Formula 1 returns from an unplanned month-long hiatus this weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, offering Apple TV a chance to relaunch its first year as the sport's U.S. broadcast partner. The Miami race is traditionally one of the most-viewed globally, and Apple hopes to attract casual viewers.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, described the weekend as a relaunch. Apple secured a five-year deal averaging $150 million per year last fall, replacing ESPN, which had paid nearly $90 million annually in its previous extension.
Apple broadcasts races in 4K Dolby Vision with immersive 5.1 surround sound. Viewers can watch up to four live feeds simultaneously via multi-view, including in-car cameras and timing channels. Commentary options include F1 TV and Sky Sports feeds.
Cue noted that nearly a third of viewers use multiview, praising the video and sound quality. Apple also introduced two new shows: “Circuits in Focus,” featuring Nico Rosberg previewing circuits using the F1 25 video game, and “POV,” a post-race technical analysis with former Red Bull technician Calum Nicholas.
Additional content includes 10-minute qualifying recaps, circuit layouts in Apple Maps, driver-curated playlists on Apple Music, and coverage in Apple News and podcasts. Sunday's race will also be shown at 50 IMAX locations and in New York’s Times Square.
Apple has not released viewership ratings for the first three races, as it is not part of Nielsen’s system. It expects to publish its first set of numbers in May.
