F1 live stream: how to watch every 2026 race online, what TV channel is it on?

Watch F1 live stream 2026

The 2026 F1 season is a step into the unknown, with major design and engine changes likely to shuffle the pack. We'll get a taste of what to expect at the first of three pre-season tests on 26-30 January. Races are shown live on Apple TV Plus (USA), Sky Sports (UK), Kayo Sports (Australia) and F1 TV Pro (RoW), though some lucky fans around the world can watch free F1 live streams of every GP! We have full details on how to watch F1 on TV, and online, where you are, just below.

F1 2026 season preview

The cars themselves have been made narrower, lighter, shorter and nimbler, and DRS has been revamped. The new Active Aero system will allow drivers to flatten their front and rear wings and open up the flaps on any eligible straight – without needing to be within a second of the car in front. Overtake Mode, meanwhile, can only be deployed wihen a chasing driver has cut the gap to a second, while Boost can be used to defend or attack anywhere, as long as the driver has enough charge in their battery.

Power units have undergone their biggest change since 2014, possibly ever, with approximately 50% of power now set to be electrical – up from 20% last season. The remaining power will be supplied by the internal combustion engine, with fuel being 100% sustainable, derived from "carbon capture, municipal waste and non-food biomass".

After securing a two-point victory over Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the final day of the season, McLaren's Lando Norris starts out as the defending champion for the first time. With all of the drastic changes set out above, Oscar Piastri will be hoping that his time hasn't come and gone, while Aston Martin's 44-year-old Fernando Alsonso will be hoping his patience has paid off, now that Adrian Newey has taken the reins.

There are 24 GPs in total, six of them incorporating Sprints, and one new team in Cadillac, bringing back two familiar faces: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Read on as we explain how to watch F1 races online and on TV.

Watch F1 free live streams

Lucky F1 fans in Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg can pick up a free live F1 stream of every single race. There are also free, extended highlights available in the UK and Australia.

Austria
ORF and Servus TV are each showing 12 races for free in 2026.

Luxembourg
RTL Zwee has the rights to every 2026 Formula 1 race.

Belgium
Free-to-air RTBF channels will serve up a free F1 live stream of each race.

Australia
10Play will provide free highlights of every race this season, plus a free live stream of the Australian GP.

UK
Channel 4 airs free highlights of every race, plus a free live stream of the British GP.

Watch an F1 live stream from anywhere

Most F1 live streams are location-sensitive. So, you won't be able to access your usual stream travelling away from home. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a small but powerful app that lets you select your preferred location and quickly unblock and watch your usual F1 live stream safely and securely from almost any location.

NordVPN is our pick of the best VPN services. It's affordable, fast, stable and easy to use. Try it risk-free for 30 days and see for yourself.

How to use a VPN 

1. Sign up to the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open the VPN app and choose the location of the service you usually access (e.g. UK, Austria, US, etc).

3. Then head over to your home streaming service on your browser and enjoy your usual F1 live stream as if you were back home.

• Watch Brawn: An Impossible Formula 1 Story on Disney+

How to watch F1 on your mobile device

In the US, iOS and Android users can stream every race live and on demand via the F1 TV Pro app.

In the UK, fans will need to subscribe to either Sky or Now and watch via the Sky Go or Now apps.

How to watch F1 in 4K Ultra HD

In the UK, you can watch every F1 race in 4K via Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck. You'll need to subscribe to an Ultra HD package and have a 4K TV.

Head over to the Sky Sports F1 Ultra HD channel to watch every race, qualifying and practice in 4K and HDR.

If you want to get the very best picture quality out of the 4K HDR stream, check out our guide to the best TV settings for watching Formula 1.

Sky does not offer Dolby Atmos sound but subscribers can enjoy the action in Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

Need Sky? Today's best Sky TV deals.

If you're in Australia, you can catch every race in 4K on Kayo Sports, but you will need the Kayo Basic subscription for AU$35 a month to access high resolution content.

F1 season pass

F1 TV Pro includes live HD coverage of every F1 practice, qualifier and race. No ad breaks.

Fans in the US can subscribe to F1 TV Pro for just $10.99 a month or $84.99 per year, while those in the Netherlands can snag it for just €11.90 a month. There's also F1 TV Premium if you fancy streaming F1 in 4K (not available in the UK).

In India, F1 TV Pro is just $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year after the 7-day free trial.

F1 TV Pro is available in over 188 countries – but not the UK (you can use the basic 'Access' version for live timings but you can't watch any races live). F1 TV Premium is available in the US.

