Jonas Leo
Formula 1 has announced a significant contract extension with ESPN Inc., securing the broadcaster’s rights for full live coverage of the championship across 18 Latin American countries and the Caribbean through the end of the 2028 season. The renewed multi-year agreement ensures that millions of passionate motorsport fans in key markets, including Brazil and Mexico, will continue to have comprehensive access to every facet of the premier global racing series.
The extended partnership solidifies ESPN’s long-standing role as a pivotal broadcast partner for Formula 1 in a region where the sport has historically enjoyed profound cultural resonance and is currently experiencing a notable resurgence in popularity. Under the terms of the new deal, ESPN will deliver extensive coverage encompassing every practice session, qualifying round, sprint race, and Grand Prix. Crucially, the agreement also includes broadcasts of Formula 1’s vital support categories: Formula 2, Formula 3, the F1 Academy, and the Porsche Super Cup, providing a holistic view of the motorsport ladder and its emerging talents.
Ian Holmes, F1’s chief media rights and broadcasting officer, underscored the importance of the continuity. "ESPN has been a trusted broadcast partner for many years, so we are excited to continue our collaboration, and take our sport to even more fans as we witness incredible growth across Latin America and the Caribbean," Holmes stated. He further acknowledged the broadcaster’s commitment, adding, "This has been helped enormously by the dedication and passion of the ESPN team to bring our fans the latest F1 action through world class broadcasting. We look forward to working with them into 2026 as the next generation of regulations come into force, which will shake up the competition and create huge excitement and drama."
The sentiment was echoed by Michael Walters, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions for the region. "The extension of this agreement with Formula 1 strengthens a strategic alliance that reinforces ESPN’s commitment to excellence in sports content," Walters commented. He emphasized the broadcaster’s dedication to its audience, asserting, "Through comprehensive, multiplatform coverage, we will continue bringing the passionate audiences of Spanish-speaking South America, Central America, and the Caribbean the highest level of international motorsport."
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The renewal comes at a pivotal moment for Formula 1, which has witnessed an unprecedented surge in global viewership and engagement over recent years, particularly in the Latin American market. The success of Netflix’s "Drive to Survive" docuseries has broadened the sport’s appeal beyond traditional motorsport enthusiasts, attracting a younger, more diverse audience. This trend has been amplified in Latin America by the presence of local heroes, most notably Mexico’s Sergio Pérez, who currently competes for the dominant Red Bull Racing team. Pérez’s consistent performances and race victories have ignited a wave of national pride and increased viewership in Mexico and across the continent, where his fan base is among the largest in the sport.
Historically, Latin America has been a fertile ground for Formula 1 legends. Drivers like Argentina’s Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time world champion in the 1950s, and Brazil’s triple world champions Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, and the iconic Ayrton Senna, have indelibly shaped the sport’s history. Their legacies continue to resonate, fostering a deep-seated appreciation for F1 that contemporary drivers like Pérez are now building upon. The region hosts two of the most atmospheric and well-attended races on the F1 calendar: the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos. Both events consistently draw hundreds of thousands of spectators and generate significant economic activity, underscoring the sport’s robust commercial and cultural footprint. The continuation of ESPN’s comprehensive coverage ensures that the growing legions of fans in these nations, and 16 other countries across the region, will not miss a moment of the action.
ESPN’s multiplatform approach, referenced by Walters, is designed to cater to diverse viewing habits. Beyond traditional linear television broadcasts, the agreement likely includes streaming rights across ESPN’s digital platforms, such as ESPN Play and Star+ in applicable territories. This ensures accessibility for fans who prefer to watch on mobile devices, tablets, or smart TVs, further cementing the partnership’s reach and impact. The "world class broadcasting" mentioned by Holmes points to a commitment to high-quality production, expert commentary, and in-depth analysis, elements crucial for conveying the technical intricacies and dramatic narratives inherent in Formula 1.
A significant aspect of the extended agreement is its timing, specifically in relation to the highly anticipated 2026 Formula 1 season. As Ian Holmes noted, this season will introduce a "next generation of regulations" designed to "shake up the competition and create huge excitement and drama." These upcoming rule changes primarily concern the power units, with a greater emphasis on electrical power and sustainable fuels, alongside revised chassis regulations aimed at improving racing dynamics and reducing the cars’ overall size and weight. The new technical framework is expected to level the playing field, potentially allowing new manufacturers to enter the sport and altering the competitive order among existing teams. This period of significant change will undoubtedly attract intense interest, and ESPN’s renewed partnership ensures that Latin American viewers will have front-row seats to this evolving era of Formula 1.
The inclusion of the support series – Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy, and Porsche Super Cup – is a critical component of the broadcast package. These championships serve as vital proving grounds for aspiring Formula 1 drivers. F2 and F3, in particular, showcase the talents of future F1 stars, with many current Grand Prix drivers having honed their skills in these feeder series. The F1 Academy, launched in 2023, is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at developing and preparing female drivers for progression to higher levels of motorsport, including Formula 1. Its inclusion in ESPN’s coverage highlights a commitment to diversity and inclusion within the sport. The Porsche Super Cup, a high-performance single-make series, provides thrilling racing that often precedes the main Grand Prix event, adding further value to the broadcast schedule.
This renewal for Latin America contrasts with recent developments regarding Formula 1 broadcast rights in the United States. While ESPN has successfully extended its partnership south of the U.S. border, its contract to broadcast F1 in the United States is set to conclude after the 2025 season. Following this, Apple is slated to take over as the exclusive broadcaster for F1 in the U.S., signaling a shift towards digital-first distribution in that market. This divergence in broadcast strategies underscores the nuanced approach Formula 1 is taking across different global regions, adapting to local market conditions, consumer preferences, and the evolving media landscape.
For Latin American fans, the renewal provides a sense of continuity and stability, guaranteeing uninterrupted access to their beloved sport for the foreseeable future. With the 2026 F1 season slated to commence with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne from March 6-8, the region’s motorsport enthusiasts can look forward to years of high-octane action, comprehensive coverage, and the unfolding drama of Formula 1, all delivered through a familiar and trusted broadcast partner in ESPN.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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