Three weeks after Formula 1 last raced, US viewers can stream the F1 Canadian Grand Prix from Montreal this weekend on Apple TV as usual — or, unusually, on Netflix.
That second option is the wrinkle. In the United States, Apple normally holds exclusive streaming rights for Formula 1, but this race is an exception because Apple and Netflix made a special one-off arrangement around the Canadian round, according to 9to5Mac. The supported takeaway for viewers is simple: Netflix gets to simulcast the Canadian race.
9to5Mac describes it as “the first time Netflix has shown a full race live.”
Here’s how to watch the Montreal weekend without scrambling during the formation lap.
May 22-24: Stream the Canadian Grand Prix on Apple TV or Netflix in the US
Your end result is simple: if you are in the United States, you can watch the Canadian Grand Prix weekend through either Apple TV or Netflix.
Apple TV remains the normal route. Netflix is the special-case route for this weekend only.
That matters because the Canadian GP is also a sprint weekend, so the live schedule is heavier than a standard race weekend. Competitive sessions run across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, not just qualifying and the Grand Prix.
Use this corrected Montreal schedule as your baseline:
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice | Friday, May 22 | 12:30 PM ET |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday, May 22 | 4:30 PM ET |
| Sprint | Saturday, May 23 | 12 PM ET |
| Qualifying | Saturday, May 23 | 4 PM ET |
| Race | Sunday, May 24 | 4 PM ET |
Watch out for: Netflix access this weekend does not mean Netflix is now the regular US home for F1. Based on the supplied source, Apple still has the exclusive US streaming rights for the full F1 package outside this special arrangement.
Before Friday practice: confirm which subscription actually gets you in
Start with the account you already have.
If you subscribe to Apple TV, that is the safest first stop. 9to5Mac says Apple normally has the exclusive US streaming rights for F1, but you should still confirm the current subscription terms, trial availability, and live-event access inside the Apple TV app before the first session you plan to watch.
Do not wait until a session is about to begin to check access. The safest approach is to open the event listing in advance and confirm what the app shows for your account:
- Session access: Check whether the session you want is marked as included, live, or requiring a subscription.
- Live coverage: Confirm that the listing is for the live Canadian GP session, not only a preview or recap.
- Replay access: If you cannot watch live, verify whether a replay is available before relying on it.
Netflix is simpler as a one-weekend option, but you should still treat it as a live-event check rather than an assumption. 9to5Mac says the F1 Canadian GP coverage on Netflix is part of this special arrangement for US viewers, but the source material does not establish broader plan-by-plan rules.
Before coverage starts, check three things:
- Login: Make sure you can sign in on the exact device you plan to use.
- Payment status: Confirm the subscription is active.
- App access: Open the Apple TV or Netflix app and verify it loads video.
For readers using Apple devices or following Apple’s broader media moves, MLXIO also tracks related Apple coverage, including Apple’s Hardware Shakeup Sparks Race to Faster Innovation and 8 Episodes Shot, Then Chaos: Apple TV’s Brothers Returns.
Step 1: Find the Canadian Grand Prix stream inside Apple TV
Open the Apple TV app or go to tv.apple.com in a browser. Sign in with the Apple account tied to your Apple TV subscription.
Then search for one of these:
- Formula 1
- F1 Canadian Grand Prix
- Canadian GP
- Montreal
Apple may surface Formula 1 coverage inside its sports or live-event experience, but do not rely on one exact tab name. If search does not immediately show the race, browse the Apple TV sports area and look for the Canadian Grand Prix listing close to the live window.
Apple TV is still the fuller F1 route in the US because it is the regular home for the package. The supported source material points to richer race data and driver-focused streams through the Apple TV and F1.TV setup, but the exact features available can vary by device and account.
If those extras matter to you, test them before the session starts. Open the race listing, check any available feeds or data options, and make sure your preferred device supports what the app is showing.
