Australian Grand Prix: How to Watch 2026 F1 Season Opener Online for Free

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

With the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the best drivers in the world, including Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Pérez, Oscar Piastri, George Russell and others, gather “Down Under” for the Australian Grand Prix. And coming in as reigning champion is Lando Norris, who received 423 points and 7 wins last season, with the McLaren Formula 1 Team.

To start the new season, the Australian Grand Prix takes place at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. Weekend Warm-ups begin on Thursday, Mar. 5 with a start time of 1:30 a.m. ET (Wednesday, Mar. 4 at 10:30 p.m. PT). Race day is Saturday, Mar. 6 at 9:50 p.m. ET/6:50 p.m. PT. Check out a complete F1 2026 season schedule here.

Want to watch F1 online? The best way for fans to tune into every race for the 2026 season (including Miami Grand Prix, Grand Prix of The Americas, Las Vegas Grand Prix and others) is with Apple TV. Subscribers can enjoy all of the action on the pitch at no additional cost, just the price of the streaming service’s subscription.

To watch for free, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial to watch hit Apple TV originals, including “F1: The Movie,” “Pluribus,” “Severance,” “For All Mankind,” “Eternity,” “Ted Lasso,” “Long Way Home,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Your Friends and Neighbors,” “Hijack,” “The Morning Show,” “Presumed Innocent,” “Masters of the Air” and others. Afterwards, you can either cancel, or keep watching for $12.99/month, or $99/year.

Meanwhile, Apple TV offers all F1 races, as well as warmups, practice and qualifying coverage, post-race analysis, race highlights, driver profiles, interviews, team info, match replays and other extras, including “Drive to Survive” (in U.S. TV markets only), with no blackouts. All grands prix livestreams are presented in 4K Dolby Vision with immersive 5.1 surround sound and Apple’s Multiview experience with up to four live feeds at once during races.

Learn more and sign up to watch the 2026 F1 season on Apple TV, below:

Thursday, Mar. 5

Practice 1 at 8:10 p.m. ET/5:10 p.m. PT

Practice 2 at 11:40 p.m. ET/8:40 p.m. PT

Friday, Mar. 6

Practice 3 at 8:10 p.m. ET/5:10 p.m. PT

Qualifying at 11:25 p.m. ET/8:25 p.m. PT

Saturday, Mar. 7

Race Day at 9:50 p.m. ET/6:50 p.m. PT

Read More

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here