Formula 1 just made one of its biggest media moves in years.

Starting with the 2026 season, Apple has signed an exclusive U.S. broadcasting deal for F1. That means every Grand Prix, qualifying session, and practice run now streams through Apple TV+.

No ESPN. No cable workarounds. Just Apple.

If you’re wondering exactly what that means, how much it costs, what’s free, and what device gives you the best experience, here’s the full breakdown.

The Big Change for 2026

Before this season, U.S. fans could watch F1 on ESPN or subscribe directly to F1 TV.

That changes now.

For 2026 and beyond, Apple is the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner for Formula 1. Every race weekend streams inside the Apple TV app.

The 2026 calendar features 24 races, beginning March 7. A typical race weekend includes:

• Friday: Practice sessions
• Saturday: Qualifying
• Sunday: Grand Prix

And yes, Apple streams all of it.

How Much Does Apple TV+ Cost?

An Apple TV+ subscription costs:

• $12.99 per month
• $99 per year (annual plan)

New subscribers get a seven-day free trial.

Here’s the part many people miss: the annual plan is significantly cheaper than paying monthly all year. You’ll need to:

1. Subscribe to the monthly plan first
2. Go into subscription settings
3. Switch to the annual plan

You can also get Apple TV+ through:

• Apple One (bundles Apple Music, iCloud, etc.)
• Apple Music Student Plan (includes Apple TV+)
• Select carrier plans
• Family Sharing (up to six people)

As long as you have access to Apple TV+, you can watch all F1 coverage live and on-demand in 4K. There’s no separate sports tier or add-on fee.

What You Can Watch for Free

We all love a freebie, so here’s where it gets interesting.

Apple is streaming every Friday practice session for free inside Apple TV+ — no subscription required. You just need the Apple TV app or a browser at tv.apple.com.

That means you can:

• Watch full live practice sessions
• Stream in 4K where supported
• Access on-demand replays after they end
• Explore the dedicated Formula 1 hub

It’s a clever entry point. Practice sessions may not decide the championship, but they show team pace, long-run simulations, and early storylines heading into qualifying. If you’re new to F1, this gives you a real feel for the sport without paying upfront.

Qualifying and the Grand Prix require a subscription. But even then, you’re not locked into watching live — full replays are available shortly after each session finishes.

Beyond the core race weekend coverage, Apple is also building out:

• Season roundups
• Analysis and breakdown shows
• Archive races and historical features
• Alternative camera feeds and onboard views

In other words, even without paying, you can get a genuine taste of race weekend before deciding if you want the full experience.

Where to Find Formula 1 Inside the Apple TV App

Apple has built a dedicated Formula 1 hub inside the Apple TV app.

If you don’t see it:

• Update the app
• Update your device software
• Check the Search tab on iPhone
• Look in the sidebar on TV platforms
• Visit tv.apple.com in a browser

You can tap Follow inside the hub to get push notifications and automatic Watchlist updates.

Important: The F1 hub is currently U.S. only.

The Best Device to Stream Formula 1

You can watch through the Apple TV app on:

• iPhone
• iPad
• Mac
• Android phones and tablets
• Windows PCs
• PlayStation
• Xbox
• Smart TVs
• Web browser

But if you want the best experience, it’s probably the Apple TV 4K.

Why?

Because it supports Multiview.

Multiview lets you watch up to four streams at once, including:

• Main race feed
• Driver onboard cameras
• Team-specific views
• Podium tracker

Multiview is currently available on:

• Apple TV 4K
• Vision Pro
• iPad

On other platforms, you can only watch one stream at a time.

For serious fans, Multiview alone might justify the hardware.

Can You Still Use F1 TV?

Yes, but differently.

You can’t subscribe directly to F1 TV anymore in the U.S. However, Apple TV+ now includes F1 TV Premium as a perk.

To link accounts:

1. Open the F1 TV app
2. Tap Activate
3. Connect your Apple account

Once linked, you can use the F1 TV app just like before — including access to the historical archive and lower-division racing that may not appear directly in the Apple TV app.

Pre-season testing broadcasts, for example, may still require the F1 TV interface.

If you previously had an F1 TV subscription, it will run until expiration but won’t auto-renew.

How to Save the Most Money

If you’re planning to watch the full season, the annual plan is the best value.

$99 per year works out far cheaper than paying $12.99 monthly across 12 months.

And if you already use other Apple services, Apple One might make more sense overall.

Family Sharing also makes the math better — one subscription can cover six people.

How Long Is the Apple Deal?

The Apple–F1 agreement runs through 2032.

Apple is expected to add more production features, alternative feeds, and enhancements over time. And if this works in the U.S., don’t be surprised if Apple bids for international rights next.

Closing

For longtime F1 TV subscribers, this is almost a wash financially, except now you also get Apple’s entire TV and movie catalog included.

For new fans, the barrier to entry just got simpler:

One subscription.
One app.
Every race.

The bigger question isn’t whether the coverage will be good. It’s whether fans will embrace the subscription model the same way they once embraced cable.

Are you planning to subscribe this season?