Apple TV will stream an entire Formula 1 race weekend free to U.S. viewers for the first time, opening every Austrian Grand Prix session to fans without a subscription.
Viewers in the United States will be able to watch all Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix sessions live through Apple TV at no cost. The free access runs from June 26 through June 28 and includes every on-track session, from practice and qualifying to Sunday's Grand Prix.
The schedule begins with Practice 1 at 7:30 a.m. Eastern on June 26, followed by Practice 2 at 11 a.m. Practice 3 starts at 6:30 a.m. on June 27, with qualifying at 10 a.m. The Austrian Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Eastern on June 28.
Apple said the Austrian Grand Prix marks the first time it has made an entire Formula 1 race weekend available free to viewers in the United States. The company has offered free sports programming before, but this promotion includes every Formula 1 session across a race weekend rather than a single event.
Opening every Formula 1 session to non-subscribers gives fans a chance to follow the entire race weekend, not just Sunday's Grand Prix. Practice sessions shape car setups and race strategy, while qualifying determines the starting grid.
Why Apple is opening a Formula 1 weekend for free
The promotion arrives as Formula 1 continues to draw a larger audience in the United States. Following a full race weekend typically requires access to paid television or streaming services.
The Austrian Grand Prix gives casual viewers a chance to watch every session without paying for access.
The free weekend also gives Apple a chance to put Apple TV in front of viewers who may not regularly use the platform. Fans can follow the weekend from practice through qualifying and the Grand Prix itself.
Apple hasn't said whether similar free Formula 1 weekends will follow. For now, the Austrian Grand Prix is Apple's first effort to make an entire Formula 1 race weekend available free to U.S. viewers.
