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If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “What time is the race?” at 6 a.m. with coffee in hand, welcome back. It is Formula 1 season.
Racing season is a chance to follow some of the fastest drivers in the world as they compete across a global stage. The 2026 calendar is packed with high-speed weekends and is shaping up to be one of the longest seasons yet, with stops from Miami to Monaco to Las Vegas.
But this year, there is a major shift off the track: how you watch. Gone are the days of flipping between cable channels. In the U.S., Formula 1 now lives in one place. Here is what to know about when and how to watch, and what it could cost you.
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How to watch F1 racing in the U.S.
For the 2026 season, Formula 1 coverage in the U.S. is exclusively available through Apple TV.
That means every session, practice, qualifying, sprint races, and the Grand Prix streams live in one place. This is a major shift from previous years, when races aired across ESPN and ABC. Now, the entire race weekend is centralized, with fewer logins and less channel-hopping.
You can also still use the F1 TV app, but it now works as a companion, with premium live features bundled into your Apple TV subscription.
Apple TV+ is available on its own or included in the Apple One bundle. Subscribing to Apple One gives you Apple TV+ along with other services like Apple Music and iCloud.
Compared to the previous standalone F1 TV price (around $129 annually), the new setup comes in cheaper and includes access to Apple’s broader library of shows, movies and live sports.
2026 Formula 1 racing schedule
Here’s a simplified look at key race weekends for the 2026 season:
|
Date |
Race |
Venue |
Location |
|
May 1–3 |
Miami Grand Prix |
Hard Rock Stadium |
Miami, Florida |
|
May 22–24 |
Canadian Grand Prix |
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
Montreal, Quebec |
|
Jun 5–7 |
Monaco Grand Prix |
Circuit de Monaco |
Monte Carlo, Monaco |
|
Jun 12–14 |
Spanish Grand Prix |
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya |
Barcelona, Spain |
|
Jun 26–28 |
Austrian Grand Prix |
Red Bull Ring |
Spielberg, Austria |
|
Jul 3–5 |
British Grand Prix |
Silverstone Circuit |
Silverstone, England |
|
Jul 17–19 |
Hungarian Grand Prix |
Hungaroring |
Budapest, Hungary |
|
Jul 24–26 |
Dutch Grand Prix |
Circuit Zandvoort |
Zandvoort, Netherlands |
|
Aug 21–23 |
Italian Grand Prix |
Monza Circuit |
Monza, Italy |
|
Sep 4–6 |
Azerbaijan Grand Prix |
Baku City Circuit |
Baku, Azerbaijan |
|
Sep 11–13 |
Singapore Grand Prix |
Marina Bay Street Circuit |
Singapore |
|
Sep 24–26 |
United States Grand Prix |
Circuit of the Americas |
Austin, Texas |
|
Oct 9–11 |
Mexico City Grand Prix |
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
Mexico City, Mexico |
|
Oct 23–25 |
São Paulo Grand Prix |
Interlagos Circuit |
São Paulo, Brazil |
|
Oct 30–Nov 1 |
Las Vegas Grand Prix |
Las Vegas Strip Circuit |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
Nov 6–8 |
Qatar Grand Prix |
Lusail International Circuit |
Lusail, Qatar |
|
Nov 19–21 |
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
Yas Marina Circuit |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
The full calendar features 24 race weekends, making it one of the longest seasons in F1 history.
Thinking about catching a race in person? You can explore official ticket packages through Grand Prix Events. For additional options, check availability on resale marketplaces like SeatGeek or StubHub.
How to watch Formula 1 while traveling
If you’re traveling during the Formula 1 season, you may still be able to stream races through your existing subscription. Streaming services sometimes limit content based on your location, which means your usual access may not work the same way when you’re not at home.
In those situations, some viewers use a virtual private network (VPN) to access their streaming services while connected to the internet away from home.
A VPN works by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through a server in another location. This can help protect your online activity and may allow you to sign in to your streaming accounts as you normally would.
New to VPNs? Getting started is relatively simple:
- Choose a VPN service, such as NordVPN, and follow the setup instructions
- Select a server location that matches your home country
- Open your streaming app and log in as usual
This can be a helpful option for frequent travelers who want to keep up with race weekends while away.
How to watch F1 this season without missing a race
Formula 1’s move to streaming marks a turning point for how fans watch the sport. With all races centralized on Apple TV, a lower annual cost than previous setups and added flexibility for watching on the go, the experience is more streamlined, even if it takes some getting used to.
If you’re planning to follow the 2026 season, getting set up now means you won’t miss a lap.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
