Apple is in talks to acquire the US broadcast rights to screen Formula 1 when the contract becomes available next year, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, following the success of Brad Pitt-starrer F1: The Movie.
The report follows the strong box office performance of Apple’s high-octane racing film F1: The Movie, which has grossed US$293-million in its first 10 days, according to Variety and other outlets.
The iPhone maker is challenging current US broadcaster ESPN, owned by Disney, for the Formula 1 rights next year, the FT report said, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive series helped boost the sport’s popularity in the US, a momentum Apple now hopes to capitalise on.
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Several media outlets reported in February that Netflix is among the contenders for Formula 1’s US broadcasting rights from the 2026 season as ESPN’s exclusivity period to negotiate a new contract with F1 expired.
Apple and F1 did not immediately respond to a request for a comment on the FT report. — Anusha Shah in Bengaluru, (c) 2025 Reuters
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