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For U.S. viewers in 2026, Apple TV is the choice for watching Formula 1 live—not ESPN. ESPN’s U.S. rights ended after the 2025 season, and Apple now carries every practice, qualifying, Sprint session, and Grand Prix. Apple TV subscriptions in the United States also include F1 TV Premium, which adds onboard cameras, team radio, and live timing. So this is a useful comparison of ESPN’s former coverage with the current Apple TV-and-F1 TV offering, not a choice between two current U.S. race services.
What happened to ESPN’s U.S. F1 coverage?
ESPN’s announced U.S. rights extension covered the 2023–2025 seasons. For 2026, Apple is Formula 1’s exclusive U.S. broadcast partner. Apple’s U.S. guide says subscribers can watch every practice, qualifying, Sprint session, and Grand Prix. Formula 1’s ESPN extension announcement and Apple’s U.S. partnership announcement establish the transition.
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| 1 |
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F1: The Movie 2025 (Special Features) [Blu-ray] [Region Free] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Formula One 2014 Review [Blu-ray] | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Formula One Season Review 2012 [Blu-ray] | $10.57 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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F1 2015 Official Review [Blu-ray] | $28.15 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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F1 How it Was [Blu-ray] | $24.69 | Buy on Amazon |
That means U.S. fans should not subscribe to ESPN expecting it to carry live F1 races in 2026. ESPN remains relevant to this comparison as the former U.S. broadcaster; the current live-race service is Apple TV.
What does Apple TV include for F1?
Live sessions
Apple TV’s U.S. coverage includes all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix. Apple’s March 2026 viewing guide listed the subscription at $12.99 per month and a seven-day free trial for new subscribers at the time it was published. Both price and trial terms can change, so check Apple’s current checkout page before subscribing. Apple’s U.S. Formula 1 guide
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- Official Blu-ray release of F1: The Movie (2025), capturing the high-speed intensity and emotional drama of professional Formula One racing.
- Region Free Blu-ray edition, fully compatible with Blu-ray players worldwide with no playback restrictions.
- High-definition picture and dynamic surround sound deliver immersive race sequences and cinematic visuals.
- Ideal for motorsport fans, collectors, and viewers who enjoy sports drama, competition, and real-world racing environments.
- Features detailed character-driven storytelling alongside authentic racing atmosphere, offering a complete cinematic F1 experience.
F1 TV Premium features
In the United States, Apple says F1 TV Premium is included with an Apple TV subscription at no additional cost. Formula 1 describes features such as onboard cameras, live team radio, multi-camera viewing, and live timing and data overlays. The general F1 TV Pro description also lists full session replays, highlights, analysis, and pre- and post-race shows. These are useful distinctions from a conventional broadcast feed: viewers can follow a driver’s onboard perspective or use timing data alongside the race. Formula 1’s F1 TV subscription information Formula 1’s F1 TV Pro feature description
F1 TV’s general product pages describe availability and features that vary by country. They do not establish that U.S. viewers can buy a separate, standalone live-race subscription in 2026; Formula 1’s U.S. page directs viewers to F1 TV Premium through Apple TV. Do not assume that the names or access arrangements for F1 TV Pro in other countries apply to the U.S. service.
Other racing and on-demand content
Formula 1’s F1 TV materials describe coverage of F2, F3, F1 Academy, and Porsche Supercup, as well as historic races, archive material, documentaries, and shows. Apple’s U.S. announcement says F2, F3, F1 Academy, and Porsche Supercup can be accessed in the F1 TV app on Apple TV, iPad, and iPhone with an Apple TV subscription. App availability can differ by device, so check the relevant app rather than assuming every device offers the same secondary-series access. The cited descriptions do not provide a complete current inventory of the U.S. archive or show catalog.
How do the current and former options compare?
| What matters | ESPN in the United States | Apple TV with F1 TV Premium in the United States |
|---|---|---|
| Live F1 rights in 2026 | Not the U.S. rights holder; its announced extension ran through the 2025 season. Source: Formula 1’s extension announcement. | Exclusive U.S. broadcast partner in 2026, according to Apple. Source: Apple’s announcement. |
| Sessions | No 2026 U.S. live F1 coverage established by the cited rights announcement. | Every practice, qualifying, Sprint session, and Grand Prix, according to Apple’s U.S. guide. Source: Apple’s guide. |
| F1 TV Premium | Not applicable to ESPN’s former U.S. rights. | Included with the Apple TV subscription at no additional cost, according to Apple. Source: Apple’s announcement. |
| Price snapshot | Not stated for a current F1 live-race option. | $12.99 per month and a seven-day trial for new subscribers, as listed in Apple’s March 2026 guide; confirm current terms. Source: Apple’s guide. |
Which devices can you use?
An Apple TV 4K box is not required if you already own another supported device. Apple’s U.S. guide lists Apple TV 4K, iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, selected smart TVs, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and the web as viewing options. Full U.S. coverage still requires an Apple TV subscription; confirm support for your specific device model and app. Apple’s device and viewing guide
Are there ways to watch some coverage free?
Apple’s 2026 guide describes limited or event-specific access routes: some practice and qualifying coverage on Yahoo Sports, and planned or announced free access to select sessions or races through Tubi, Univision, and IMAX theaters. These options do not establish that every race or session is free. Check the current schedule and availability for the specific event before relying on a partner stream.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the older ESPN audience figures tell you?
Formula 1’s 2022 announcement reported an average of 949,000 U.S. viewers per race in the 2021 season, an average of 1.2 million viewers on ESPN networks through 18 races in 2022, and 2.6 million viewers for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on ABC. Formula 1 described the Miami figure at the time as the largest U.S. audience on record for a live Grand Prix. These are historical figures, not 2026 viewership data or a comparison of ESPN and Apple audiences. Formula 1’s 2022 announcement
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