How to watch Formula 1 races on Apple TV

Starting with the 2026 season, Apple TV has entered an exclusive deal to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States, including all Grand Prix, qualifying and practice sessions in the United States.

In short, that means you need an Apple TV subscription to watch Formula 1 races this season. In this post, we’ll break down exactly how to subscribe, how to save money, what is the best device to use to tune in, and what you can watch for free.

Before this season, in the US, you could catch Formula 1 live on ESPN on cable, or streaming via the F1.TV platform. For 2026, the new partnership means ESPN will not be showing any races. Apple is the exclusive broadcast partner. (However, you can still use the F1.TV app if you want, more on that below).

For 2026 and beyond, you need an Apple TV subscription to watch using the Apple TV app on a compatible device to stream to your TV. You can also watch in a web browser at tv.apple.com.

How much does Apple TV cost?

Apple TV costs $12.99 per month, or $99 per year. To get the annual plan as a new subscriber, first subscribe to the monthly plan, then go into your subscription settings and switch to the annual plan. Get a seven-day free trial here for new signups.

You can also get Apple TV through the Apple One bundle, which starts at $19.95/mo and includes other services like Apple Music and iCloud storage.

A single Apple TV subscription can also be shared with up to six people through Family Sharing. If you are a student, you can get Apple TV at no extra charge as a free perk of the Apple Music Student Plan. Apple TV is also included (or at a reduced cost) through some mobile carrier plans.

Whatever way, as long as you have access to Apple TV, you will be able to watch all of the Formula 1 content — live and on-demand — in 4K quality. There is no additional tier or other purchase necessary.

How to watch Formula 1 on Apple

On race weekends, the TV app will have a dedicated F1 section where you can find live streams of the race action, as well as alternative streams for driver onboard cameras and other special features.

The 2026 F1 schedule comprises 24 races, starting on March 7. If you’ve never watched F1 before, a race weekend includes practice sessions, qualifying, and the actual Grand Prix on the Sunday.

Apple TV will have coverage of everything; practice sessions on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday. All practice sessions will stream for free – no subscription required – so people coming to the sport for the first time can get a taste of the experience without needing to subscribe.

You also don’t need to watch live. Races will be available on-demand to watch on replay. There will also be some supplementary coverage to enjoy as well, across the season.

What’s the best way to stream

The list of compatible devices is long. The Apple TV app is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, but also Android phones and tablets, Windows PCs, games consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, and more — as well as a web app experience at tv.apple.com.

The best way to watch is probably using an Apple TV 4K set-top box, though. This is Apple’s streaming box and generally delivers the best visual and audio quality. You will also be able to use the Multiview feature, which lets you watch four different streams of the action simultaneously.

How to use F1.TV with my Apple TV account

If you are an existing Formula 1 fan, you may be used to enjoying race day using the F1.TV website or apps. While you cannot pay directly for F1.TV anymore, you can still access the F1.TV experience if you have an Apple TV account. This is because Apple TV includes F1.TV Premium as a free perk (previously priced at $129/year on its own).

To link accounts, open the F1.TV app on your phone, or use this page online here. Click the Activate button to connect your F1.TV and Apple account together. You can then carry on watching through F1.TV like you always used to do. You may also want to use F1.TV to access the vast historical archive, or watch lower division racing that will not be available directly through the Apple TV app itself.

For instance, to watch the pre-season testing broadcasts, which are live February 11-13 and February 18-20, you will need to use F1.TV. Just subscribe to Apple and then link your accounts and you are all set. (If you have an existing F1.TV subscription, you can keep using it until it expires — it simply won’t renew.)

(Note: if you subscribe to Apple TV via Amazon Prime, you first need to link your Prime subscription with your Apple account using this page. Then, you can link it with F1.TV.)

Apple TV + F1 going forward

The Apple F1 deal runs through 2032, and could be extended if it is successful. The companies have promised that this is just the beginning, and more features and production enhancements will roll out to the service over time.

In terms of viewership, most expect the initial debut to show declines compared to when the season kicked off on ESPN. But Apple and F1 are hoping that people adopt the subscription model over time.

For fans who previously used F1.TV, it is actually a pretty good deal — they can now watch the sport for basically the same price as last year, except also get access to the entire Apple TV content library of TV shows and movies too.

If you were already an F1.TV and Apple TV subscriber last year, you simply save money this season, as you no longer have to pay for F1.TV.

Major League Soccer is also included with Apple TV this year, for even more accessible sports content.