Racing
© Jonathan Borba
Formula 1 has committed to Sky as its long-term broadcast partner in two of its biggest European pay-TV markets, extending Sky Sports’ exclusive live rights in the UK and Ireland through 2034 and Sky Italia’s deal through 2032, with the British agreement reported to be worth £1 billion.
The UK and Ireland renewal adds five years to Sky’s existing contract, which had already run to the end of 2029. Reports put the new extension at £200 million per year across five seasons, a significant rise on the previous 2023-2029 agreement, which was estimated at £129 million annually. At a time when Formula 1 has been linked with new streaming-era broadcast models, the size and length of the deal show the series is still backing premium pay-TV in Europe.
That matters because the agreement keeps the current viewing structure in place. Every race, qualifying session and practice session will remain live on Sky Sports F1 and available on NOW, while live home nation races and highlights of every grand prix will continue to be shared free-to-air.
The decision comes despite signs that F1 is exploring different media models elsewhere. One report said the championship reached an $800 million deal with Apple TV for 2026-2030, but added that Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali had pushed to extend Sky’s position because he did not believe the European market was ready to move away from the existing model.
F1’s case for staying with Sky is rooted in audience growth. Sky says total viewing in the UK and Ireland has risen by 90 per cent, with under-35 viewership up 120 per cent and female viewership more than doubling. Across the last three seasons from 2023 to 2025, viewing increased by 14 per cent, culminating in what Sky described as a record-breaking 2025 season with 162 million viewer hours.
That momentum has coincided with a strong competitive pull in both markets. In Britain, Sky pointed to an era with more home talent on the grid after Lando Norris won the 2025 drivers’ championship for McLaren. In Italy, the latest extension lands amid what F1 described as enormous excitement around Kimi Antonelli, with the 19-year-old having won three straight races to lead the 2026 championship.
In the official announcement, Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 president and CEO, said Sky had been a "dedicated, trusted and passionate partner" since the relationship began. He said Sky’s "world-leading approach to live broadcasting, content creation, and behind-the-scenes analysis led by a truly amazing group of on-screen talent" had helped grow the sport in the UK, Ireland and Italy, and added that he was delighted the partnership would continue into the next decade.
Sky Group chief executive Dana Strong said the broadcaster was proud of its role in supporting F1’s growth through "world-class storytelling, innovation and long-term investment." She added: "This new agreement secures Sky as the home of Formula 1 for years to come, as the sport enters an exciting era with more British talent on the grid and rising stars like Kimi Antonelli."
For Formula 1, the extensions do more than secure distribution. They lock in a lucrative and proven rights model in two major markets just as the championship weighs how far and how fast it wants to shift toward a streaming-led future.