Formula 1 has signed a groundbreaking five-year partnership with Apple, making the tech giant the sport’s exclusive broadcast partner in the United States from 2026.

The agreement represents one of the most significant media rights shifts in global sports in recent years, combining Apple’s technological ecosystem and storytelling prowess with F1’s soaring popularity among younger audiences.

The deal extends beyond live racing broadcasts. It builds on Apple’s deepening involvement in the world of Formula 1, following the success of F1: The Movie, an Apple Original Film that premiered in cinemas and IMAX in June 2025 and will make its global streaming debut on Apple TV on December 12, 2025. Produced over three years in collaboration with F1 teams, drivers, and race organizers, the film has grossed nearly $630 million worldwide, making it the highest-earning sports movie in history.

The unprecedented success of the film highlighted Apple’s ability to capture the intensity and glamour of motorsport while reaching new and diverse audiences. Formula 1 said this same synergy of innovation and storytelling would now define its broadcast relationship with Apple.

Under the new arrangement, Apple TV will broadcast all Free Practice, Qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grand Prix races live in the U.S. Select races and all Free Practice sessions will also be available for free in the Apple TV app, giving fans broad access to the sport. Meanwhile, F1 TV Premium, Formula 1’s own content platform, will continue to operate in the U.S. but will be accessible exclusively via Apple TV subscriptions — and free for those already subscribed.

Beyond live racing, Apple plans to integrate F1 content across its ecosystem, including Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Sports, and Apple Fitness+. This cross-platform approach is expected to expand the sport’s visibility and engagement well beyond traditional viewing experiences.

“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula 1 and Apple that will ensure we can continue to maximize our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

He emphasized that the collaboration marks the continuation of a successful creative relationship. “We are no strangers to each other, having spent the past three years working together to create F1: The Movie, which has already proven to be a huge hit around the world,” Domenicali said. “We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked.”

He added that Apple’s reach and technology would help push the sport to new audiences, particularly among younger and more diverse fans.

“I want to thank Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and the entire Apple team for their vision, enthusiasm, and passionate approach to delivering this partnership. We are looking forward to the next five years together.”

Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, described the partnership as a natural evolution of Apple’s growing role in live sports and entertainment.

“We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet,” he said.

Cue highlighted that 2026 will mark a transformative era for F1, with new teams, new regulations, and new cars coming into play.

“We look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can,” he added.

For Formula 1, the deal represents not just a broadcast agreement but also a strategic move to deepen its presence in the lucrative U.S. market, where interest in the sport has surged dramatically in recent years. According to the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, 47% of new U.S. fans who have been following the sport for five years or less are aged between 18 and 24, and more than half are female. The findings underline the potential for continued growth among younger, tech-savvy audiences — a demographic Apple already commands with its ecosystem of devices and services.

The integration of F1 into Apple’s broader media portfolio could also reshape how fans engage with motorsport content. By weaving race highlights, real-time data, driver profiles, and interactive experiences into Apple’s apps, the company aims to make Formula 1 more accessible and immersive than ever before.

The partnership comes at a time when Apple is expanding its footprint in live sports broadcasting. The company already holds global rights for Major League Soccer (MLS) through its “MLS Season Pass” offering on Apple TV, and industry analysts have speculated that Apple’s deal with Formula 1 could set a new standard for the future of premium sports streaming.

Some note that Apple’s entry into F1 broadcasting could further intensify competition among tech companies for live sports rights, as traditional broadcasters face growing challenges from digital platforms with deeper pockets and more advanced user engagement tools.

Apple’s collaboration with F1 also reflects a broader convergence of entertainment, technology, and sport. The massive success of F1: The Movie demonstrated how cinematic storytelling could reignite global interest in a sport, while the new broadcast deal could ensure that Apple remains at the forefront of the audience experience — from the screen to the track.

Additional details, including production innovations, subscription packages, and integration features across Apple’s products, will be announced in the coming months.

