Following the widespread acclaim of the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, Apple is moving to acquire the commercial rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States, reports Financial Times. This pursuit comes as the existing contract with ESPN expires at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Although ESPN, owned by Disney, initially had a chance to renew the contract without competing offers, that opportunity has passed, opening the door for new contenders. Apple is among the primary players expressing interest in securing these valuable rights.

Apple’s Growing Presence in Sports Streaming

Apple has steadily expanded its involvement in sports content, having obtained streaming rights for Major League Baseball in 2022 and Major League Soccer afterward. The remarkable success of “F1: The Movie” appears to have fueled the company’s ambition to bring Formula 1 broadcasting under its umbrella.

The film itself has generated over $293 million globally, establishing it as the highest-grossing movie released in theaters by Apple to date. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the project is a collaboration among Apple Original Films, Brad Pitt’s Plan B, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and Lewis Hamilton’s Dawn Apollo.

Insights from Apple CEO Tim Cook on the F1 Film

Ahead of the movie’s release, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared his enthusiasm with Variety about the film’s creation and its authentic portrayal of the sport.

To bring something to life that would be authentic to the sport, that would tell a great story as well about the ups and downs of life — ‘F1’ hit on all the things,

Cook explained.

He also emphasized Apple’s unique contributions to the film’s production, citing the use of its camera technology and cross-company support.

And then we could bring some things that are uniquely Apple to the movie, like our camera technology. And we plan to have the whole of the company support it as well — our retail operation and everything. So it was something that we could get the entire company around. It feels wonderful to be a part of it.

Competition Intensifies for Formula 1 Broadcast Rights

Apple’s main rival in the bidding process is expected to be ESPN. However, Netflix is reportedly interested as well, motivated by the success of its Formula 1 docuseries “Drive to Survive,” which significantly boosted the sport’s popularity in the U.S. by allowing fans to connect with drivers off the track.

This surge in popularity highlights Formula 1’s expanding fanbase and the increasing commercial value of its media rights, making the upcoming negotiations particularly significant for the sport’s future presence in the American market.