Apple delivered a powerful punch across the realm of sports streaming by securing a five-year deal for the US broadcast rights to Formula 1 (F1) races starting in 2026.

Apple TV will stream all of next year’s races after wresting the rights way from ESPN. CNBC reported the tech giant is paying $140 million to stream the races while Reuters noted Walt-Disney-owned ESPN previously shelled out $90 million.

Apple TV coverage will include all practice, qualifying and Sprint sessions as part of a $12.99 per month, ad free subscription. Some of the F1 races and all practice sessions will also be available for free in the app throughout the course of the season.

The iPhone-maker also has exclusive streaming rights with Major League Soccer but at an extra cost to its own plan.

F1 TV Premium, F1’s own content offering, will continue to be available in the US through an Apple TV subscription and will be free for those who subscribe.

Apple noted F1 is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world, with a US fanbase which reached 52 million last year.

CCS Insight chief analyst Ben Wood hailed the move on LinkedIn.

“Huge news in the world of F1 and a significant step for Apple as it joins other big tech companies, such as Amazon and Netflix, in streaming live sports. This also adds a new layer of complexity for US consumers who want to enjoy live sports, requiring yet another streaming subscription.”

Amazon and Netflix have streaming rights for National Football League games, among other professional sports, during the current season.

“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for Apple and the whole of Formula 1 that will ensure we can continue to maximise our growth potential in the US with the right content and innovative distribution channels,” stated Formula 1  president and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

Apple stated the streaming deal built upon its previous relationship with F1 first established during the filming of its F1 The Movie which starred Brad Pitt. Domenicali noted F1 spent three years working with Apple on the movie.