• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Netflix Exploring Bid for Formula One Rights in U.S. Starting 2026

Netflix’s docuseries Drive to Survive has been credited with driving big viewership increases for the sport since it launched in 2019.

Nov 23, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton (44) leads Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It’s been just over a month since WWE Raw debuted on Netflix, but the streaming giant is reportedly already exploring another media-rights contract in sports. And this time, it isn’t with a scripted product.

Netflix is considering a bid for the U.S. broadcasting rights of Formula One, according to The Athletic. ESPN holds the rights to F1 until the end of this year, but its exclusivity period to bid on the rights has reportedly expired.

ESPN’s current deal with F1 is worth around $75 million to $90 million annually, according to Sports Business Journal. The rights previously cost $5 million per year, but the price increase followed a surge in viewers driven by Netflix’s docuseries Drive to Survive, which debuted in 2019 and will release its seventh season in March. 

F1 has doubled its viewership since 2018, the first year that ESPN took over the F1 rights from NBC. ESPN networks averaged 550,000 viewers for the motorsport in 2018, and has hit at least 1.1 million viewers per season for the last three years.

The U.S. has hosted three F1 Grand Prix events for the last two years. The Miami GP held outside Hard Rock Stadium started in 2022—and has consistently been the most-watched race in the U.S.—while the Las Vegas GP was added in 2023

Netflix declined to comment on the report.

Will Netflix Finally Commit to Live Sports?

When Business Insider reported in 2022 that Netflix was interested in Formula One rights, the streamer had yet to do much around live sports. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video had committed to NFL’s Thursday Night Football in 2021, Apple TV signed a deal with MLS in 2022, and Peacock secured the rights to the Premier League (2021).

Three years later and Netflix has already hosted several live sports events like the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight on Nov. 15 and NFL’s Christmas Day games. The two NFL games averaged 26.5 million, and were the most streamed NFL games in history. The streamer has also hosted four weeks of WWE Raw on its platform, which is its first weekly live sports show. But Netflix has still yet to commit to a non-scripted, season-long live sports product.

On an earnings call late last month, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos insisted the streamer is more focused on individual live events rather than season-long deals with sports leagues.

“We are constantly trying to broaden our programming. Live events [are] one of those things, and sports is part of those live events,” he said. “That’s a really fantastic thing, but it doesn’t really change the underlying economics of full-season, big-league sports being extremely challenging.”

But he didn’t close the door on season-long deals either. “If there was a path where we could actually make the economics work, for both us and the leagues, we would certainly explore [it],” Sarandos said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

TNT Sports Parent WBD Is for Sale As Comcast, Netflix, Paramount Circle

The TNT Sports parent said it has received interest from “multiple parties.”
Verstappen

ESPN’s Final F1 Season Is Turning Into A Thriller 

F1 is averaging 1.4 million viewers on ESPN networks this year.
IndyCar driver Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood, left, celebrates winning the Detroit Grand Prix with team co-owner Dan Towriss in Detroit on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss Defends  $700 Million Apple Deal

“We’re going to have a bigger reach than what people think.”
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.
Oct 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with teammates after game four of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center.
October 14, 2025

WNBA Finals Draws 1.5M Viewers, Second-Highest Series on ESPN

The four-game series averaged 1.5 million viewers.
Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss (1) attempts to make a catch over Texas Longhorns defensive back Graceson Littleton (29) in the first half at Ohio Stadium.
October 16, 2025

SEC Games Help ABC Dominate College Football Ratings at Midseason

Texas–Ohio State on Fox remains the most-watched game of the season.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

Michelle Wie West shares her path from LPGA stardom to sports investor.
MLS
October 14, 2025

MLS Publishes Unchecked AI-Generated Game Recaps

Humans are not reviewing the articles for accuracy.
Micah Parsons
exclusive
October 14, 2025

NFL Scorigami Creator Blames Glitches on Twitter Platform Changes

The bot has been glitching all NFL season, and fans have noticed.
Sep 5, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces after their match in the semifinal of the men’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
October 13, 2025

Six Kings Slam Returns With Record $6M Prize, Netflix Deal

The Six Kings Slam is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA logo and NBA app logo and basketballs in front of the base during warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center.
October 13, 2025

NBA Will Take Over League Pass After WBD Divorce

The league now has full operational control of those media assets.