Netflix and Apple TV team up for F1 in 2026
F1’s rise in the US has been building for years, but 2026 marks a real turning point in how fans will watch the sport from now on. News about Netflix teaming up with Apple TV for the 2026 F1 season just dropped, and it immediately came through as a big deal.
Apple TV will become the exclusive US broadcaster for the entire Formula 1 season. That means every practice session, every qualifying hour and every Grand Prix will stream on one platform. At the same time, Netflix is expanding beyond its documentary footprint and will stream the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix live in the US.
And then comes the part that really connects everything: Season 8 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive will stream globally on Netflix while also becoming available on Apple TV in the US.
The reactions have been nonstop since the news came out, and it makes sense because this partnership sets up a fresh way for the sport to reach its audience, and the excitement around it is already building before the new season even gets close.
What this partnership actually means
This partnership basically tells you how much bigger F1 has gotten in the US. When two platforms this huge decide to work around the same sport at the same time, it pushes F1 into a space where more people will hear about it with minimal effort.
It also means the sport stops feeling hidden behind smaller deals or random coverage, where fans want to watch it but don’t know how. With Apple TV and Netflix both involved during the same season, it gets F1 noticed by a lot more people than it used to. You will have fans who watch the races, fans who watch the series, and fans who do both, all reacting to the same year together.
In fact, teams and drivers end up getting more attention from people who may not have followed the sport closely in the past. When storylines show up on two major platforms at once, they reach a bigger mix of viewers, which is going to help build more interest around the season as it goes on.
Overall, the partnership makes the whole sport feel bigger and more present in the US. Instead of growing slowly in pockets, F1 sits in front of far more people. And this means only one thing: more viewership and growth in the fanbase.
What to expect from Drive to Survive Season 8
Season 8 of Formula 1: Drive to Survive covers the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, which marked the 75th year of the sport. That already made the season feel bigger, and the grid added to it again. Six rookies arrived together, and that alone changed how teams worked. In a way, it puts extra pressure on the older drivers to hold their spots.
When a championship goes all the way to the last round, the whole year carries a different kind of tension. Every pit call starts feeling important, and even short radio clips say a lot. Season 8 follows that run and shows how teams handled contract talks and pressure inside the garage through the year.
The format stays familiar, with the show spending most of its time in the garage. It then moves to track moments that shaped the season. What changes in 2026 is where you can watch it. The series premieres on February 27 and streams globally on Netflix, while viewers in the US can also access it on Apple TV.
How to watch the 2026 F1 race season live
Apple TV carries the full 2026 season in the US, covering every session from the Australian opener all the way through the final race. Netflix will join in for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix and bring one full weekend straight to its viewers. After that, the rest of the calendar stays on Apple TV for the remainder of the year.