F1 TV Pro is available via the F1 TV website, iOS/Android apps, Roku TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV and other mobile devices.

Latest F1 TV Pro prices:

• F1 TV Pro in India – $3.99/month (cheapest)
• F1 TV Pro in South Africa – $4.99/month
• F1 TV Pro in Brazil – $5.99/month
• F1 TV Pro in Netherlands – €11.90/month
• F1 TV Pro in USA – $10.99/month
• F1 TV Pro in Mexico – $129/month

Watch F1 live in the USA

In the USA, all 24 races of the 2026 F1 season are exclusive to Apple TV Plus.

A subscription costs $12.99 per month after a 7-day FREE trial, though better deals are available to Apple customers.

Buying an eligible Apple devices, including select iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac models, gets you free Apple TV access for three months.

Apple One, which bundles Apple TV Plus with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus and 50GB of iCloud Storage, starts at $19.95 per month after a 1-month free trial.

Alternatively, for a limited time, the Apple Music Student Subscription includes Apple TV Plus, and costs $6 per month.

Watch F1 live stream in Australia

In Australia, every race of the 2026 F1 season will be live streamed on Kayo Sports in 4K via Fox Sports. Kayo offers new customers a FREE 7-day trial to test the waters, after which it starts at AU$25 a month for the base subscription tier, Kayo One. For simultaneous streaming on up to two devices, you'll need the Kayo Basic plan for AU$35 a month.

Subscribers can also stream the action via Foxtel Now by adding the Sports package ($30 a month).

Happy with highlights? 10Play will show free highlights of every 2026 F1 race, plus free coverage of the Australian Grand prix.

Watch F1 live in the Netherlands

F1 TV Pro offers live coverage F1 practice, qualifiers and races in 2026. F1 fans can also watch on Viaplay and Viaplay. NOS will provide free Dutch GP coverage.

Watch F1 live in Spain

DAZN has the exclusive rights to show Formula 1 in Spain until the end of 2026. The streaming service will show practice, qualifiers and races on its exclusive DAZN F1 channel. If you want a cheap Spanish F1 stream, you know what to do...

Watch F1 live stream in France

All live races are available to watch on French broadcaster Canal+ until 2029 – that gets you full, live coverage of the 2026 F1 season, including practice sessions, qualifiers and every Grand Prix. The Bahrain, Monaco, United States and Mexico City Grands Prix will be shown on free-to-air C8.

Watch F1 live in the rest of the world

How to watch F1 live stream in Brazil

Band continues to offer free-to-air live TV coverage of F1 races in Brazil. Cord-cutters can watch on every F1 race live via F1 TV Pro for just $5.99 a month.

How to watch F1 live stream in Croatia

SportKlub is the place to find live TV coverage of the 2026 F1 World Championship in Croatia.

How to watch F1 live stream in Finland

F1 TV Pro offers an official F1 live stream in Finland. Subscription is pricier than in some other countries: €10.99 a month or €109.99 a year. The F1 is also broadcast on Viaplay's V Sport.

How to watch F1 live stream in Germany

Sky Germany has the rights to show F1 races in 2026. The Bahrain, Hungarian, Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Azerbaijan and Las Vegas Grands Prix are shown for free on RTL, as well as Saturday Sprints and Qualifying sessions.

Austrians visiting Germany can use NordVPN to access their usual free live coverage from abroad.

How to watch F1 live stream in Italy

Sky Italia is the place to watch F1 in Italy. Former F1 test driver Davide Valsecchi provides pitlane reporting while Jacques Villeneuve provides commentary.

How to watch F1 live stream in Japan

Both DAZN and Fuji TV hold the rights to Formula 1 in Japan for the 2026 season.

How to watch F1 live stream in Mexico

Fox Sports has the official broadcasting rights to air the 2026 F1 in Mexico, with nine races set for Fox Sports Premium. Free-to-air TV station Canal 5 will offer coverage of the 2026 Mexican GP (1st Nov). You can also live stream F1 in Mexico through the F1 TV Pro app at a cost of – hold onto your helmets! – $999 a year. That's compared to just $29.99 a year in India.

How to watch F1 live stream in Portugal

DAZN holds the rights to F1 in Portugal until 2027. A subscription to the streaming service costs from €16.99 a month.

F1 2026 race calendar – start times

When is Audi entering Formula 1?

Audi is set for F1 entry in 2026, when new regulations for both chassis and engine come into force. Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto is heading up Audi's Formula 1 project, which aims to be winning races within three years of entry.

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