Apple has secured exclusive rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States. The announcement was first made last October when ESPN revealed that, starting in 2026, it would no longer air F1 Grand Prix races.
The tech giant has now confirmed that it will use all the tools at its disposal to bring Formula 1 to as many fans as possible.
While details of Apple’s television broadcasting plans will be released later this month, Eddie Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, acknowledged that multiple approaches will be needed to promote its coverage: “We’ll leverage everything Apple has to offer,” he said. “Whether it’s Apple News, our fantastic sports app that people use, music—which is an important part of Formula 1—or any other tool. We have retail stores in every major U.S. city. We will put everything Apple has to offer into play.”
“The F1 movie was another significant factor in this approach. It introduced Formula 1 to many people for the first time. And we know exactly who watched the film, so we’ll let them know they can now watch the races. This is a huge opportunity.”
Enhanced viewing experience for existing fans
For current viewers, Cue says the quality of Apple TV’s F1 broadcasts will improve this year, while additional options will allow fans to choose how they follow a race: “One of the first things you’ll notice is video quality like never before. We use 4K, but we don’t compress it to the levels people are used to. So the first time you tune in, you’ll say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen 4K like this.’”
“We’ll have a single button that lets you follow not just the race, but also the teams. Your favorite team with all the data. We have iPhones placed in locations no one has ever been before. I think one of the lessons from the movie is the variety of camera angles we can use to show the drivers—the G-forces they experience, how challenging it is to drive that car for two hours, and the speeds they reach.”
Hints at a possible F1 movie sequel
Cue concluded by hinting at the possibility of a sequel to the highly successful F1 film released last year: “I hope so—the first one did quite well.”
F1 CEO and chairman Stefano Domenicali clarified that any second film project is still far from being realized, as lessons are still being drawn from last year’s release. “Stay tuned,” the Italian said during a press day. “We’ll share more in the future. I’d say never say never, but we still need to digest the success of this film because it’s something unique. And if a new film is to happen, it must be really, really good. So if it does happen, it won’t be next year. But perhaps in 2026, we’ll be here at the Apple TV summer premieres, and hopefully, we’ll have more to announce then.”
Leave a Reply