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Tag: Stefano Domenicali

  • F1 and Heineken shift gears with turbocharged partnership

    F1 and Heineken shift gears with turbocharged partnership

    MUMBAI: When beer meets the roar of engines, magic happens. Formula 1 and Heineken have renewed and expanded their global partnership, continuing a nearly decade-long collaboration that’s been as smooth as a perfectly poured pint.

    First teaming up in 2016, the partnership has delivered unforgettable fan moments both on and off the track, from high-octane hospitality experiences to Heineken’s signature pop-up bars. Now, the new multi-year deal takes the alliance into overdrive with fresh activations, bold fan engagement, and a unique twist for motorsport lovers.

    The F1 fan zone, now presented by Heineken 0.0, will bring immersive experiences to race weekends, alongside vivid branding and innovative in-person installations. The brewer will also enjoy naming rights for three Grands Prix each season.

    Adding an extra shot of excitement, Heineken has launched the ‘Star Fans’ campaign, celebrating the most passionate F1 supporters through exclusive online content, competitions, and awards. But the real showstopper is the world’s first F1 season ticket, a carbon fibre-crafted pass that grants one lucky fan and a friend access to every race on the calendar, complete with travel and accommodation.

    Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali hailed the partnership, saying, “Heineken has stood alongside Formula 1 for nearly a decade with a shared passion for delivering an unrivalled spectacle. Together, we’ll continue to push boundaries and bring fans closer to the action.”

    Echoing the excitement, Heineken CEO and chairman Dolf van den Brink added, “This partnership is about more than sponsorship. It’s about connecting fans, creating experiences, and celebrating the incredible energy of F1 – all with a cold Heineken 0.0 in hand.”

    As the two global powerhouses toast to their next chapter, one thing’s clear, this partnership is still firmly on pole position.

     

  • Apple takes pole position as Formula 1’s exclusive U.S. broadcaster

    Apple takes pole position as Formula 1’s exclusive U.S. broadcaster

    MUMBAI: Start your engines Formula 1 is speeding into Apple’s fast lane. In a landmark five-year deal starting 2026, Apple will become the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner for the world’s premier racing series, bringing together two global icons with a shared obsession for innovation, precision, and performance.

    The partnership marks a major acceleration for both brands, following the roaring success of F1The Movie, the Apple original film that grossed nearly 630 million dollars worldwide, making it the most successful sports film in history. Released in cinemas and IMAX in June, the film will zoom onto Apple TV screens globally on 12 December 2025 and the collaboration clearly wasn’t just a one-lap affair.

    Apple’s winning streak with Formula 1 underscores its ambition to turn streaming into a front-row experience for fans. The deal will give Apple TV subscribers access to every practice, qualifying, Sprint, and Grand Prix session, with select races and practice rounds available for free on the Apple TV app. F1 TV Premium will remain available through an Apple TV subscription and free for subscribers.

    But Apple’s racing ambitions don’t stop at the chequered flag. The tech giant plans to weave Formula 1 into its wider ecosystem across Apple News, Apple Music, Apple Sports, Apple Maps, and Apple Fitness+ transforming the sport into a full-throttle digital experience.

    Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said the partnership “will maximise our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels.” He added, “After three years of working together on F1 The Movie, we share a vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans and attract new ones through live broadcasts and engaging content.”

    That growth is already gathering pace. According to the 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, 47 per cent  of new U.S. Formula 1 fans those who’ve followed the sport for five years or less are aged 18–24, and over half are female. With Apple’s reach across younger, digital-first audiences, the partnership could prove a masterstroke in expanding the sport’s appeal.

    Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue added: “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front row access to one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet. 2026 marks a transformative new era from new teams to new regulations and we’re ready to deliver premium, fan-first coverage in a way that only Apple can.”

    The deal couldn’t come at a better time for the sport. As Formula 1 gears up for its next chapter with new teams, new cars, and new regulations, Apple’s precision-engineered storytelling and seamless tech ecosystem could turbocharge how fans experience every race.

