F1 2026: Apple TV streams US races as Melbourne opens season
F1 2026: Apple TV streams US races as Melbourne opens season
Formula 1 lands an exclusive US deal with Apple TV through 2032, streaming every session as Melbourne hosts the season opener.
A brand new era of Formula 1 begins this weekend with the traditional season-opener, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. F1 will now be streamed on Apple TV in the United States, exclusive through the 2032 season. Every practice, qualifying and race session will be streamed on Apple TV. Fans can stream Apple TV for FREE, with Apple TV’s seven-day free trial, and the F1 TV platform is bundled with an Apple TV subscription at no extra cost. Subscriptions start at $12.99 a month or $99 per year. Fans will also have the option of watching Sky Sports F1’s broadcast, which was previously available.
After their deal with ESPN ended, Formula 1 has started a new partnership with Apple TV to be the exclusive home of F1 in the United States until 2032.
On the track, the opening chapter comes with a mix of familiar faces and fresh uncertainty. Lando Norris is riding high, having claimed his first F1 world championship last season, pipping four-time champion Max Verstappen by two points in a tense season finale in Abu Dhabi. Yet with new engine and chassis regulations, and a new Cadillac team entering the field, the pecking order could shift significantly. Mercedes’s engine prowess puts them near the top of the list, with British driver George Russell the bookmakers’ favourite. The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton endured a tough debut year at Scuderia Ferrari, but the pair of Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc looked strong in pre-season testing and remain in the mix for this weekend. Here’s how you can watch F1.
All eyes are on Melbourne this weekend as the season-opener unfolds. Free practice 3 is scheduled for 8:30pm EST on Friday, qualifying at midnight on Saturday, and the race itself at 11pm on Saturday. The shift to Apple TV as the primary US home for F1 marks a notable change for fans, while Sky Sports F1 continues to offer an alternative viewing option for those who prefer traditional broadcasting.
This new broadcast arrangement signals a broader transformation in how American audiences consume F1, combining streaming flexibility with the traditional broadcast experience and allowing fans to follow every moment of the action from the comfort of their own devices.
