This month's United States Grand Prix in Austin comes a year after Apple took F1's US rights from ESPN in a five-year deal. Apple announced it on Friday, 17 October 2025, two days before last year's race at the same Texas track. ESPN, which had shown F1 since 2018, had chosen to walk away.
Apple now streams every race in the US and reportedly pays about $140 million (£106 million) a year, compared with ESPN's roughly $90 million (£68 million). But Samba TV's data shows fewer US homes watched eight of nine 2026 races, with Miami down 68%. Apple and F1's owner, Liberty Media, say viewing is growing.
