Formula 1 has been on a serious growth streak lately. Between sold-out race weekends, expanding U.S. audiences, and the buzz generated by the recent F1 movie backed by Apple, the sport feels bigger than ever. Apple, in particular, has been leaning hard into that momentum, snapping up broadcast rights, promoting immersive viewing experiences, and embedding F1 across its ecosystem.
But in a surprising twist, the tech giant is now sharing a slice of that pie with an unlikely partner: Netflix.
In a press release, Netflix said it is “bringing the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix live to viewers in the U.S. from May 22–24, giving Drive to Survive fans a chance to see the rivalries they’ve watched for years play out in real time.” That’s a notable shift for Netflix, which has been gradually experimenting with live programming in recent years.
But the partnership isn’t one-sided. Apple also gains something valuable in return. For the first time, season eight of Drive to Survive will stream on both Netflix globally and Apple TV in the U.S. In other words, Apple subscribers can binge the latest season of the show the same day it drops on Netflix. Apple gets the cultural engine that helped make F1 cool again, while Netflix gets a piece of the live-action spectacle.
This collaboration lands not long after Apple secured exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to Formula 1 in a deal reportedly worth around $140–$150 million annually. The championship had previously aired on ESPN, which played a key role in rebuilding the sport’s U.S. audience. Now, Apple is betting it can take things even further, integrating races into Apple News, Maps, Music, and beyond.
In a sport often described as one of the most expensive in the world, Apple’s investment is bold. By blending live races, blockbuster films, and streaming partnerships, it’s building a full-stack F1 experience.
Emmanuel Umahi
