Apple has officially become Formula 1's go-to broadcaster in the United States for 2026, and the early results are nothing short of spectacular. Just three Grands Prix into the season, viewership numbers are already surging past last year's figures, signaling a major win for both Apple and the sport.

Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Apple's senior vice president Eddy Cue revealed that the first three races of the season have drawn significantly more viewers than the same period last year under ESPN. "The ratings were way up over where they were last year on linear for the first three races, significantly," Cue told Motorsport.com at the Autosport Business Exchange Miami. "Not only did we see more viewers, but we also saw more viewers throughout the weekend."

This early success is a clear sign that American audiences are embracing F1 like never before. The Miami GP weekend marks the first U.S. race with Apple as the official broadcaster, and expectations are high that viewership will climb even higher. Cue emphasized that the entire race weekend—not just Sunday's main event—is driving the surge. "Today, you've got a practice session with all the changes that are going on. You've got the sprint qualifying. Tomorrow you've got the sprint race, you've got the race qualifying, and then you have the race itself. And so I always thought there was a huge opportunity to grow viewership, not just on Sunday, but all weekend."

For fans and sports apparel enthusiasts, this is an exciting development. With more eyes on F1 than ever, the demand for team gear, driver merchandise, and race-day apparel is set to reach new heights. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer drawn in by the action, there's never been a better time to gear up for the season. As Cue put it, "We've seen that early on in the results that we have."