Brad Pitt‘s F1 struck a hat-trick upon release as the highest-grossing racing film, the highest-grossing film by Apple Studios, and the highest-grossing film of Pitt’s career. It turned more than a few heads over at Hollywood, in the racing industry, but none more so than in Apple Studios.
Now, the fans are witnessing a historical deal between the streaming service and Formula 1 as the two have signed a 5-year deal worth $750 million for F1 races to be made available exclusively on Apple TV in the US starting in 2026 (via Discussing Film).
Now, it is only a matter of time before the greatly anticipated F1 sequel hits the big screens to much fanfare and box office acclaim.
Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise Reunion May Happen Sooner Than You Think
After the unprecedented success of F1 the Movie, Joseph Kosinski made his intentions clear about wanting to direct a sequel. After Go Like Hell, which was set to star Pitt and Tom Cruise, failed to take off (it was later picked up by James Mangold and made into Ford v Ferrari), Kosinski plans to bring those two megastars together for an epic crossover.
In an interview with GQ Magazine UK, the director revealed his dream pitch:
Well, right now, it’d be Cole Trickle, who was [Cruise’s] ‘Days of Thunder’ character, we find out that he and [Brad Pitt’s] Sonny Hayes have a past. They were rivals at some point, maybe crossed paths… I heard about this epic go-kart battle on ‘Interview With the Vampire’ that Brad and Tom had, and who wouldn’t pay to see those two go head-to-head on the track?
Considering the Apple and F1 deal, the stage is set for Kosinski to swoop in and steer his ambitious sequel into the metaphorical fast lane. Apple’s backing also means the budget will not be an impediment, as was the case with other studios when Kosinski pitched Go Like Hell. It will be interesting to see how he brings two legends of the screen together for the adrenaline-inducing film.
Why Apple’s Formula 1 Deal Could Be a Bad Look for the Company
The US has hogged the socioeconomic and geopolitical landscape for a lot of things recently, and now, it is seemingly trespassing into the sports territory.
After Trump’s plans of imposing an egregious 100% tariff “on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States” (Truth Social), Apple has followed suit to monopolize Formula 1, a global sport meant to be viewed unfettered by subscriptions and streaming service autonomy.
Negative fan reactions are already pouring in over Twitter/X, as people are rebutting Apple’s US exclusive deal as “scummy” and claiming, “This isn’t innovation, it’s financial cornering with extra steps.”
yeah thats stupid as fuck. I understand this may be "better" for the F1 brand, but this is a big ol slap in the face to actual F1 fans. We shouldnt have to pay for another streaming service to watch cars go fast…
$750M to make racing exclusive? This isn’t innovation, it’s financial cornering with extra steps.
Paying for another subscription to watch races is kinda scummy
exclusive streaming because nothing says adrenaline like buffering on your couch
I'm not sure any streaming service has gotten better in the last 5 years. They all keep fighting and consumers keep losing.
When all is said and done, Apple TV’s deal is simply a business-oriented opportunity that has no room for those who hold a pure love for the sport.
Below is a table listing all the essential details of Brad Pitt and Apple Studios’ F1 movie:
What did you think of F1: The Movie? Was it worthy of the IMAX experience? Let us know how excited you are about the potential Cruise-Pitt sequel in the comments below.
F1: The Movie will be available to watch on Apple TV+ from December 12, 2025.