MLXIO analysis: If you care about race data, camera options, and the most F1-focused experience, Apple TV is the better first choice. Netflix is useful access. Apple TV is the fuller F1 product.
Step 2: Use Netflix for this one-weekend Montreal exception
If Netflix is your preferred app, open Netflix, sign in, and search close to the event window for:
- Formula 1
- F1 Canadian Grand Prix
- Canadian Grand Prix
- Canadian GP
The Netflix stream exists because of the Apple-Netflix arrangement around this race. 9to5Mac describes the Canadian GP as a special case in which Netflix gets rights to simulcast the race in the US.
That makes Netflix a legitimate option this weekend, not a workaround.
Watch out for: Do not assume future races will appear on Netflix. The source only supports Netflix access for the Canadian GP weekend. For the rest of the season, treat Apple TV as the default US destination unless another deal is announced.
Step 3: Set up your race-day screen before the session starts
Install or update the apps now, not five minutes before lights out.
Apple says the Apple TV app is available across many devices and platforms, including smart TVs, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Android, and the web at tv.apple.com. Netflix is also widely available, but the practical step is the same: open the app on the device you will actually use and test playback.
Do this checklist before the first session you care about:
- Update apps: Install any pending Apple TV or Netflix updates.
- Test video: Play any title for at least a minute.
- Check audio: Confirm your TV, soundbar, headphones, or receiver is set correctly.
- Avoid weak Wi-Fi: Use a stable Wi-Fi connection or wired Ethernet if your setup supports it.
- Keep a backup ready: If you have both services, sign into both before the race.
Apple also offers extra ways to follow the weekend. 9to5Mac says fans can listen through Apple Music Radio or track live timings in the Apple Sports app, both for free.
Step 4: Convert the Montreal schedule before Sunday afternoon
Montreal runs on Eastern Time, and the race is scheduled for 4 PM ET on Sunday, May 24.
If you are not in the Eastern time zone, convert every session before setting alerts. The sprint format creates more chances to miss something because there are meaningful sessions on all three days.
Use this quick US conversion for the main race:
| US time zone | Canadian GP race time |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 4 PM |
| Central | 3 PM |
| Mountain | 2 PM |
| Pacific | 1 PM |
Tune in early. Live sports streams often surface pre-race coverage, account prompts, or “watch live” buttons before the listed session time. Giving yourself a buffer is the easiest way to avoid missing the start.
Step 5: If you have both Apple TV and Netflix, pick the better live setup
If both apps are available to you, choose based on the device and viewing experience, not just habit.
| If you want… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| More F1-focused tools | Apple TV | Apple is the regular US home for F1, with supported source material pointing to richer race data and driver-focused streams through Apple TV/F1.TV |
| Fast household access | Netflix | Useful if everyone already uses Netflix and the app is signed in |
| Backup stream | Either one second | Keep the other app ready in case of login or buffering trouble |
| Extra race data | Apple TV + F1.TV check | If your account and device support it, the Apple TV/F1.TV setup may offer more stats and extra F1 content |
Apple TV is the safer first option if you want the most F1-specific setup. Netflix is attractive for convenience, but the source material does not establish the same deeper F1 feature set there.
May 24 decision point: the fastest path to the race stream
For the quickest setup, open Apple TV, search for Formula 1 or Canadian GP, and find the Canadian GP listing. If you have Netflix and prefer it, search for the race there too — this weekend’s simulcast is available to US Netflix viewers as part of the special arrangement described by 9to5Mac.
Before the race, verify your subscription, update the app, check the start time, and sign in on the device you will use.
The practical read: use Netflix as a rare convenience for Montreal, but plan as if future F1 weekends return to the normal US pattern — Apple TV first, with Netflix only if another specific simulcast deal appears.
Key Takeaways
- US viewers have two streaming options for this race weekend: Apple TV or Netflix.
- Netflix showing the race live is a special one-off arrangement, not a permanent F1 rights shift.
- The Canadian GP is a sprint weekend, so fans need to track live sessions across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
