Championship Showdown at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
The 2026 Formula 1 season heads to North America this weekend for the Mexico City Grand Prix, hosted at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli enters the weekend on the verge of sporting history. Carrying a commanding 123-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell, Antonelli stands with a mathematical opportunity to secure his maiden Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship title in Mexico.
Behind the championship leader, the competition remains intensely compact. A fierce four-way fight for the runner-up position has emerged, with Russell, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc separated by a mere 10 points spanning second through fifth places. With points at a premium, each session on the Mexican circuit could radically reshape the championship standings.
Streaming Options and Expanded Broadcast Coverage
Fans around the world can follow every session live across Formula 1’s proprietary digital services, F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Premium. F1 TV Pro delivers comprehensive trackside coverage, incorporating onboard cameras across all 22 drivers’ cars alongside complete access to live Pre-Race and Post-Race analysis. The platform maintains broad hardware compatibility, streaming via Apple TV, Chromecast (Generation 2 and above), Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku devices.
For upgraded viewing, F1 TV Premium delivers track action in 4K Ultra HD/HDR across up to six distinct devices simultaneously. The service features a personalized Multiview layout on select devices, granting viewers access to choose from 26 live feeds during Grands Prix, Sprints, Qualifying, and practice sessions. In addition to primary Formula 1 track action, subscribers have access to live junior and support series coverage, including Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 ACADEMY, and the Porsche Supercup, alongside heritage programming such as Tech Talk Retro and F1 Icons. Global accessibility has also broadened with added payment options, including American Express.
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Apple Reshapes Formula 1 Viewing in the United States
United States viewers will experience a significant evolution in distribution. As Formula 1’s new Official U.S. Broadcaster, Apple will include F1 TV directly for free within standard Apple TV subscriptions. Under this partnership, the established F1 TV broadcast team will primarily anchor Apple TV’s English-language broadcasts, delivering familiar analysis and commentary to an expanded American audience.
Why This Matters
The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix marks a critical juncture for both on-track narratives and international motorsport media. If Antonelli wraps up the championship, he will solidify one of the most dominant campaigns in recent Mercedes history while resetting the modern era’s record books. Concurrently, Apple’s direct integration of F1 TV sets a new standard for major sports rights and platform packaging in the United States, replacing standalone subscription barriers with broader digital ecosystem access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Kimi Antonelli win the championship in Mexico City?
Holding a 123-point lead over George Russell, Antonelli can officially secure his first Formula 1 World Championship if he finishes the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend maintaining an insurmountable points advantage over Russell and the rest of the field.
How does the Apple broadcast agreement affect U.S. F1 TV viewers?
Under the new arrangement, Apple serves as the Official U.S. Broadcaster of Formula 1. Rather than requiring a separate subscription, F1 TV is included for free within an Apple TV subscription, featuring the core F1 TV broadcast team for English-language coverage.
What additional racing series are broadcast on F1 TV?
Alongside every live Formula 1 session, subscribers have access to live broadcasts of Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 ACADEMY, and Porsche Supercup events, as well as original documentary and analytical programming.
