Apple TV adds Dolby Atmos to F1 for the US Grand Prix weekend

Your living room is being offered a tiny promotion to pit lane. F1 on Apple TV gains Dolby Atmos this weekend, starting with the United States Grand Prix, while Dolby Vision continues to handle the picture. Apple’s October 22 update sets out the upgrade for US subscribers ahead of the October 23–25 race weekend. The sofa remains the sofa, thankfully. Nobody is asking it to complete a tyre change.

The new part is the sound

Dolby announced the change earlier this month, with the Atmos debut beginning Friday, October 23. It adds an immersive sound format for the race coverage, including engines, commentary and team radio. The existing Apple TV streaming arrangement is not a new deal this weekend, and this announcement is not a new television or streaming-box launch.

That distinction matters when a product name does several jobs. Here, Apple TV means the subscription and app carrying the coverage. The Apple TV 4K box is one possible way to watch, not the only doorway into the living room.

Before turning the volume up, check the route to the speakers.

Atmos needs a compatible setup

Apple and Dolby specify supported Apple devices and compatible Dolby-enabled TVs, soundbars and home theatre systems. A programme carrying an Atmos mix does not automatically make every combination of screen and speakers reproduce it. Check the supported formats and connection settings for the equipment you already have.

If the system offers an audio-format display, it can help confirm what is arriving. Do that before the dramatic opening lap, ideally. A quiet afternoon of settings is one thing; discovering the wrong input while everyone is holding snacks is an entirely different social situation.

More ways to watch without collecting more televisions

Apple is also expanding Multiview to supported smart TVs, alongside Apple devices and streaming players. The feature combines up to four live feeds on one screen. Coverage includes access to as many as 30 additional feeds, with options such as onboard views, timing and a course tracker; the P1, P2 and P3 feeds apply to Race and Sprint sessions.

Four views can be wonderful if you enjoy following a driver while keeping an eye on the race. If the picture starts resembling mission control and nobody can read the timing, making one view larger is also a valid strategy. We support a comfortable amount of sporting over-investment.

One last detail before making viewing plans.

This coverage requires a US subscription

Apple lists the US service at US$14.99 a month, with a seven-day trial for new subscribers. The F1 offering discussed here requires a US Apple TV subscription; this is not a promise of the same rights or availability in Canada. The official race timetable places the Grand Prix on Sunday, October 25. Check your local listing for the session time and your region’s broadcaster.

We have not independently assessed this Atmos mix or tested every supported device. Our Apple TV 4K hardware report covers a separate upcoming product, and the television section follows more ways to improve film, sport and sofa time. For this weekend, the nice possibility is a race that feels a little more present in the room. The cushions would still prefer to remain outside the blast radius of an excited drink.

Hero image: Apple / Formula 1. Official image source.