Experience F1 tracks with 3D art in Apple Maps

Apple Maps has been updated with a new “2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World” guide that showcases each racing location. Updated 3D art will be added throughout the season, starting now with Albert Park in Australia.

It’s almost time for the first F1 season distributed by Apple TV to begin. Apple is known for its vertical integration and brand synergy, and it hasn’t wasted any time with F1 either.

As first discovered by 9to5Mac, Apple is promoting the F1 season in Apple Maps with a new guide. It is titled “2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World.”

The guide is being promoted within the Apple TV Formula 1 Channel. Under the “More to Explore” section at the bottom of the tab, there are multiple things being pushed by Apple.

The Apple Maps Guide showcases all of the tracks that will be used during the 2026 season. It seems several tracks have been upgraded with new 3D objects.

Those include the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, the Miami International Autodrome in Florida, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, the Circuit de Monaco, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Silverstone in the UK, and more.

When you pan around the Melbourne track, there are 3D representations of the paddock area, the sports and aquatic center, Lakeside Stadium, and the stands along the track. They are rendered similarly to landmarks Apple has been adding around the world, like the Golden Gate Bridge or Statue of Liberty.

It is expected that Apple will include such graphics for each track, but it hasn’t yet. The other tracks that haven’t been given the animated treatment will either be entirely flat or have blobby representations of the buildings.

Synergy all the way down

While I’ve never watched Formula 1, I am a racing fan that has played racing video games since I could hold a controller. Seeing famous tracks like Suzuka Circuit in Apple’s 3D renderings will be interesting.

Turn 3 in Melbourne rendered with cartoonish graphics

It is fun seeing Apple utilize its ecosystem to promote F1 in this way. While some will undoubtedly balk at the idea and call it a slippery slope to surveillance capitalism, I believe it is useful and whimsical.

We’ve seen half-hearted things like an app for For All Mankind or Apple Books publications of bonus content. Those were nice, but this F1 treatment is above and beyond what they’ve attempted before.

If Apple is going to offer so many products and services, they should talk to each other. As an Apple fan, I like that one service launch can touch so many aspects of the company.