Jefferies Financial Group CEO Rich Handler said Thursday that the Wall Street investment bank was defrauded by bankrupt auto parts manufacturer First Brands Group, marking the latest fallout from a corporate collapse that has rattled U.S. credit markets.

“I’ll just say this is us personally — we believe we were defrauded,” Handler told analysts and investors during the firm’s investor day, according to a regulatory filing released Friday.

He did not provide specific details about the alleged fraud, but said Jefferies remains confident in the overall business environment despite the episode.

His comments come as the U.S. Department of Justice investigates First Brands Group and as several financial institutions have reported potential losses tied to the company. The auto parts maker filed for bankruptcy protection in late September, listing more than $10 billion in liabilities, sending shockwaves through leveraged credit markets.

Fallout Across Credit Markets

The collapse of First Brands — alongside that of subprime lender and car dealership Tricolor — has deepened concerns in Wall Street’s multitrillion-dollar credit ecosystem, which spans leveraged loans, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), trade-finance funds, and subprime auto lending.

“I’m not saying there aren’t other issues like this,” Handler said. “I think there’s a fight going on right now between the banks and direct lenders who each want to point fingers at each other and say, ‘It’s your fault, no, it’s your fault.’”

Those remarks point to growing tension between traditional banks and private credit funds, as both sides grapple with defaults that threaten to expose weaknesses in risk management and underwriting standards across the market.

Jefferies’ stock tumbled sharply after First Brands’ bankruptcy filing, though it rebounded 5% on Friday after Thursday’s steep selloff. Analysts at Oppenheimer said the drop was driven largely by “atmospheric” credit concerns rather than by any material financial weakness at Jefferies, noting that credit managers, business development companies (BDCs), and several banks had come under similar pressure.

Jefferies President Brian Friedman stressed that the investment bank’s exposure to First Brands was isolated from its core operations.

“Kind of Chinese Wall 101. Nothing more to be said,” Friedman told investors. “The two have absolutely no relationship and, in fact, the decision in 2019 of the asset management Point Bonita team to engage with First Brands was absolutely independent and disconnected from anything on the investment banking side.”

Friedman said the fund involved was managed by Leucadia Asset Management, a Jefferies subsidiary that oversees alternative investments. Jefferies disclosed earlier this month that Leucadia holds about $715 million in receivables tied to First Brands but reiterated that its direct exposure after potential recoveries is under $100 million.

“We’ve estimated the firm’s direct exposure to the First Brands fallout to be relatively small — comfortably under $100 million,” said Morningstar analyst Sean Dunlop, noting that the potential loss is “readily absorbable” given Jefferies’ capital position.

Broader Sector Ripples

The First Brands bankruptcy has compounded broader credit jitters in the U.S. banking sector. Shares of several regional lenders slumped this week after Zions Bancorporation disclosed a $50 million charge-off in the third quarter, while Western Alliance Bank filed a lawsuit alleging borrower fraud.

The concerns briefly spilled over into European and Asian markets, where investors reacted to fears of contagion in corporate credit. However, U.S. banking stocks later recovered after a series of strong earnings reports reassured investors about the sector’s underlying health.

DOJ Probe Deepens

Meanwhile, the Justice Department’s probe into First Brands is said to be focusing on accounting irregularities and the company’s relationships with key creditors, according to people familiar with the investigation. The inquiry is expected to widen as regulators examine whether the company’s financing structure concealed deeper liquidity problems.

Handler’s acknowledgment of fraud adds a personal dimension to Jefferies’ response and underscores how the First Brands collapse has become a flashpoint for tensions between traditional and private lenders in the $1.6 trillion leveraged-loan market.

Jefferies insists the damage is currently contained. But the episode highlights a larger question looming over Wall Street: whether the boom in complex, high-yield lending over the past decade has left the financial system vulnerable to more hidden risks — risks that may only surface when credit conditions tighten.