The upcoming Formula 1 season is one of the most anticipated campaigns yet in the sport. With Lewis Hamilton making a move to Ferrari for 2025, coupled with a potential battle for both the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ title, this season could go into the books as one for the ages.
It may also be the last season that ESPN has the broadcast rights for F1 here in the United States.
According to a report from John Ourand of Puck News, network president Jimmy Pitaro has informed F1 that ESPN will not renew its rights to broadcast F1 in the United States at the end of the current deal. That rights agreement draws to a close following the 2025 campaign, and under that contract, the network had been paying F1 approximately $90 million per season.
Pursuant to that rights agreement ESPN aired Sky Sports’ coverage of F1, but would send talent to races here in the United States such as the Miami Grand Prix, and the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Earlier this month it was reported that Netflix could be interested in securing rights to air F1 in the United States, with the streaming service often linked to the sport’s rise in popularity thanks to the docuseries Drive to Survive.”
Apple has also been mentioned as a potential landing spot for F1, and NBC is another possibility. NBC once aired F1 prior to the ESPN deal, and with IndyCar moving to FOX from NBC, they could look at a return to F1.
Still, ESPN has one final year to air F1 here in the United States, and as noted above it could be a tremendous final season with no shortage of storylines.
But 2026 could be just as compelling, given the introduction of a new set of technical regulations that could shakeup the entire sport.
Where that season will air here in the United States is now up for discussion.
