You've probably felt it. That low-level anxiety when the season is about to start and you realize your favorite bookmark for race times is broken. Or worse, you tune into the usual channel and see a poker tournament instead of a starting grid.
Honestly, the formula 1 tv schedule is becoming a bit of a moving target.
If you're in the US, 2026 is the year everything breaks. The long-standing era of ESPN and ABC handling every session is officially over. It’s gone. Apple TV is now the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the United States, and that is a massive shift for fans who’ve spent years just flipping to a cable channel. This isn't just a minor tweak; it’s a total overhaul of how we watch the world’s fastest soap opera.
The 2026 Calendar: Where and When
The season kicks off earlier than you might expect. We're starting in Melbourne on March 8. No more sleepy Bahrain openers to start the year—we're going back to the traditional Albert Park dawn patrol.
Here is the basic flow of the first half of the season.
- Round 1: Australia (Melbourne) – March 8
- Round 2: China (Shanghai) – March 15
- Round 3: Japan (Suzuka) – March 29
- Round 4: Bahrain (Sakhir) – April 12
- Round 5: Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) – April 19
- Round 6: Miami (USA) – May 3
- Round 7: Canada (Montreal) – May 24
Wait, did you notice that? Canada and Monaco swapped spots.
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Usually, we'd be in Monte Carlo at the end of May. Not this time. To make the logistics a bit less of a carbon-footprint nightmare, F1 is grouping the North American races. You’ll see the cars in Miami, then a three-week gap before they hit Montreal. Only then do they head to Europe for the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7.
It makes sense. Sorta.
Why the US Broadcast Changed
The Apple TV deal is a five-year commitment. Basically, if you want the full experience—Practice 1 through the Sunday race—you’re looking at an Apple TV+ subscription.
There's a bit of a silver lining, though. If you're not ready to commit to another monthly bill, word is that select races and all Free Practice sessions will actually be available for free on the Apple TV app. You won't even need a paid sub for those. But for the big ones like the Las Vegas night race or the classic Silverstone battle? You’ll need to be "in the ecosystem."
Sky Sports and the UK Narrative
Across the pond, things are a lot more stable. Sky Sports F1 remains the king. They’ve got the rights locked down, providing that 4K UHD coverage that makes the new 2026 liveries look almost too good.
If you're in the UK, you're likely watching:
- Sky Sports F1: Every single session live.
- Channel 4: Free-to-air highlights, usually a few hours after the race ends.
- NOW TV: The go-to for the "cord-cutters" who want Sky's coverage without the satellite dish.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 5 remains the only race shown live and for free on Channel 4. It’s a tradition at this point.
The New Cars: Why Your TV Schedule Looks Different
You might notice more "Sprint" weekends in your formula 1 tv schedule this year.
F1 is doubling down on the Saturday drama. We have six Sprints scheduled for 2026: Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, and Singapore. These weekends change everything. You get Qualifying on Friday, a short race on Saturday, and the main event on Sunday.
It’s exhausting for the mechanics. It’s great for us.
Also, the cars themselves are weird this year. They are shorter, narrower, and lighter. They’ve ditched the complex MGU-H (the part that recovers heat energy) and replaced it with a massive electric boost from the MGU-K.
When you’re watching the broadcast, look for the "Manual Override Mode" indicator. This is the new 2026 version of DRS. When a driver is within one second of the car ahead, they get a massive electrical punch. It’s basically like a "Push to Pass" button from IndyCar.
Watching Globally: A Quick Cheat Sheet
Not everyone is on Apple or Sky.
In Australia, Kayo Sports and Foxtel are still the bosses. They’ve actually been doing 4K longer than most. If you're a casual fan, 10Play still does free highlights, which is a nice touch.
Canada is still sticking with TSN (English) and RDS (French), though the Apple TV deal in the US has some people wondering if the North American rights will eventually consolidate. For now, Canadian fans are safe with their cable logins.
Then there’s F1 TV Pro.
This is the "hardcore" option. It’s available in about 80 countries, including the US (through the Apple partnership), Mexico, and much of Europe. You get 20 onboard cameras. You get the unedited team radio. You hear the engineers panicking in real-time. If you haven't watched a race from Lewis Hamilton’s or Max Verstappen’s cockpit for a full 50 laps, you haven't lived.
Don't Get Caught Out by the Madrid Debut
The most significant addition to the 2026 formula 1 tv schedule is the Madrid Grand Prix.
No, it’s not replacing Barcelona yet—we actually have two races in Spain this year. The Madrid race is a street circuit around the IFEMA exhibition center. It's happening on September 13. It’s going to be loud, it’s going to be hot, and the TV visuals are expected to be Las Vegas-level spectacular.
Common Misconceptions About the 2026 Broadcast
I see this a lot on Reddit: "Is F1 still on ESPN?"
The answer is a hard no. If you search your cable guide and see nothing, that's why. The transition to Apple TV is complete.
Another one: "Can I use a VPN to watch for free?"
Technically, countries like Austria (ServusTV/ORF) and Belgium (RTBF) still show races for free. People use VPNs to access these. But honestly, the lag and the language barrier usually make it more trouble than it's worth unless you're a polyglot who loves 720p streams.
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Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
If you want to make sure you never miss a light-out moment, do these three things right now:
- Sync your digital calendar: Don't manually type in times. Use the official F1 site to "Sync to Calendar." It automatically adjusts for your local time zone. This is a lifesaver for those 3:00 AM flyaway races in Japan and China.
- Check your subscription status: If you're in the US, download the Apple TV app now and see if your current phone or laptop plan gives you a free trial. Many do.
- Audit your data plan: If you plan on watching races on the go, 2026 broadcasts are heavy on data because of the higher bitrates used for the new active-aero graphics. Make sure you aren't going to hit a cap during a safety car restart.
The 2026 season is a total reset. New engines, new cars, and for many of us, a brand-new way to watch. Just make sure you're set up before the cars hit the track in Melbourne, or you'll be staring at a "Channel Not Found" screen while the rest of us are watching the new era unfold.