Netflix Debuts Live F1 Broadcast With Apple Partnership

Formula 1 cars racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during the
Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal. Photo by Flickr user magicfab, licensed
under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Netflix will broadcast a live Formula 1 race for the first time in 2026,
partnering with Apple TV to jointly stream the Canadian Grand Prix on
May 24, according to Netflix's digital publication Tudum. The
announcement marks a significant shift for a platform that has, until
now, engaged with F1 primarily through its long-running documentary
series.

Apple TV secured exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights to Formula 1 last
year in a five-year deal reportedly worth \$750 million —
approximately \$150 million per year — a figure nearly double ESPN's
previous annual deal of around \$80 million, according to Sunday
Guardian Live. Netflix's involvement in the Canadian GP represents a
one-race collaboration that gives the streaming platform its first live
motorsport moment.

What the Partnership Includes

According to TechCrunch, the partnership was announced by Apple's
senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue. Netflix subscribers will be
able to stream the full race weekend live on the platform — including
practice sessions, qualifying, and the Grand Prix itself on May 24.

The collaboration extends beyond race day. As part of the broader
arrangement between the two companies, Apple TV subscribers will also
receive access to Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 8, the hit
Netflix docuseries that helped build F1's audience in the United
States. Season 8 was released on Netflix on February 27, according to GP
Fans.

A New Era for F1 Broadcasting

The 2026 Formula 1 season arrives with sweeping changes. Redesigned
cars, new aerodynamics, an expanded 11-team grid, and a 24-race calendar
already made the season one of the most anticipated in the sport's
recent history, according to Sunday Guardian Live. Adding a simultaneous
live broadcast across both Apple TV and Netflix places unprecedented
streaming weight behind a single race weekend.

For Netflix, the Canadian Grand Prix represents more than a one-off
broadcast experiment. The platform has built its F1 relationship over
eight seasons of Drive to Survive, a docuseries widely credited with
dramatically expanding the sport's fanbase in North America. Streaming
the race live closes the gap between documentary storytelling and live
sports — a space Netflix has been moving toward deliberately.

References: Netflix Is Streaming a Live Formula 1 Race for the First Time | Apple and Netflix Team Up to Air Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix | Netflix to Stream Live F1 Race in 2026 - Canadian Grand Prix: How to Watch