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Apple’s F1 Push Wins Praise as Sky’s Long Deals Slow Europe Bid

Apple’s early U.S. success meets tight European rights windows.

Apr 30, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;  a general view a mural during Formula 1 media day at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Derek Chang of Liberty Media said Apple’s U.S. Formula One deal is working and that talks about other countries are likely.
  • Apple holds a five-year U.S. streaming contract that began in 2026 and is testing shared distribution like a Netflix simulcast of the Canadian Grand Prix.
  • Comcast-owned Sky extended exclusive rights to 2034 in the U.K. and 2032 in Italy at about £1 billion, closing near-term openings for Apple in those markets.
  • Analysts expect Apple to expand region by region as rights lapse, pointing to France in 2029, Spain after 2026, and a fluid pay-TV scene in Germany.
  • Liberty cites strong early engagement on Apple TV with features like multi-view and extra data, and F1 reported Q1 revenue of $617 million, up 53 percent year over year.