F1 on Apple TV reached its biggest test so far on the weekend of 23 to 25 October 2026: the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the first American home race since Apple took the sport’s exclusive US rights. Apple is putting everything it has into the weekend, while viewers and analysts still argue about whether the move away from ESPN grew the audience or shrank it.
Key takeaways
- Apple is the only place to watch Formula 1 in the US from 2026 to 2030, under a five-year deal reported to be worth about $140 million a year.
- Apple TV streams every session of the Austin weekend, with commentary in English and Spanish, up to 30 extra feeds, and F1’s first broadcast in Dolby Atmos.
- Apple says the numbers are strong but hasn’t published them. Samba TV data shows fewer US homes tuning in to 8 of the first 9 races, while each home that does watch stays longer.
- The Austin race is not a free broadcast. You need a $14.99-a-month Apple TV subscription, though new subscribers get a 7-day free trial.
How did F1 end up exclusively on Apple TV?
Apple and Formula 1 announced the deal on 17 October 2025, two days before that year’s Austin race. It ended ESPN’s run, which began in 2018, and made Apple the only US home for every practice, qualifying, Sprint and Grand Prix session from 2026.
Neither company has disclosed the price. CNBC reported about $140 million a year, and TechCrunch put the total at roughly $750 million over five years. Reports have ESPN paying somewhere between $80 million and $90 million a year, so Apple pays about 60% more.
The deal also folds in F1 TV Premium, the sport’s own streaming tier, at no extra cost to Apple TV subscribers. For fans who used to pay for cable plus F1 TV, that is one bill instead of two.
What does F1 on Apple TV actually give you in Austin?
According to Apple’s announcement on 22 October 2026, every session streams live and on demand. Here is the weekend schedule in US Eastern Time (Austin runs an hour behind):
| Session | Date | Start (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday 23 October 2026 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Practice 2 | Friday 23 October 2026 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Practice 3 | Saturday 24 October 2026 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Qualifying | Saturday 24 October 2026 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Grand Prix | Sunday 25 October 2026 | 4:00 p.m. |
The extras matter more than the main feed. You get up to 30 extra live feeds, including a Driver Tracker, timing and data screens, a mixed onboard camera and a “Podium” feed that follows whoever is in the top three. Multiview puts up to four of those on one screen, and it now works on supported smart TVs as well as Apple hardware.
Austin is also the first F1 broadcast in Dolby Atmos, a surround-sound format that places sounds above and around you. If you have the speakers for it, the engines should sound much closer to a real grandstand.
Apple is selling the race well beyond the TV app. The race is screened live at more than 50 US IMAX locations. Tubi carries a free creator-hosted “altcast” (an alternative commentary stream), and the free Apple Sports app shows live leaderboards. Apple Maps adds a detailed 3D map of the Circuit of The Americas.
Is anyone watching? The ratings fight explained
This is where it gets messy. Apple doesn’t publish viewing numbers, and that hasn’t changed with F1.
The most cited outside data comes from Samba TV, which measures what is on screen across about 14.4 million smart TVs. As first reported by USA Today in August 2026, Samba found that household reach fell in 8 of the first 9 races of 2026. Miami fell 68% and Monaco 66%. Japan was the only race that held steady.
- The case that viewing is down: fewer homes tuned in, and Samba’s Alyson Sprague suggested some fans “may have activated an Apple TV free trial” for one race and then left.
- The case that it’s fine: Liberty Media, which owns F1, said total hours watched were up 13% season to date. Samba’s own data showed minutes per household rising sharply, up 113% for Monaco.
- The caveats: Samba can’t see much viewing on Apple’s own devices. Miami and Monaco aired on free broadcast network ABC in 2025, so the comparison is harsh.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told reporters Apple was reporting strong numbers internally but was reluctant to share them, adding that F1 is “pushing them” to publish, as The Race reported on 29 July 2026.
Picture a busy bar that swapped its open door for a ticket booth. Fewer people walk in, but the ones who pay stay all night. That is roughly the trade Apple has made. My opinion: until Apple releases a number you can compare with ESPN’s record average of about 1.3 million viewers, both sides can claim victory.
Why Austin matters so much to Apple
Austin is the middle of three American rounds in 2026, between Miami and the Las Vegas race in November. Home races are when casual US fans are most likely to try F1, which makes them Apple’s best shot at signing up subscribers who stay.
The title race helps too. In its preview, Apple noted that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli could clinch his first Drivers’ Championship that weekend and become the youngest champion in the sport’s history. A possible title decider on home soil is exactly the kind of event a streamer hopes will turn a free trial into a habit.
Sport is now how streamers fight churn, the industry term for subscribers who cancel. We saw the same pressure in Netflix’s $135 billion wipeout, where investors demanded reasons for people to keep paying. And F1 fits Apple’s wider entertainment push, from films to the gaming ambitions in our piece on Apple’s new App Store chief.
What happens next
Four more seasons remain on the deal after 2026. The open questions are clear:
- Numbers: Domenicali hinted fans would soon get “a good surprise” on audience data. Watch for whether Apple ever publishes an average-audience figure.
- Free races: Apple has promised that select races and all practice sessions will be free in the Apple TV app. Which races get that treatment in 2027 will show how hard Apple is chasing new fans.
- Partnerships: Apple simulcast the Canadian Grand Prix with Netflix in 2026. More shared races would suggest Apple cares more about reach than about keeping races locked inside its own app.
FAQ
Is the 2026 United States Grand Prix free on Apple TV?
Not according to Apple’s announcement. The race requires a US Apple TV subscription at $14.99 a month, with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Practice sessions are among the content Apple has said is free in the app.
Do I still need F1 TV Premium?
No. In the US, F1 TV Premium features such as extra onboard cameras and data feeds are included with an Apple TV subscription at no extra cost.
Has F1 viewership dropped since the move from ESPN?
It depends on what you measure. Samba TV found fewer US homes watching most 2026 races, while Liberty Media reported total hours watched up 13%. Apple hasn’t released official audience figures.
Want to judge it yourself? Use the 7-day free trial for the Austin weekend, try Multiview with the onboard feeds, and decide whether F1 on Apple TV is worth $14.99 a month to you.
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