In a major shift for sports broadcasting, Apple and Netflix have announced a strategic partnership to co-broadcast the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. Confirmed this Thursday by Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, the deal marks the first time U.S. fans can stream a live F1 race simultaneously on both Apple TV and Netflix.
Full Coverage and Global Reach
The collaboration provides Netflix subscribers with comprehensive access to the entire race weekend. Fans can stream practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and the Grand Prix itself live on the platform starting May 24.
Beyond live racing, the agreement introduces significant cross-promotion for the hit docuseries Drive to Survive. The highly anticipated eighth season, which chronicles the 2025 Formula One World Championship across eight episodes, premieres today, February 27. This season will be available to both Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. and Netflix users globally, significantly expanding the series’ international footprint.
F1’s Expanding Cultural Influence
Formula 1’s momentum in the American market has surged beyond the track, evidenced by the Best Picture nomination for the film F1 at this year’s Academy Awards. Drive to Survive has been instrumental in this growth, having attracted a diverse audience by evolving from a standard sports documentary into a high-stakes narrative that has captured millions of new viewers.
Apple is leveraging this popularity to integrate F1 into its broader ecosystem. The company plans to promote the sport through Apple News, Apple Maps—which will highlight global F1 circuit locations—Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+, alongside activations in its physical retail locations.
Strategic Shifts in Sports Broadcasting
For Netflix, this move represents a continued push into live sports, transitioning from a historical “no-sports” stance to securing high-profile rights for WWE Raw, NFL Christmas games, and MLB events.
The joint effort aligns with Apple’s new multi-year agreement with Formula 1. Under this deal, Apple TV has replaced ESPN as the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for all 24 races this season. Reports suggest the deal is valued at approximately $150 million per season, nearly doubling the $85 million ESPN previously paid. While the ESPN partnership concluded with an average viewership of 1.3 million viewers, Apple now offers these races to subscribers at no additional cost, aiming to capture an even larger share of the American sports market.