Netflix in the mix for F1 TV rights in the United States

Netflix is interested in becoming the new media rights partner for Formula 1 in the United States from 2026 as discussions continue over the future broadcast platform for the sport. ESPN currently holds the rights to televise F1 in the U.S., having taken over from NBC Sports for the 2018 season. F1 has signed short-term deals throughout the ESPN era as it felt the region would be a key growth market and it wanted to be able to take advantage of future opportunities, with the latest ESPN deal running until the end of 2025. While ESPN remains in the running to retain the rights, RACER understands its period of exclusivity in negotiations has now expired and F1 is able to discuss potential plans with other interested parties. Executives from F1 are believed to be in active discussions in the U.S. at present. One of the suitors is understood to be Netflix, with the streaming giant having hired ESPN’s vice president of production Kate Jackson to become its new director of sports late last year. Netflix and F1 have a strong relationship courtesy of the huge success of the docuseries Drive to Survive that first aired in 2019. It also broadcast the Netflix Cup golf and F1 crossover event in Las Vegas in 2023. Netflix has been branching out into live sports coverage in recent months, with 2024’s Christmas NFL games going out to a global audience, an exhibition boxing fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, and WWE’s weekly “Raw” event all part of its portfolio. Netflix also holds the U.S. rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in both 2027 and 2031. While there are set to be more NFL games on Netflix again in Christmas 2025, it is not alone in adding live sports events to its selection. Both Amazon and Apple also operate in the space — the former through NFL and the latter the MLB and MLS — and are expected to be among those who hold an interest in F1. Both of those companies similarly have links to the sport, with Amazon Web Services a global partner of F1, and Apple producing the upcoming self-titled movie starring Brad Pitt. The motorsport scene in the U.S. has also recently seen IndyCar’s primary broadcast partner transition from NBC Sports to FOX, starting this coming season. Approached about the situation surrounding the F1 rights, an ESPN spokesperson declined to comment “due to a corporate policy of not commenting on ongoing negotiations.”