Apple's next move as a streaming giant in the world of live sports could be to bring Formula 1 to Apple TV+ after ESPN's deal expires after the 2025 season.

The incumbent, ESPN, has doubled the American audience since 2018. Yet, with Liberty Media now fielding offers from Apple and Netflix that nearly double the current deal at $150–200 million a year, the question isn’t just about who’s got the biggest wallet.

According to the network, ESPN2’s telecast of the British Grand Prix averaged 1.5 million viewers, a 19% gain over last year’s telecast and the largest audience ever for the race on U.S. television. That viewership peaked at 1.8 million right around the time Norris took the checkered flag.

The current Formula 1 races on ESPN networks attract an average of 1.3 million viewers, representing a 17% increase from the 2024 full-season average. The 18-49 demographic watches Formula 1 races at an average of 511,000 viewers, representing a 24% increase from the 2024 full season.

Formula 1 fandom in the U.S. has been growing rapidly over the past few years. The 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, performed by the organization itself, polled Formula 1 fans in 186 countries. Of all of these nations, the U.S. "accounts for the largest share of respondents of any individual country," said the survey.

The Cupertino company is in discussions with ESPN to acquire the Formula 1 broadcasting rights in the US next year, according to The Financial Times, following the success of Apple’s F1 Movie. Apple TV Plus isn’t the only streaming platform rumored to be throwing its hat in the ring,

After a dramatic final lap in Saturday's qualifying session, Max Verstappen secured pole position for Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

With or without a podium, Nico Hulkenberg has always been a top-five driver in Formula 1, according to his former teammate Carlos Sainz.