Formula 1 in 2026: How to Watch, Schedule, and Apple TV’s Exclusive Deal
Formula 1 racing is back for the 2026 season, and it comes with a significant change for US viewers: Apple TV is now the exclusive broadcaster. This marks a major shift from previous coverage on ESPN and ESPN2, offering fans a new way to experience the thrill of F1.
Apple TV Secures Exclusive US Broadcast Rights
Apple has secured the US broadcast rights for Formula 1 for five years in a deal worth $750 million . Rather than creating its own production, Apple TV will offer American viewers a choice between the Sky Sports commentary team and the F1 TV feed.
How to Watch the 2026 F1 Season
Here’s how to tune into the 2026 Formula 1 season:
- Streaming: Apple TV is the primary way to watch F1 races in the US.
- Apple TV Subscription: A subscription costs $12.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial available for new subscribers .
- Free Trial Offers: Eligible customers who recently purchased an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac may receive up to three months of Apple TV for free.
- Free Content: Select practice and qualifying sessions will be shown on Yahoo Sports, starting with the Miami Grand Prix .
- Tubi Altcasts: Apple has partnered with Tubi for exclusive live altcasts for multiple races throughout the season, though the specific races have not yet been announced.
Where to Access Apple TV
You can access the 2026 F1 season on Apple TV through the Apple TV app on a variety of devices, including:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Apple TV 4K
- Apple Vision Pro
- Mac
- Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others)
- Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices
- Chromecast with Google TV
- PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles
- tv.apple.com
2026 United States Grand Prix Details
The 2026 United States Grand Prix will be held at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas . Here’s a look at the schedule:
- Practice 1: October 23, 17:30 – 18:30
- Practice 2: October 23, 21:00 – 22:00
- Practice 3: October 24, 17:30 – 18:30
- Qualifying: October 24, 21:00 – 22:00
- Race: October 25, 20:00
COTA has a circuit length of 5.513km and the race distance is 308.405km. The current fastest lap time was set by Charles Leclerc in 2019 at 1:36.169 .
F1 TV Presenters
Viewers on the main F1 TV feed will be guided by Laura Winter, alongside James Hinchcliffe, Lawrence Barretto, and Chris Medland. Alice Powell and Ariana Bravo also return from 2025. Commentary will be led by Alex Jacques and Jolyon Palmer, with contributions from Ruth Buscombe, David Coulthard, Davide Valsecchi, Alex Brundle, and Sam Collins. New additions include Juan Pablo Montoya and Betty Glover.
The Sky Sports team will feature Martin Brundle, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Jacques Villeneuve, Naomi Schiff, Bernie Collins, Karun Chandhok, Jamie Chadwick, and Anthony Davidson. Simon Lazenby, Natalie Pinkham, Ted Kravitz, Rachel Brookes, and Craig Slater will also return, with David Croft and Harry Benjamin handling race commentary.