Apple TV and Netflix have agreed to share select F1 2026 content in the United States, creating a rare partnership between two of the world’s biggest streaming platforms ahead of the season opener.
The agreement, announced Feb. 26, gives the sport a major presence on both services as Apple prepares to begin its new role as the exclusive U.S. broadcaster. The arrangement arrives just weeks before the 2026 season begins. Apple secured the F1’s U.S. media rights in a five-year deal worth just under $150 million per year, replacing ESPN.
With that investment, Apple moved quickly to expand the sport’s reach by working with Netflix, whose documentary series Drive to Survive helped bring about Formula 1’s incredible popularity in America. For fans, the deal means more ways to watch the sport than ever before.
Apple TV will carry the full F1 season, while Netflix will stream a live race weekend in May and continue to offer the documentary series that helped introduce many viewers to the paddock.
What does the deal involve?
The agreement allows both companies to show select Formula 1 content from each other’s platforms.
Netflix subscribers in the United States will be able to watch all sessions of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend live on the service. The race weekend runs from May 22 to May 24 and marks the first time Netflix will stream a live Formula 1 event.
Apple TV subscribers will gain access to Season 8 of Drive to Survive. The new season premieres Feb. 27 and follows the drama, rivalries, and key moments from the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship.
For the first time, the series will stream globally on Netflix and also appear on Apple TV in the United States. The move introduces the documentary to Apple’s subscriber base while maintaining Netflix as its main home.
Speaking during a media call Thursday, Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue said the deal expands the sport’s reach.
“We’re excited to announce something I think no one was expecting,” Cue said, according to The Race. “Netflix, I think, has played a pivotal role in growing F1 since the launch of Drive to Survive, and we’re thrilled to make F1 content more broadly available to new and existing US fans on both Netflix and Apple TV.”
For Netflix, the agreement marks a milestone. The Canadian Grand Prix will be the platform’s first live Formula 1 broadcast in the United States.
A state-of-the-art F1 viewing experience on Apple TV
Apple also plans to change how American fans watch races when its coverage begins with Formula 1 2026. As reported by The Race, Apple will not rely only on the traditional international broadcast feed. Instead, the company will offer several viewing options, allowing fans to watch multiple feeds at once.
Viewers will be able to run up to four video feeds on the screen at the same time. These include the main race broadcast, driver tracker, and a live data channel.
Apple will also introduce “podium channels,” which automatically follow the onboard cameras of the three leading drivers. Fans can track the race leaders throughout the event without switching views.
Team-focused channels will offer another option. These channels will combine the main broadcast with team radio and on-board footage from a chosen team. Apple will also provide access to the Sky Sports F1 broadcast for fans who prefer that presentation.
Ian Holmes, Formula 1’s chief media rights and broadcast officer, said the goal is to deliver a viewing experience U.S. fans have not had before.
“For the US fans, they won’t have been served the sport in this way ever before,” Holmes said.
F1’s ambitions in the US market
Formula 1 leaders see Apple’s entry into broadcasting as a major step in the sport’s push into the American market.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the sport expects strong growth in interest and business across the United States. He pointed to the country’s advanced streaming market as a key reason for choosing Apple as its partner.
“We do believe that the partner that we have chosen in the world of streaming is the right one, if you consider that the American market in terms of streaming is one of the most mature ones,” Domenicali said, according to Motorsport.com.
Domenicali also highlighted Apple’s wider ecosystem. The company can promote Formula 1 through multiple apps and devices, not just its Apple TV service. Existing F1 TV subscribers will also be able to connect their service with Apple TV at a lower cost, giving them access to more content through the new platform.
For American viewers, the result is a wider path into the sport. Apple TV subscribers will receive the full Formula 1 2026 season, including practice sessions, qualifying, sprint events, and races.
The agreement also shows the rising value of Formula 1 audiences. Apple and Netflix often compete for subscribers, yet both companies now see value in sharing content tied to one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.
