Apple’s new deal with Formula One aims to grow U.S. audience

Formula One announced a five-year deal Friday with Apple, which will be the global motorsports series’ U.S. broadcast partner beginning next season.

ESPN had been the broadcast partner since 2018 and through the explosion of popularity of F1 in the United States, but it notified the series at the start of this year that it would not be extending its deal.

At the same time, Apple was working with the series on F1: The Movie, an original film released internationally in cinemas and Imax in June. It will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV in December, and has already grossed nearly $630 million globally—as both the most successful sports movie in history and the most lucrative of Brad Pitt’s career.

The relationship made Apple the front-runner to land the U.S. broadcast rights. Financial terms were not released.

“I feel like I am on the podium. This is amazing,” said Eddy Cue, Apple‘s senior vice president of services. “Our vision for Apple TV—we wanted to deliver customers the best story from the most creative storytellers. We launched in 2019, we started with nine original series, and now we’ve got a deep library of over 300 shows and movies and thousands of hours.

“And everyone on Apple TV in the U.S. will now get Formula One,” he added. “They’re going to get everything that Formula One has to offer.”

Apple plans to air F1 on Apple TV as well as amplify the series across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Sports, and Apple Fitness+. Apple TV will also host all practice, qualifying, sprint sessions, and races.

Select races and all practice sessions throughout the season will also be available to watch for free in the Apple TV app. F1 TV Premium, F1’s own premier content offering, will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription and will be free to Apple subscribers.

Apple TV is available in over 100 countries and regions on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone and other products, including PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles.

Cue said Apple’s reach will only help grow F1 in the United States, which currently hosts races in Miami, Las Vegas, and this weekend in Austin, Texas.

“The many millions of Apple TV viewers that we have in the U.S., we know many of them are Formula One fans, hopefully, and we know that many of them are not yet,” he said. “We’re going to be able to bring to the table right away; that’s very much low-hanging fruit.”

The deal with Apple was praised by Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the Cadillac Formula One team that will debut next season.

“As we build a truly American team, Apple’s scale, influence, marketing and, most importantly, deep commitment to innovation will bring us to American audiences in exactly the ways we want to reach them,” Towriss said.

Stefano Domenicali, F1 president and CEO, noted the potential for growth.

“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula One and Apple that will ensure we can continue to maximize our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels,” Domenicali said. “We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked.”

Domenicali also praised the coverage and growth ESPN brought the series over eight seasons.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we and Formula One accomplished together in the United States and look forward to a strong finish in this final season,” ESPN said in a statement. “We wish F1 well in the future.”

—By Jenna Fryer, AP auto racing writer