So, you’re probably staring at your screen wondering why the TV guide looks suspiciously empty. You want to know what time is grand prix today, but here’s the cold, hard truth: there actually isn't a Formula 1 race happening right now.
I know, it's a bummer. Today is Friday, January 16, 2026, and if you’re looking for 1,000-horsepower monsters screaming around a track in a points-paying race, you’re about seven weeks too early. The F1 circus is currently in its winter slumber, or more accurately, in the "frantic engineering" phase back at the factories in Brackley and Milton Keynes.
But don't close the tab just yet. While there's no race today, there is a ton of stuff happening behind the scenes that actually dictates how the 2026 season—one of the biggest regulation shifts in history—is going to shake out.
What Time Is Grand Prix Today: The 2026 Season Opener Schedule
The wait is almost over, though it might not feel like it. The 2026 Formula 1 season officially kicks off in Melbourne. No more Bahrain openers for a bit; we’re going back to the traditional sunrise starts in Australia.
The Australian Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2026.
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If you’re trying to plan your sleep schedule, the race usually starts at 15:00 local time in Melbourne. For those of us on the other side of the world, that means some seriously early coffee. In the UK, you’re looking at a 04:00 AM start. If you’re on the East Coast of the US, you’re basically pulling an all-nighter with a midnight or 1:00 AM lights-out.
Why the confusion about today?
Honestly, it’s understandable. This time of year is usually "Launch Season." In fact, right now, as we speak on January 16, the F1 world is buzzing because the Red Bull family just pulled the covers off their new look.
Both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls held their 2026 livery launches today. They did it in Detroit, a nod to the new Ford partnership that's starting to take hold. It's not a race, but for gearheads, seeing that new RB22 chassis (even if it's just a show car with the new paint) is the first real sign that the season is alive.
When do the cars actually hit the track?
If you can’t wait until March, your next big date is the pre-season testing window. This is the first time we’ll see if the new 2026 aero regulations actually work or if someone "pulled a Brawn GP" and found a massive loophole.
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- Test 1: Barcelona (Private) – January 26 to January 30. This one is a bit of a "shakedown." Don't expect live TV coverage here; it’s mostly for the teams to make sure the engines don't explode.
- Test 2: Bahrain (Public) – February 11 to February 13. This is the one you can watch. It’ll be broadcast live, usually running from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time.
- Test 3: Bahrain (Final) – February 18 to February 20. The last chance for teams to fix their "porpoising" or whatever the 2026 equivalent ends up being.
The 2026 Calendar: A Quick Cheat Sheet
Since you were looking for what time is grand prix today, you probably want to bookmark the actual race times for the first few rounds so you don't get caught out again. Here is how the start of the year looks:
- Australian GP (March 8): 15:00 Local / 04:00 UK.
- Chinese GP (March 15): 15:00 Local / 07:00 UK. This is also the first Sprint weekend of the year.
- Japanese GP (March 29): 14:00 Local / 06:00 UK.
Notice a pattern? It's a heavy Asia-Pacific start. This was done on purpose to help with "regionalization," which is F1-speak for "trying not to fly across the world five times in a month." It saves fuel and keeps the mechanics from losing their minds.
Something else to watch today
If you are a fan of track and field, you might be getting your "Grand Prix" terms mixed up. The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is actually heating up right now, though the main event isn't until January 24. It’s a common mix-up in search results, so if you’re looking for runners instead of racers, that’s your target.
What’s different about F1 in 2026?
You picked a hell of a year to start looking for race times. 2026 is the year everything changes. We have new power units with a massive 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power. The cars are smaller, lighter, and have "active aerodynamics."
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Basically, the rear wing and the front wing will move to reduce drag on the straights, sort of like a dual-active DRS. It’s wild. Plus, we have Audi joining the grid and Ford partnering with Red Bull.
Actionable Steps for the F1 Fan
Since there's no race today, here’s how you can actually prepare so you never have to ask "what time is grand prix today" again:
- Download the Official F1 App: It syncs the 2026 calendar directly to your phone’s local time zone. No math required.
- Watch the Red Bull Replay: Go check out the livery launch from Detroit that happened today. Seeing Max Verstappen and his new teammate, Isack Hadjar, talk about the 2026 Ford engine is pretty insightful.
- Check your TV Subscriptions: 2026 brings some new broadcast rights in certain regions. If you’re in the US, make sure your ESPN/ABC access is sorted before the Melbourne 1:00 AM start hits you.
The engines might be silent today, but the countdown to Melbourne is very much on. Get your sleep in now; March is going to be a marathon.