Apple customers aren’t happy about receiving a push notification from the Apple Wallet app promoting the company’s original film, F1 the Movie. iPhone users took to social media to express frustration over the ad, which offered a $10 discount via Fandango for purchasing two or more tickets.
Brad Pitt stars in the film, which explores the world of Formula 1 racing and features footage shot at actual Grand Prix events. It prominently features Apple tech, including custom cameras built from iPhone components and AirPods Max worn by Pitt’s character, F1 driver Sonny Hayes.
No matter how popular the film might be, iPhone users dislike when Apple uses core apps like the digital wallet for marketing.
“I didn’t spend over $1,000 on an iPhone to be advertised to,” one Reddit user (u/captain42d) complained. Another popular post with dozens of replies is asking how to stop Apple Pay ads.
Currently, only users running the iOS 26 beta can disable “Offers & Promotions” in Apple Wallet. For everyone else, the only options are to turn off all notifications or hide card benefits during checkout—there’s no way to opt out of promotional messages entirely.
New iOS 26 Setting Suggests More Wallet Ads Could Be on the Way
The introduction of this new toggle in the iOS 26 beta hints that Apple may plan to expand marketing efforts through the Wallet app—a move many iPhone users are unlikely to welcome.
Apple customers have a history of resisting unsolicited ads on their devices. Past backlash includes objections to Apple service promos in the iOS Settings and ongoing frustration over the U2 album that was automatically added to users’ iTunes libraries more than a decade ago.
Referencing that infamous marketing incident, one Reddit user quipped about the new Wallet push notification for F1: “I’m getting Bono flashbacks.”
Apple Goes Full Throttle on F1 Promotion with Warner Bros. and WWDC Spotlight
Apple has been aggressively promoting F1 in collaboration with its distribution partner, Warner Bros. The campaign includes a haptic trailer featuring vibration effects and a prominent spotlight during Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote, where CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi joined in, with Federighi appearing as a race car driver.
We contacted Apple for comment but have not yet received a response.
Read the original article on: Techcrunch
