Apple and Netflix Are Teaming Up to Broadcast F1 Because Nothing Brings Rivals Together Like Fast Cars

In a move that proves Formula 1 has officially become the hottest content in entertainment, Apple and Netflix are teaming up to co-broadcast the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. Yes, two of the biggest streaming rivals on the planet are putting aside their differences for the sweet, sweet sound of V6 turbo engines.

Apple TV became the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the United States through a multi-year deal reportedly worth around $150 million per season, replacing ESPN's long-running coverage. The deal gives Apple TV+ subscribers access to every race, qualifying session, and sprint event throughout the season.

Netflix, meanwhile, has been flirting with live sports for a while now, and this collaboration marks their most significant motorsport move yet. The streaming giant will co-broadcast the Canadian Grand Prix from May 22-24, 2026, bringing their production flair to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

The timing is no coincidence. Drive to Survive Season 8, Netflix's wildly popular docuseries that single-handedly turned millions of people into F1 fans, will be available on both platforms. Apple TV will carry it in the US while Netflix handles global distribution. It's the kind of cross-platform content sharing that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Apple SVP Eddy Cue announced the partnership, emphasizing that the goal is to bring Formula 1 to the widest possible audience. Translation: both companies realized that fighting over F1 fans is less profitable than sharing them.

For viewers, this is genuinely good news. Instead of needing to subscribe to every platform under the sun to follow a single sport, the Apple-Netflix arrangement means more accessible coverage. Whether this cooperation extends beyond the Canadian GP remains to be seen, but it sets an interesting precedent for how streaming giants might handle premium sports content going forward.

The partnership also signals just how valuable Formula 1 has become as a property. Between Apple's broadcast deal, Netflix's docuseries, and now this co-broadcasting arrangement, F1 has gone from a niche European sport to a global entertainment juggernaut. Liberty Media, which owns F1, must be absolutely thrilled watching two tech giants compete to throw money at their product.