The 2026 Formula 1 season is finally underway, and the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park will start one of the most unpredictable years in the championship’s history. With massive regulation overhauls, new teams, and major driver changes over the last couple of years, there is a lot to catch up on.
Here is everything you need to know to watch the 2026 Australian Grand Prix qualifying.
When to Watch Australian GP Qualifying
Because the race takes place in Melbourne, viewers in the United States are looking at a late-night or prime-time Friday viewing experience.
The Americas
- Pacific Time (PT): Friday, March 6 at 9:00 PM
- Mountain Time (MT): Friday, March 6 at 10:00 PM
- Central Time (CT): Friday, March 6 at 11:00 PM
- Eastern Time (ET): Saturday, March 7 at 12:00 AM (Midnight on Friday night)
- Brasilia Time (BRT): Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 AM
Europe & Africa
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC): Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 AM
- Central European Time (CET): Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 AM
- South Africa Standard Time (SAST): Saturday, March 7 at 7:00 AM
Asia & Oceania
- Indian Standard Time (IST): Saturday, March 7 at 10:30 AM
- Japan Standard Time (JST): Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 PM
- Local Time (Melbourne, AEDT): Saturday, March 7 at 4:00 PM
- New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT): Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 PM
(For context, the actual Grand Prix race starts on Sunday at 3:00 PM local time, which is 11:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM PT on Saturday, March 7).
Where to Watch in the US
There has been a massive change to US broadcasting rights for the 2026 season. Apple TV is now the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the United States.
Apple TV: You will need an Apple TV subscription ($12.99/month) to watch the main broadcast of every session live and on-demand. This includes an immersive “Multiview” experience and up to 30 additional live feeds (like driver trackers, telemetry, and onboard cameras). If you previously used F1 TV Premium, that service is now exclusively bundled into the Apple TV subscription for free.
Yahoo Sports: Through a new streaming collaboration with Apple, you can stream live practice and qualifying sessions across the Yahoo Sports platform. The Yahoo qualifying stream will feature a mixed onboard feed that switches between driver cameras throughout the session.
Where to Watch Around the World
Formula 1 broadcasting rights vary heavily by region. While the US transitions to Apple TV for 2026, here is where you can catch the official qualifying broadcast in other major markets:
F1 TV Pro (Global): In many countries around the world (excluding the US and UK, which have exclusive regional deals), the official F1 TV Pro streaming service offers complete live coverage. This subscription includes the fan-favorite ability to ride onboard with any driver during their qualifying laps and access to live team radio channels.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 remains the exclusive home for live Formula 1 coverage in the UK. If you don’t want to stay up for the early morning live session, Channel 4 will provide free, extended highlights later in the day.
Australia (The Home Race): Australian fans can watch the hometown action on Fox Sports, Foxtel, and the Kayo Sports streaming app. Additionally, because it is the home race, the Australian Grand Prix is broadcast free-to-air on Network 10 and the 10Play app.
Canada: English-language broadcasts are handled by TSN (and the TSN Plus streaming app), while French-language coverage is broadcast on RDS.
India: Viewers in India can stream the qualifying session live on FanCode and TATA Play.
Key Storylines to Look Out For
The 2026 season isn’t just a new year; it’s an entirely new era for F1. Here is what to watch for as the cars hit the track for their first qualifying laps:
- The 2026 Regulation Overhaul: The cars are officially 30kg lighter, narrower, and shorter to promote better racing. More importantly, the power units have undergone a drastic change, shifting to an almost 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and the electrical battery (MGU-K). Drivers now have to micromanage their energy deployment heavily to avoid running out of battery power mid-lap.
- The End of DRS: Traditional DRS is gone. It has been replaced by Straight Mode (active aero that opens the front and rear wings on straights) and a manual Overtake Mode boost. Keep an eye on how drivers deploy this extra battery power tactically during their flying laps.
- Two Brand-New Teams: The grid has expanded! General Motors has arrived with Cadillac, fielding veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Additionally, Audi has officially taken over the Sauber entry, featuring Nico Hulkenberg alongside rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
- Hamilton in Red: After 12 years and a historic run at Mercedes, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is starting his second year in a Ferrari. While last year was disappointing, this season could be a very different story.
- The Reigning Champ vs. Max: Lando Norris enters the season as the defending Drivers’ Champion after McLaren’s dominant 2025 campaign. Max Verstappen has been vocal about his frustrations with the new 2026 car regulations – can he wrestle the championship back, or will McLaren retain their crown?
- The Teenage Rookie: 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad is making his F1 debut for Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. This makes him the fourth-youngest driver in F1 history to start a race.
