“Wait for Melbourne,” Max Verstappen said at the pre-season press conference in Bahrain, hinting that several teams, including Toto Wolff’s Mercedes, may still be holding back their true pace until the curtain goes up at the Australian Grand Prix. Well, the wait is finally over. It’s race weekend!
The biggest change, however, is in the power units. The new rules introduce a 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, dramatically increasing the importance of energy distribution. Now it’s not as simple as opening the rear wing and winning on the car in front, as drivers must be aware of the toll they are using.
Another thing we saw in pre-season testing was the lockups everywhere and how different and difficult the starting procedure for the race is this time. Mercedes, despite appearing to have one of the most refined packages overall, has struggled to launch cleanly off the line. Ferrari, on the other hand, have impressed during testing – and strong starts could be one of their biggest advantages heading into Melbourne, much to the delight of the Tifosi.
Despite the many changes, the top four remain the same: McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari. However, the Australian GP is likely to provide the first real indication of how the pecking order may shape up, including how new entrants Cadillac and Audi, as well as rookie Arvid Lindblad, do their business. And while early feelings suggest George Russell could be in line for his first drivers’ championship, it all depends on which team adapts to the new rules the quickest.
Here’s our easy guide on how to watch F1 live online, anywhere, with potential free streams in your country
How to watch F1 2026 Season for FREE
The 2026 Formula 1 season is not available for free in all countries. However, at these select destinations you can catch specific races/highlights or even the entire season for FREE.
- Australia – 10 Games (full Australian GP live, plus highlights from every other race)
- Austria – Service TV and ORF To (free live broadcast, 12 race weekends each)
- Belgium – RTBF Auvio (free live broadcast of each race)
- Canada – CTV (full Canadian GP live, plus highlights from every other race)
- Luxembourg – RTL Zwee (free live broadcast of each race)
- Great Britain – Channel 4 (full British GP live, plus highlights from every other race)
- US – Apple TV (free live broadcast of each training session and selected races)
Are you traveling abroad in the 2026 season? You can use a VPN to watch all the action for free as if you were at home. NordVPN is our top choice of all options.
How to watch F1 2026 anywhere
🌎 ABROAD? F1 is broadcast in many countries around the world, but if you’re traveling outside your country, you should consider using one of the best VPNs to unblock your domestic streaming service, provided it doesn’t violate any terms and conditions.
A VPN allows you to move your device back to your home country. NordVPN is our VPN of choice and you can use it to watch the F1 season while away from home.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple:
1. Install VPN of your choice. As we have said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Select the location you want to connect to in the VPN app. For example, if you’re visiting the US and want to see your usual UK service, select a ‘UK’ server from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Go to your usual local streaming service and watch F1 2026 live streams.
How to watch F1 2026 like a pro
In the United States, F1 TV Pro is now available directly via Apple TV app, but everywhere else it’s still available as a standalone subscription – and is arguably the best way for true enthusiasts to watch Formula 1.
With F1 TV Pro, viewers get live streams of every F1 session plus access to driver cameras and live team radio during races. It also includes detailed live timing and telemetry, along with feeder series coverage such as Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy, making it one of the most comprehensive ways to follow the sport.
Want to know what it costs where you are? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered below with the latest 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 the Netherlands – €11.90/month
- F1 TV Pro in the US – $10.99/month
- F1 TV Pro in Mexico – 129 MXN/month
How to watch F1 2026 in the US
How to watch F1 2026 in the UK
How to watch F1 2026 in Australia
How to watch F1 2026 in Canada
Your guide to the 2026 Formula 1 season
Full F1 2026 calendar dates
The 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship race calendar features 24 live televised races. We’ll keep you updated on them right here.
- 6.-8. March: Australia
- March 13-15: China
- 27.-29. March: Japan
- April 10-12: Bahrain
- 17.-19. April: Saudi Arabia
- 1.-3. May: Miami
- May 22-24: Canada
- 5.-7. June: Monaco
- June 12-14: Barcelona
- 26-28 June: Austria
- 3.-5. July: Great Britain
- 17.-19. July: Belgium
- 24.-26. July: Hungary
- 21.-23. August: Netherlands
- 4th-6th September: Italy
- September 11-13: Madrid
- September 24-26: Azerbaijan
- October 9-11: Singapore
- 23.-25. October: USA
- 30 October-1 November: Mexico
- 6.-8. November: Brazil
- November 19-21: Las Vegas
- 27.-29. November: Qatar
- 4th-6th December: Abu Dhabi
F1 driver lineup (2026 season)
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Williams: Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon
Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Haas: Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman
Audi: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto
Cadillac: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas
When are the F1 2026 sprint races?
Six circuits will host F1 Sprint weekends in 2026: Shanghai (China), Miami (USA), Montreal (Canada), Silverstone (UK), Zandvoort (Netherlands) and Singapore.
We test and review VPN services for legitimate recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a Service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that Service). 2. Protecting your online security and enhancing your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consumption of paid-for pirated content is neither endorsed nor endorsed by Future Publishing.