    If F1 The Movie was the trailer, this five-year partnership is the full feature. And come 2026, when Apple’s broadcast lights go out, the race for the future of sports entertainment will truly be on.

     

  • Disney, ESPN & Formula 1 extend relationship with new, multi-year contract

    Disney, ESPN & Formula 1 extend relationship with new, multi-year contract

    Mumbai: In the midst of what is on track to be a record-breaking season of viewership, Walt Disney Co, ESPN and Formula 1 have extended their relationship with a new, multi-year contract. This will keep F1 races on ESPN Networks in the US through the 2025 season.

    The renewal was announced at the Formula 1 Aaramco United States Grand Prix 2022 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This is the second of the two US stops for F1 during the 2022 season.

    Under the renewal, at least 16 races will air on ABC and ESPN each season, more than in the previous five years since F1 returned to ESPN networks in 2018. Also, all race telecasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will continue the commercial-free presentation used over the past five seasons, a format that has set ESPN’s coverage apart and proved very popular with viewers.

    The new agreement also includes expanded direct-to-consumer rights, giving ESPN flexibility to roll out additional ways for fans in the US to consume F1 content over the next three years, including on ESPN+, with details to be announced later.

    Formula 1 returned to its original US television home in 2018 – the first race ever aired in the country was on ABC in 1962. F1 races also aired on ESPN from 1984-1997.

    “Formula 1 and ESPN have been a strong and successful team and we’re delighted to extend our relationship. We look forward to serving fans in some new and innovative ways in the next three years as we continue to bring the reach and relevance of the Walt Disney Company networks and platforms to Formula 1,” said ESPN president of programming and original content Burke Magnus.

    After setting a record in 2021 for the most-viewed F1 season ever on US television with an average of 9,49,000 viewers per race, the average has moved into seven figures in 2022. Through 18 races, live F1 telecasts are averaging 1.2 million viewers on ESPN networks – with multiple events attracting race-record television audiences.

    Earlier this year, the telecast of the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on ABC generated an average viewership of 2.6 million, the largest US audience on record for a live F1 race.

    “We are delighted to announce that our partnership with ESPN will continue. Formula 1 has seen incredible growth in the United States with sold out events and record television audiences, and the addition of Las Vegas to the calendar next season, alongside Austin and Miami, will see us host three spectacular races there. The ESPN networks have played a huge part in that growth with their dedicated quality coverage. We are excited to expand our relationship and continue to bring the passion and excitement of Formula 1 to our viewers in the US together” said Formula 1 president & CEO Stefano Domenicali.

    “After Formula 1 returned to the ESPN networks five years ago, the popularity of the sport has grown impressively. The extension and expansion of our partnership is a reflection of exciting times ahead and a result of our shared desire to bring Formula 1 to as broad and diverse an audience as possible in the U.S. The popular commercial-free broadcasts ensure that viewers continue to engage with F1 before, during and after the race. From next year we will have six races in the Americas, which means more favourable time zones to fans in the region, making the Formula 1 offering more compelling than ever,” said Formula 1 director of media rights and content creation Ian Holmes.

    All race weekends will continue to include live telecasts of all three practice sessions and qualifying (including the F1 Sprint) as well as pre-race and post-race coverage. The new agreement includes an increased focus on qualifying, with more sessions airing on ESPN or ESPN2.

    ESPN Deportes will continue as the Spanish-language home of F1 in the US and ESPN’s coverage of F1 also includes a dedicated site that reports on the championship year-round.

    In addition, ESPN studio shows including SportsCenter will continue on-site coverage from races in the US, including the new event in Las Vegas for 2023, with coverage at other races potentially added. ESPN also will be creating additional ancillary programming on its platforms to support its F1 coverage over the next three years.

    During each of the five seasons that F1 has been on ESPN networks since its return, the amount of F1 content on ESPN television and digital platforms has steadily increased. This year, the Sky Sports F1 programs Ted’s Qualifying Notebook and Ted’s Race Notebook were added, airing on ESPN3 during race weekends, and the video podcast programme Unlapped began appearing on the ESPN YouTube channel.