According to a report from the Financial Times, the F1 broadcasting deal runs until 2026.
This move comes after the success of Apple’s high-profile racing film, F1: The Movie, which has generated $293 million at the box office and has become Apple’s biggest theatrical release, as per CNBC.
The tech giant is looking to challenge ESPN, currently owned by Disney, for the exclusive Formula 1 rights in the US from 2026 onwards, the report suggests, citing insiders familiar with the matter.
While the report has yet to be confirmed by Reuters, it follows growing interest in F1 content, which has seen a surge in popularity.
The increased demand is partly due to Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive series, which significantly raised the profile of the sport in the US. The success of the Netflix series has created a new wave of interest that Apple hopes to leverage in securing the broadcast rights.
Additionally, reports earlier this year indicated that Netflix is also vying for the US broadcasting rights from the 2026 season, following the expiry of ESPN’s exclusivity period for negotiations with Formula 1.
Neither Apple nor Formula 1 have responded to requests for comments from Reuters.