From Season 8 of the cult series to full race weekend coverage: 2026 changes how fans watch F1 with Netflix and Apple TV
The 2026 season marks a historic turning point for how Formula 1 is consumed in the United States. Netflix and Apple TV are launching a collaboration that, for the first time, connects every layer of the F1 experience — from Drive to Survive to live race coverage — bringing television audiences closer than ever to the on-track action.
The first major development concerns the release of Drive to Survive Season 8, dedicated to the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, the 75th anniversary season of the sport. The series will be available globally on Netflix and, for the first time, also on Apple TV in the United States starting February 27. This dual distribution channel further expands the reach of the docuseries that has transformed Formula 1’s popularity, particularly across the American market.
Season 8 dives into a high-tension 2025 campaign: six rookies on the grid, dramatic driver transfers, internal team tensions and a title fight decided only at the final chequered flag. All of this unfolds under the looming shadow of the new 2026 technical regulations, set to reshape the competitive order and redefine the balance of power across the paddock.
Not just the Netflix series
The real game-changer, however, lies elsewhere. From 2026 onward, Apple TV will become the exclusive Formula 1 broadcaster in the United States, airing every session live: free practice, qualifying, Sprint races and Grands Prix. It is a comprehensive offering designed to retain and convert the new generation of fans who discovered the sport through the storytelling power of Drive to Survive.
There is also a symbolic detail that perfectly illustrates the growing connection between the two platforms: in the United States, Netflix will stream live Apple TV’s coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix. This move creates a direct bridge between documentary storytelling and the reality of the racetrack, allowing fans to follow in real time the rivalries and narratives they have watched unfold on screen.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will get underway during the weekend of March 6 with the Australian Grand Prix. Yet the feeling is that this year the most intriguing battle will not only take place on track, but also off it — the race to capture the global attention of an ever-expanding audience in the new era of F1 streaming.
The convergence of Apple TV’s live broadcasting and Netflix’s narrative-driven storytelling represents a bold step into the future of sports media. As the 2026 season approaches, this partnership ensures that the drama of the paddock and the intensity of the track are more accessible than ever, promising a viewing experience that mirrors the high-speed evolution of Formula 1 itself.
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