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When Formula 1™ announced its exclusive five-year partnership with Apple TV in October 2025, it marked a seismic shift in how the sport reaches American audiences. As the tech giant assumes broadcasting duties from 2026 onward, F1™ CEO Stefano Domenicali has articulated a compelling vision: Apple’s vast ecosystem and technological infrastructure can accomplish something ESPN struggled to deliver during its seven-year tenure.
The numbers tell part of the story. The previous broadcaster concluded its partnership with record viewership of approximately 1.3 million viewers per race across its networks. Yet despite this growth, F1 remained a relatively niche product within the sports landscape. Apple’s arrival signals F1’s ambition to transcend these limitations and embed itself into American culture through channels that previous broadcasters simply could not leverage.
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Domenicali’s key insight centers on connectivity and accessibility—concepts that define Apple’s ecosystem far more than traditional television networks.
“Apple is in the hands of the majority of people because it allows everyone to be connected,” Domenicali explained, highlighting a fundamental advantage ESPN lacked.
Apple TV will deliver comprehensive coverage of all practice sessions, qualifying rounds, Sprint races, and Grands Prix to subscribers. But the offering extends far beyond the broadcast itself. Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+ will all feature F1 content integrated into their platforms. The new Apple Sports app provides live updates, real-time leaderboards, driver standings, and Lock Screen Live Activities—transforming F1 into a native experience across Apple’s ecosystem.
Additionally, select races and all practice sessions will be available free within the Apple TV app throughout the season, removing friction for potential new fans.
Perhaps most innovatively, Apple and IMAX have partnered to broadcast five races—Miami, Monaco, Silverstone, Monza, and Austin—live on big screens across at least 50 IMAX locations nationwide in 2026. This theatrical experience creates a spectacle unavailable through traditional broadcasting, attracting casual audiences who may never visit a race track.
Domenicali emphasized this strategic advantage: “allow us to enter in the houses of other people in a different way, in great quality.” The technology company’s resources enable F1 to dominate multiple consumer touchpoints simultaneously—something ESPN’s linear television model could never achieve.
The American market remains F1’s great untapped frontier, with Drive to Survive’s eighth season and three thriving U.S. Grands Prix providing cultural momentum. Domenicali believes Apple’s infrastructure—optimized for streaming across the world’s most mature market—positions F1 to accelerate growth among younger, increasingly female audiences.
With ESPN serving as competent but ultimately passive stewards, Apple represents an active participant invested in F1’s cultural penetration. As the sport enters 2026 with new regulations, teams, and cars, Apple’s ecosystem offers the revolutionary broadcast partnership F1 needed.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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