Big moment for racing fans because Netflix is officially stepping deeper into live sports. For the first time ever, viewers in the US will be able to watch a live Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix directly on Netflix when the race weekend begins from May 22 to May 24. The move marks another huge shift in the streaming world where platforms are no longer just competing with movies and TV shows, but also fighting for live sports audiences.
The Canadian Grand Prix has always been one of the more energetic races on the F1 calendar, and now Netflix is using that excitement to test how far it can go in the live-event space. Fans who already spend weekends binging Formula 1 content on the platform through Formula 1: Drive to Survive can now actually watch the real racing action happen live without leaving the app. That crossover honestly feels like the next logical step for the streamer.
Apple And Netflix Team Up In A Surprising Deal
What makes this situation even more interesting is the involvement of Apple. Usually streaming companies guard their sports rights very aggressively, especially when billions are involved, but Apple reportedly chose a different strategy here. While Apple TV+ remains the primary home for Formula 1 programming this year, the company reached an agreement earlier that allows Netflix to broadcast select races.
The partnership actually works in favor of both sides. Netflix already built a massive Formula 1 audience thanks to Drive to Survive, the documentary series that helped explode the sport’s popularity in the United States over the past several years. Meanwhile, Apple also benefits because it will reportedly get rights to stream the upcoming eighth season of the same series. Instead of fighting over audiences, both companies are basically sharing the momentum Formula 1 currently has worldwide.
Netflix Keeps Expanding Into Live Events
This also continues Netflix’s growing obsession with live programming. Over the last couple years, the platform has slowly started moving beyond scripted entertainment and reality shows. From live sports broadcasts to comedy specials and even major music-related events, Netflix has clearly been testing how audiences respond to real-time content instead of on-demand viewing only.
The company already experimented with sports through events connected to Major League Baseball and other live productions, and now Formula 1 becomes another major step. With the sport becoming more mainstream globally, especially among younger viewers, Netflix probably sees this as a smart way to keep subscribers engaged beyond traditional TV series.
For Formula 1 itself, this is another sign that the sport’s popularity boom is nowhere close to slowing down. Between sold-out races, rising US interest, and the success of streaming partnerships, F1 has turned into one of the hottest sports properties in entertainment right now.
