How to watch the 2026 Australian Grand Prix
by f1livegp
Posted on February 20, 2026 at 10:55 AM
The 2026 Formula 1 season launches at the iconic Albert Park Circuit with the Australian Grand Prix - the season opener in a new regulations era.
Pre-season testing has wrapped up in Bahrain, setting the stage for the all-new cars: shorter, narrower, lighter, active aerodynamics, sustainable fuels, and expanded grid with Audi and Cadillac entries.
Australian Grand Prix Schedule & Start Times
All times local (AEDT - UTC+11). Traditional non-sprint weekend at Albert Park, with daytime sessions and afternoon race start.
| Session | Date | Time (AEDT) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 (FP1) | Fri 6 Mar | 12:30 | 1 hour |
| Practice 2 (FP2) | Fri 6 Mar | 16:00 | 1 hour |
| Practice 3 (FP3) | Sat 7 Mar | 12:30 | 1 hour |
| Qualifying | Sat 7 Mar | 16:00 | 1 hour |
| Main Race (58 laps) | Sun 8 Mar | 15:00 | ~1h 45min |
International start times: 15:00 AEDT = 04:00 GMT | 23:00 ET (Sat) | 20:00 PT (Sat) | 04:00 CET | 12:00 JST
How to Watch the 2026 Australian Grand Prix
United States - ESPN
- TV: ESPN (race), ESPN2 (qualifying & FP2), ESPNews (FP1 & FP3)
- Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV Orange
- F1TV: Full coverage with onboard cameras, team radio & multiview
United Kingdom - Sky Sports F1
- Every session live on Sky Sports F1
- Streaming via Sky Go or NOW (day/week passes available)
- Free highlights on Channel 4 (Monday evening)
Canada - TSN / RDS
Full English coverage on TSN, French on RDS. Streaming on TSN+ and RDS app.
Australia - Fox Sports / Kayo
Fox Sports / Fox League + Kayo Sports (free trial for new customers). Home race - check local FTA options too.
Free Legal Streams
- Austria - ServusTV & ORF
- Belgium - RTBF Auvio
- Luxembourg - RTL Zwee
- Switzerland - SRF Play
- Brazil - BandSports (selected sessions free-to-air)
Global Broadcasters
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East & North Africa | beIN Sports | beIN Connect |
| Germany | Sky Deutschland | WOW / Sky X |
| France | Canal+ | MyCanal |
| Spain | DAZN | DAZN |
| Italy | Sky Italia / TV8 (highlights) | NOW / Sky Go |
| India | FanCode | FanCode app |
| Latin America | ESPN / Fox Sports | Star+ / ESPN App |
| Japan | DAZN / Fuji TV Next | DAZN |
Pre-Season Notes & Early Season Favourites
- The 2026 season starts fresh after major regulation changes - no defending champion points carryover; everything resets.
- McLaren (Norris & Piastri) - strong in late 2025; potential early favourites if they nailed the new regs.
- Red Bull / Verstappen - always dangerous; expect them to challenge for wins from the opener.
- Ferrari (Leclerc / Hamilton?) - strong historical pace at Albert Park; could shine.
- New entries - Audi and Cadillac debut; watch for surprises or midfield battles.
- Local hero - Oscar Piastri aims to win at home; massive crowd support expected.