How To Watch The 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix This Weekend
Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix kicking off the 2026 season, beginning another 24-race calendar that will stretch across five continents and include three stops in the United States.
The first race of the year takes place at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit, a temporary street-style layout that has traditionally delivered unpredictable races. The Australian Grand Prix is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, with lights out set for 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time for viewers in North America.
How To Stream The 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
Fans in the United States have several streaming options this year. Apple TV+ now carries live coverage of the championship, including practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself. The event is also available through the sport’s official streaming services, F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Premium.
For viewers catching up after the fact, Apple TV will also offer full session replays, highlight packages, and a condensed “Race in 30” format designed to recap the event without spoilers.
The service is available through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV devices, smart televisions from brands including Samsung and LG, as well as streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox also support the app.
A subscription costs $12.99 per month in the U.S., with a seven-day free trial available for new users.
2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Storylines
The Melbourne race begins a season expected to be one of the more competitive in recent years. New technical regulations take effect this season, forcing teams to redesign their cars and power units, which will reshape the competitive order across the grid.
Several storylines carry into the new season. McLaren’s Lando Norris enters the year as the reigning world champion after claiming the 2025 title, while Red Bull driver Max Verstappen begins his campaign to regain the championship he held for multiple seasons earlier in the decade. Teams throughout the paddock are also introducing heavily revised cars to meet the new rules.
After Melbourne, the series heads to China and Japan before beginning the Middle East portion of the calendar with races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, although those races could be in jeopardy due to the conflict in Iran. The championship then moves through Europe during the summer months, including traditional stops such as Monaco, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps.
2026 Formula 1 Calendar
March 5-7: Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix
March 12-15: Heineken Chinese Grand Prix
March 26-29: Aramco Japanese Grand Prix
April 10-12: Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
April 17-19: STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
May 1-3: Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix
May 22-24: Lenovo Canadian Grand Prix
June 5-7: Monaco Grand Prix
June 12-14: MSC Cruises Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
June 26-28: Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix
July 3-5: Pirelli British Grand Prix
July 17-19: Belgian Grand Prix
July 24-26: AWS Hungarian Grand Prix
Aug. 21-23: Heineken Dutch Grand Prix
Sep. 4-6: Pirelli Italian Grand Prix
Sep. 11-13: Tag Heuer Spanish Grand Prix
Sep. 24-26: Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Oct. 9-11: Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix
Oct. 23-25: MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix
Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Mexico City Grand Prix
Nov. 6-8: MSC Cruises São Paulo Grand Prix
Nov. 19-21: Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix
Nov. 27-29: Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix
Dec. 4-6: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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I will not be watching this season due to the need for an Apple subscription. I already pay too much for other services. I need Dish satellite due to my location. Always depended on Fox or Espn for most racing coverage.