach. The reported $150 million annual bid explains why the negotiations mattered, but it should not be confused with a publicly confirmed final contract value.
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