Apple TV achieved its first F1 victory against ESPN. Eddy Cue noted that the Australian Grand Prix race last week attracted more viewers on Apple TV compared to the same race a year ago.

Alex Weprin from The Hollywood Reporter shares the details on the matter.

“The 2026 Formula 1 season made a strong start on Apple TV; fans are responding positively and the viewer count showed an increase year-over-year for the first week, which exceeded expectations for both F1 and Apple,” Cue says.

Weprin reports that Apple has refused to share viewer data, but last year's ESPN ratings provided some clues:

As is typical for Apple, the company avoided giving any specific numbers, but last year's Australian GP had an average of 1.1 million viewers for ESPN. The Australian GP is an unusual race due to the late time zone, but any ratings increase is still an encouraging sign, especially with US-friendly races like Montreal and Miami approaching.

Apple TV is not the only service breaking records. Cue tells THR that the Apple Sports app has had its "biggest week" since its launch:

“Fans love the enhanced viewing experience, such as Multiview, Podium View, driver cameras, and the ability to watch Formula 1 for the first time in stunning 4K and Dolby Vision,” Cue says. “The AUS GP coincided with the biggest week for the Apple Sports app since its launch. We are just getting started and are extremely excited for the upcoming period.”

You can read the full report on THR. The next F1 race weekend starts tomorrow with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Apple purchased the F1 rights last fall for five years. F1 streaming is offered at no additional charge ($12.99/month after the trial period) with any Apple TV subscription.

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