Ryan Christoffel, reporting for 9to5Mac:

Following months of rumors and speculation, today Apple made it official.

In a new five-year deal, Apple is becoming exclusive broadcast partner in the US for all Formula 1 rights.

Apple TV, the recently rebranded streaming service, will include comprehensive access to Formula 1 races for all subscribers.

That means that unlike Apple’s MLS service, which is a separate paid subscription, Formula 1 races will stream entirely free for Apple TV subscribers.

What about F1 TV, the existing streaming service? Apple says it “will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription only and will be free for those who subscribe [to Apple TV].”

Friday’s announcement is probably one of the best things to happen for Formula 1 since the Netflix documentary “Drive to Survive,” which can largely be thanked for the sport’s increased popularity. Still, though, it hasn’t really broken through to mainstream U.S. sports consumers, despite being offered on ESPN, because it has been difficult to access. The number of people with cable subscriptions is slowly dwindling, but the number of streaming subscribers continues to rise. (And, as an aside, Apple TV is free to share among family members, including those who live outside of the main physical household, so it doesn’t suffer from the password-sharing-induced churn Disney+ and Netflix have suffered somewhat.)

For existing subscribers to Apple TV, F1 TV, or both, Friday’s announcement is nothing but joy. F1 TV, a $30 value, is now included for free, and Formula 1 viewers in the United States will no longer need to use the terrible ESPN app. All races, practice sessions, qualifying sessions, and sprint races will be included in the Apple TV app, with Sky Sport broadcast announcers. (The latter was something I was particularly worried about, but it seems Apple knows people love David Croft.) All of this is free for existing subscribers and just $13 a month for people who were most likely already paying a more expensive fee for some other service to watch Formula 1 in the United States. This is nothing to complain about, and most people on social media who are disgruntled by the news most likely just haven’t read about what it means for them.

For Apple, this is more of a strategic gambit than a profit center. Formula 1 is still a niche sport in the United States, much like Major League Soccer, except unlike MLS, Apple is offering access for free. That strategy speaks volumes about why Apple TV exists, which I wrote about in March after the second season of “Severance” concluded. Apple wants to be known not just as the company that makes iPhones, but as a player in media, whether it be sports, podcasts, or award-winning TV shows and movies. It’s perhaps the clearest example of Apple participating in the intersection between liberal arts and technology, and I still think Apple TV is one of Apple’s most important and best products in a while. This deal is obviously fantastic news for me as a Formula 1 viewer, but I’m also happy to see Apple bring more attention to more esoteric sports and arts.

People who aren’t subscribed to Apple TV in 2025 are truly missing out. So many great shows — “Severance,” “Shrinking,” “Ted Lasso,” “The Studio” — and in 2026, a great sport.