What Happened to F1TV?

F1TV was first announced in February 2018 as Formula 1's ambitious foray into direct-to-consumer streaming, aiming to provide a comprehensive and immersive viewing experience for its global fanbase. The service officially launched in May 2018, initially offering two tiers: F1TV Pro, which provided commercial-free live streams of every session, all 20 driver onboard cameras, and multi-language commentary, and F1TV Access, a less expensive tier with live timing data, radio commentary, extended highlights, and access to a vast archive of historical content. The platform was designed to be available across various devices, including desktop, mobile apps (iOS and Android), and TV apps on platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

Over the years, F1TV expanded its features and regional availability, becoming a cornerstone of Formula 1's digital strategy under Liberty Media. It introduced F1 TV Premium in 2025, offering enhanced features like 4K Ultra HD/HDR video quality and a multi-view option allowing simultaneous viewing of up to six different feeds. The service continued to evolve, adding support for various devices and improving its user interface, earning recognition as 'Platform of the Year (Rights Holder)' at the SportsPro Media Awards in 2025. By early 2026, F1TV Pro was available in approximately 99 countries, though its specific offerings varied due to local broadcasting rights.

A pivotal shift occurred in October 2025 when Apple TV secured exclusive streaming rights for Formula 1 in the United States, starting from the 2026 season. This five-year deal, reportedly worth over $700 million, meant that F1TV Pro and Premium would cease to exist as standalone subscriptions for US-based fans. Instead, F1TV Premium content, including live races, onboard cameras, and multi-view features, became integrated into the standard Apple TV subscription at no additional cost. The phasing out of direct F1TV Pro/Premium subscriptions in the US began in October 2025 for annual plans and December 2025 for monthly plans, with existing subscriptions honored until their renewal dates in 2026. F1TV Access, however, remained available as a standalone purchase in the US.

As of March 2026, F1TV continues its global operations, with significant enhancements for the new season. It announced an expanded presenter lineup, including new additions like Juan Pablo Montoya and Betty Glover, alongside returning commentators like Alex Jacques and Jolyon Palmer. The platform also introduced new regional language commentary options, such as Latin American and Japanese, and launched F1TV Pro and Premium in South Korea for the first time. While the integration with Apple TV in the US aims to streamline access and leverage Apple's ecosystem, some early user feedback in March 2026 indicated issues with the Apple TV integration, such as missing telemetry data, driver cams in replays, and inconsistent video quality. Despite these initial challenges, F1TV, both as a standalone service internationally and as an integrated offering in the US, remains central to Formula 1's strategy of engaging its growing global audience.