Apple is reportedly close to finalizing a long-anticipated streaming rights deal with Formula 1, which could be officially announced at the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin between October 17 and 19. The agreement would bring the sport to Apple’s growing live sports portfolio, positioning it alongside MLS Season Pass and Friday Night Baseball within the Apple TV app.
According to Puck’s John Ourand, the two sides have nearly completed negotiations after several months of delays. The sticking point has been Apple’s demand for streaming exclusivity in the U.S., which would require the closure of F1.TV, Formula 1’s own direct-to-consumer service. Apple is reportedly willing to pay around $150 million per year for the rights, but Formula 1 has been reluctant to give up the profitable and popular F1.TV platform, which has maintained strong engagement from dedicated fans.
The dispute has led to multiple rounds of discussion about how both services can coexist. In some international markets, F1.TV is already unavailable due to local broadcasting agreements, suggesting Apple’s deal could introduce similar restrictions in the U.S. if exclusivity is granted. It remains unclear whether F1.TV will continue to operate after the agreement is finalized.
If completed, the deal will take effect after ESPN’s Formula 1 broadcast rights expire at the end of the 2025 season. Apple would then take over U.S. streaming and broadcasting duties, likely integrating the coverage into its Apple TV app as a paid sports add-on. This move would further expand Apple’s push into live sports, marking a new milestone following its partnerships with Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball.
The timing of the announcement appears deliberate. Formula 1’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin serves as a symbolic setting for Apple’s next major sports venture. The company’s involvement with the event is not newm it was at the same track three years ago that Tim Cook made headlines for his low-key checkered flag wave at the race’s finish. This year, however, Apple seems poised to make a much louder statement.
