- Apple and ESPN are most serious suitors for F1 rights
- Estimated that F1’s next US broadcast deal could be worth US$121m a year
Apple is in talks for the broadcast rights to Formula One in the US, according to the Financial Times (FT).
The reported interest comes after the tech giant saw its first major box office success with the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt. The film, which released last month, has so far grossed more than US$300 million.
Apple is now set to challenge incumbent US rights holder ESPN for the new contract, which starts next year, and BlackBook Motorsport understands that the two companies are the most serious suitors for the deal. Netflix is still said to be interested but now appears to trail Apple and ESPN.
Originally, ESPN had a period of exclusivity to negotiate a new contract with Formula One but that expired, which opened the door to rival offers and the potential for a bidding war that could drive up the value of the contract.
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The FT has noted that analysts at Citi have previously estimated that Formula One’s next broadcast rights deal in the US could be worth US$121 million a year. ESPN currently pays a reported US$90 million per season.
It was reported earlier this year that Formula One is looking for up to US$180 million from its next deal.
BlackBook Motorsport understands that ESPN is keen to avoid overpaying for the rights. However, the broadcaster’s stance may have softened in recent months, as Formula One continues to go from strength to strength in the US.
US viewership dropped three per cent in 2024 but, after the 2025 British Grand Prix, Formula One is currently averaging 1.38 million viewers per race this year, the most successful season the series has ever seen in the US.
It’s also important to remember that Formula One averaged just 539,000 viewers in its first season with ESPN in 2018, emphasising the journey that the sport has been on in the States.
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