Apple TV to add Dolby Atmos to Formula 1 coverage from U.S. Grand Prix
In short
Apple TV will offer its U.S. Formula 1 coverage in Dolby Atmos starting with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas, which begins Friday, October 23, Apple and Dolby announced. The Atmos mix covers team radio, commentary, engines, on-track battles and pit lane audio, and requires supported Apple devices and Dolby-compatible TVs, soundbars or home theater systems. Watching requires only an Apple TV subscription, and the streaming rights remain U.S.-only.
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Formula 1 coverage on Apple TV in the United States will be available in Dolby Atmos beginning with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas, Apple said. 9to5Mac and MacRumors reported the change starts Friday, October 23, while Engadget said the Austin race weekend runs from October 22 to October 25. 9to5Mac reported that Apple and Dolby Laboratories announced a partnership to bring Dolby Atmos to Apple TV's live Formula 1 coverage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Apple, the Atmos mix covers team radio, race commentary, engine sound, on-track battles and pit lane activity. 9to5Mac quoted Apple as saying Atmos joins Dolby Vision to “deliver an even more immersive viewing experience,” putting “fans at the heart of the action.” MacRumors and Engadget reported that hearing the Atmos feed requires supported Apple devices and compatible Dolby-enabled TVs, soundbars or home theater systems. Engadget wrote that Dolby Atmos delivers spatial sound and noted this is the first time Apple TV has added Atmos support to a sports offering. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Oliver Schusser, described by 9to5Mac as Apple's vice president of Apple Music and international content and by MacRumors as Apple's VP of music, sports, Apple TV and Beats, said the company is “always looking for new ways to make Formula 1 on Apple TV even better for fans” and called the sound of Formula 1 an important part of what makes the sport exciting. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Schusser said that for sports fans today the experience is “not easy” and that there “has not been a lot of innovation,” adding that Apple entered sports to make a difference for customers. John Couling, Dolby Laboratories' senior vice president of entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter that “the sound is what makes it emotional” and builds tension, and told Business of Speed, per Engadget, that Apple can use Formula 1's existing trackside microphones and sensors instead of introducing new hardware. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Apple secured the U.S. streaming rights to Formula 1 in 2025 as part of a five-year deal beginning with the 2026 season, 9to5Mac reported; MacRumors said Apple and Formula 1 announced the five-year partnership including exclusive U.S. streaming rights last October. 9to5Mac said the rights still cover only the U.S. and that no extra subscription beyond Apple TV's is required. Engadget said Apple's coverage includes a dedicated channel in the Apple TV app with races, practice sessions, sprint races and pre- and post-race coverage, plus onboard cameras, team radios and live telemetry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
9to5Mac also noted that Apple recently made the Bahrain Grand Prix available to stream for free in the U.S., and that Apple partnered with Netflix to bring Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 8 to Apple TV in the U.S., with the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix streamed live on both Apple TV and Netflix in the U.S. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The change adds a premium audio format to Apple's Formula 1 offering in the U.S., where Apple holds exclusive streaming rights under a five-year deal. It is the first time Apple TV has introduced Dolby Atmos support for a sports offering, according to Engadget, indicating the feature could extend to other sports coverage. Because Apple TV's F1 rights cover only the U.S., the immediate effect is limited to American viewers.
Key facts
- Apple TV will make its Formula 1 coverage available in Dolby Atmos in the U.S., starting with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Atmos feed begins with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend on Friday, October 23, according to Apple's announcement. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Apple and Dolby Laboratories announced a partnership to bring Dolby Atmos to Apple TV's live Formula 1 coverage. [ 1 ]
- The Atmos mix covers team radio, race commentary, engine sound, on-track battles and pit lane audio. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Dolby Atmos playback requires supported Apple devices and Dolby-enabled TVs, soundbars or home theater systems. [ 2 , 3 ]
- No subscription beyond the Apple TV subscription is required. [ 1 ]
- Apple holds exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Formula 1 under a five-year deal announced in 2025 and beginning with the 2026 season. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Apple TV's Formula 1 coverage will support Dolby Atmos, starting with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Atmos presentation covers team radio, commentary, engine sound, on-track battles and pit lane activity. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Dolby Atmos requires supported Apple devices and compatible Dolby-enabled hardware. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Apple holds exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Formula 1 under a five-year partnership. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Apple will expand its Formula 1 coverage beyond the United States. 9to5Mac says Apple TV's streaming rights still include only the U.S. and notes Apple has previously indicated it wants to expand its F1 coverage, but the documents do not say how or when.
- Exactly which sessions of the Austin weekend will carry the Dolby Atmos feed. 9to5Mac and MacRumors describe the start as the U.S. Grand Prix weekend on Friday, October 23, while Engadget says the Austin event runs October 22–25; none specify whether all sessions carry Atmos.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 9to5Mac publishes its report on the Apple–Dolby partnership, citing a start at the U.S. Grand Prix weekend on October 23. [ 1 ]
- MacRumors reports the Dolby Atmos rollout and quotes Apple's Oliver Schusser and Dolby's John Couling, both speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. [ 2 ]
- Engadget reports the same launch, saying the Austin race weekend runs October 22 to 25 and quoting Dolby's John Couling speaking to Business of Speed. [ 3 ]
- Dolby Atmos debuts on Apple TV's U.S. Formula 1 coverage with the U.S. Grand Prix weekend in Austin, beginning Friday, October 23. [ 1 , 2 ]