> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://spyglass.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Netflix Feels the Need for Live Speed - URL: https://spyglass.org/netflix-f1-racing/ - Published: 2025-02-12T09:20:30.000Z - Updated: 2025-02-13T14:06:18.000Z - Description: While perhaps not in pole position, an F1 deal would be yet another live sports lap - Author: M.G. Siegler - Tags: netflix, sports, streaming, f1, tech, television, espn, apple, amazon, apple tv+, #nodate [ Netflix considering bid for Formula 1 TV rights Streaming platform looking to capitalise on success of Drive to Survive series in America with their first attempt to secure season-long mainstream sports rights ![](https://www.thetimes.com/store/favicon-32x32.png) The Times Martyn Ziegler & Molly Hudson ![](https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2F10f5c02d-9184-49a6-94aa-1c6fef42716c.jpg?crop=5699%2C3205%2C0%2C388&resize=1500) ](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/formula-one/article/netflix-considering-bid-for-formula-1-tv-rights-9xd50qlm6?ref=spyglass.org) What's that in the rearview mirror? It's [Netflix's claims that they're not interested in live sports](https://spyglass.org/netflix-nfl-streaming/). As Martyn Ziegler and Molly Hudson report: > Netflix is considering a bid to cash in on the success of its *Drive to Survive* series by trying to secure the US broadcast rights to [Formula 1](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/formula-1?ref=spyglass.org). > > It would be the first significant foray into buying season-long mainstream sports rights by the streaming platform, but there has been huge growth in F1 fan numbers in the United States — which has three of the 24 F1 races — and the rights would be relatively cheap. > > ESPN holds the rights at the moment under a $90million (£72.5million) deal, but it is understood that the broadcaster’s exclusivity period to negotiate a new contract with F1 has just expired, which has opened the market for bids from any other interested party. Industry sources have said that [Netflix](https://www.thetimes.com/topic/netflix?ref=spyglass.org) is expected to bid for the rights starting from the 2026 season. Three years ago, [I was somewhat surprised](https://mgs.blog/netflix-gets-lapped-on-f1-baa811fb8e8e?ref=spyglass.org) that Netflix didn't lock up these rights given their success with *Drive to Survive.* But then again, they were still adamant that live sports wasn't a part of their plan and those rights got a lot more expensive, fast *thanks to* Netflix's behind-the-scenes show. But a lot has changed in a few short years. Now Netflix is not only doing some live sports, [*they just did two NFL games*](https://spyglass.org/netflix-football-league/)! And they were a big success. As is [their foray into WWE](https://spyglass.org/raw-is-streaming-war/). And the biggest of all may have been their Mike Tyson/Jake Paul boxing match, which drove [a lot of viewers](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-013/#:~:text=Netflix%20is%20now,1.8%3F%29.%20%5BTHR%5D) and most importantly, subscribers, despite the fact that the fight itself wasn't any good (though the undercard bout was) and there were [technical glitches](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-011/#:~:text=%F0%9F%A5%8A%20Millions%20Watch%20Tyson,thud.%20%5BBBC%5D) (which may have [actually helped Netflix](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-027/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8F%88%20Netflix%E2%80%99s%20NFL,%29.%20%5BInformation%20%F0%9F%94%92%5D) ahead of the NFL games). Also, as I wrote in a newsletter blurb [back in November](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-015/#:~:text=Formula%20One%20and,%3F%20%5BFT%20%F0%9F%94%92%5D): > **Formula One** and **ESPN** are starting negotiation talks to extend their deal – with F1 wanting a significant increase despite viewing numbers that have stagnated a bit in the past couple years. Might **Netflix** take the opportunity to [zoom in to secure rights](https://mgs.blog/netflix-gets-lapped-on-f1-baa811fb8e8e?ref=spyglass.org) to a sport [they've helped popularize](https://mgs.blog/the-f1-trifecta-daefba46785?ref=spyglass.org) now that they're actually at least somewhat [interested](https://spyglass.org/raw-is-streaming-war/) in [sports](https://spyglass.org/netflix-football-league/) – [and ads](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-007/#:~:text=%F0%9F%93%BA%20Netflix%20Says,%3F%20%5BTHR%5D)? If not, and if Disney lets the exclusive negotiating window lapse, **Amazon** seems [primed](https://spyglass.org/amazon-nba/) to swoop in here, as they tried to last time... [**Apple**](https://spyglass.org/f1-apple/)? \[[**FT**](https://www.ft.com/content/9e1411f5-2b0b-43f0-9854-fe4662b3e7b7?ref=spyglass.org) 🔒\] Well, now that ESPN's exclusive bidding window has lapsed, zoom, zoom, here comes Netflix. And yes, the only real question would seem to be if Amazon – which actually *outbid* ESPN the last time around (but still lost because F1 didn't want to do a streaming-only deal) – can pass them. Unlike Netflix, which continues to bulk up their live sports agenda on the sly, Amazon is [overt](https://spyglass.org/amazon-nba/) [about](https://spyglass.org/amazon-dunks-on-tnt/) [their goal here](https://spyglass.org/amazon-sports-rsn/). To the point that they're seemingly in a race with Disney/ESPN to [become the main sports streamer over the next few years](https://spyglass.org/espn-sports-bundle-streaming/) (and yes, I expect Netflix to be in that conversation as well – beyond subscribers, [it's all about the ads](https://spyglass.org/netflix-ads/)). Might that lure ESPN back to the table here? **One more thing:** Apple remains [a wildcard](https://mgs.blog/the-f1-trifecta-daefba46785?ref=spyglass.org) given their own sports ambitions. And the fact that their biggest swing yet for Apple TV+, [the Brad Pitt-starring, Joseph Kosinski-directed *F1* movie](https://spyglass.org/f1-apple/), is coming this summer. Then again, they seemingly like deals such as the one they have with MLS [for *worldwide* rights](https://500ish.com/apples-messi-strategy-48bd95fe006?ref=spyglass.org). Per this report, F1 would prefer to spread such rights out and Sky Sports in the UK already has a much longer deal with F1, so worldwide is likely out of the picture. Still, it [would be cool](https://spyglass.org/apple-vision-problem/) to see an F1 race [in 'Immersive Video'](https://spyglass.org/apple-television-pro/). [And I'd bet that Eddy Cue agrees](https://spyglass.org/ferrari-apple-car/) (and [don't forget](https://mgs.blog/cold-takes-apple-car-edition-f84709784eef?ref=spyglass.org))... [The Greatest Trick Netflix Ever Pulled......was convincing the world they weren’t interested in live sports![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-398.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-8.07.19-PM-2.png)](https://spyglass.org/netflix-nfl-streaming/) [ESPN’s Path to Be \*the\* Streaming Sports BundleIt’s not exactly “clear”, as Amazon may battle them along the way…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-399.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/ESPN-logo-living-room--3--3.jpeg)](https://spyglass.org/espn-sports-bundle-streaming/) [The TV Ad Empire Strikes BackNetflix is doing live sports for the ads![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-400.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/DALL-E-June-25-Ad-1-1.webp)](https://spyglass.org/netflix-ads/)