Apple’s “F1: The Movie” will begin streaming globally on Apple TV on December 12, 2025, following its record theatrical run. The company set the date in a press release, positioning the Brad Pitt–led film as a flagship title for its service amid a broader push into premium sports programming.
The streaming debut lands as Apple is widely reported to be nearing a deal for U.S. Formula 1 media rights beginning with the 2026 season, with an announcement tipped around the United States Grand Prix in Austin and figures in the $140–$200 million-per-year range. ESPN’s current package runs through 2025. While neither Apple nor Liberty Media has confirmed terms, multiple industry outlets describe the talks as advanced.
Any U.S. agreement would plug into a patchwork of international contracts that continue to renew on a market-by-market basis, underscoring how a single global streaming solution remains unlikely. In Brazil, for example, F1 has already awarded exclusive rights to Globo from 2026 through 2028, covering every session across linear channels and GloboPlay. Similar negotiations are ongoing elsewhere, such as Mexico, where Fox Sports’ deal expires at the end of 2025.
Branding adds another wrinkle: Apple has begun referring to its subscription service simply as “Apple TV,” a change flagged in the announcement of the film’s streaming date even as the company’s platforms roll out the new identity. The shift places the movie on a newly named service at the same time the company is testing its leverage in live sports, where it already holds MLS rights and has explored MLB windows.
For Formula 1, the convergence of a high-profile Apple film and a potential rights handover would put the series in front of a tech giant’s subscription audience heading into the new media cycle, while maintaining direct-to-consumer offerings like F1 TV in territories where existing agreements allow. The balance between exclusivity, price, and accessibility—varying by region—will determine how much new reach the sport gains if the reported U.S. deal is finalized.
