Apple TV achieves its first victory in F1 over the ESPN audience

Apple TV just scored its first F1 victory over ESPN. Eddy Cue says last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix race had more viewers on Apple TV than the same race on ESPN a year ago.

Alex Weprin in The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop.

“The 2026 Formula 1 season onwards Apple TV “It’s off to a good start, fans have responded positively and viewership has increased year-on-year over the opening weekend, exceeding the expectations of both F1 and Apple,” says Cue.

Weprin reports that Apple declined to provide viewing data, but ESPN’s ratings from a year ago provide some insight:

As is typical for Apple, the company declined to give specific numbers, although last year’s Australian GP averaged 1.1 million viewers for ESPN. The Australian GP is a somewhat unusual race, given its late-night schedule, but any improvement in ratings is nonetheless an encouraging sign, especially with more US-friendly races, such as Montreal and Miami, to come.

Apple TV is not the only service that breaks records. Cue tells THR that the Apple Sports App It also had its “biggest week” since its launch:

“Fans love the enhanced viewing experience, including Multiview, Podium View, driver cameras and the ability to watch Formula 1 in stunning 4K with Dolby Vision for the first time,” says Cue. “The Australian GP also coincided with the biggest week for the Apple Sports app since its launch. We’re just getting started and we’re incredibly excited about what lies ahead.”

You can read the full report at THR. The next F1 racing weekend begins tomorrow with the Chinese Grad Prix in Shanghai.

Apple TV will be the home of F1 for the next five years after Apple acquired the rights for half a decade last fall. F1 transmission is included with every Apple TV subscription ($12.99/month after free trial) at no additional charge.