Apple TV has recently reached a notable achievement by eclipsing ESPN in viewership for the Australian Grand Prix, representing its inaugural Formula 1 triumph. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president, revealed that the audience for last weekend’s race on Apple TV surpassed that of the same event on ESPN a year ago.
As reported by Alex Weprin from The Hollywood Reporter, Cue emphasized the favorable response from viewers and mentioned that the viewership for the opening weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season exceeded the expectations of both F1 and Apple. While Apple did not reveal exact viewing metrics, ESPN’s ratings from the prior year, which averaged 1.1 million viewers for the Australian GP, serve as a reference point. The Australian GP generally takes place during a late-night time slot, making any rise in ratings particularly significant, especially with other accessible races like those in Montreal and Miami on the horizon.
Beyond the race viewership, Cue noted that the Apple Sports app saw its “biggest week ever” since its inception, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for the platform. The app provides advanced viewing options such as Multiview, Podium View, driver cameras, and the chance to watch Formula 1 in 4K with Dolby Vision for the first time.
Apple has obtained the exclusive rights to stream Formula 1 in the U.S. for the upcoming five years, having secured these rights last fall. F1 streaming comes included with every Apple TV subscription, priced at $12.99 per month following a free trial.
The next Formula 1 race weekend is poised to kick off with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, further enhancing Apple TV’s expanding footprint in the sports streaming arena.