The 2026 season continues this weekend with Round 8 as Formula 1 returns to Austria’s Red Bull Ring – and here are all the details you need to know about the global start times for Sunday’s race and where to watch.
Kimi Antonelli’s grip on the Drivers’ Championship loosened ever so slightly after Lewis Hamilton achieved a magical maiden win for Ferrari in Barcelona-Catalunya, setting the stage for an unpredictable Austrian Grand Prix.
Head to the RACE HUB or scroll down for more on how and when you can watch the action, along with the global start times for each session.
What time is the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix?
Free Practice 1 will start proceedings at 1330 local time on Friday, June 26, shortly followed by Free Practice 2 at 1700.
The final hour of practice will take place at 1230 on Saturday, June 27, before Qualifying at 1600. Lastly, the 71-lap Grand Prix begins at 1500 on Sunday, June 28.
Check out the image below to find all the global start times for Sunday’s race.
How can I watch the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix?
You can enjoy coverage from every session live on F1 TV Pro (available in selected countries), which brings fans closer to the action via exclusive features like onboard cameras on all 22 of the drivers’ cars, and access to both Pre-Race and Post-Race Shows.
F1 TV Pro can be streamed easily via Apple TV, Chromecast Generation 2 and above, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. F1 TV Pro is free of ad breaks and available with commentary in six languages.
Fans can also watch via F1 TV Premium, a premier service that invites fans to step into the heart of the action with the ability to watch races in 4K Ultra HD/HDR on up to six different devices, as well as a personalised Multiview feature available on select devices with 26 different feeds to choose from.
Viewers can watch every F1 Grand Prix, F1 Sprint, Qualifying and practice session live in 4K Ultra HD/HDR at home, with F2, F3, F1 ACADEMY and Porsche Supercup sessions also available to watch live on the platform.
Alternatively, live timing will be available on F1.com and the F1 app across every session during the Grand Prix weekend.
Where is the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix taking place?
The Austrian Grand Prix will be held at the Red Bull Ring, which was originally built as the intimidating Osterreichring in 1969 – a high-speed circuit with elevation changes and a fierce banked corner that made it equal parts dangerous and thrilling. Safety concerns prompted a complete rebuild by Hermann Tilke in late 1995, transforming it into the A1-Ring, a more modern track nestled in the Styrian hills that hosted its first race in 1996.
The venue then disappeared from the calendar after the 2003 season, with Red Bull taking over as owners to oversee the demolition of much of the facilities. While a return looked unlikely for several years, it eventually welcomed F1 back to new grandstands and pit buildings in the summer of 2014.
Since then, it’s become a favourite of the Orange Army, with masses of Max Verstappen’s Dutch fans descending on the track every season. The four-time World Champion has enjoyed plenty of success there too, holding a record four pole positions and four race wins.
What is the weather forecast in Austria?
Conditions are currently expected to be warm and dry throughout the weekend, with a maximum of 31.5 degrees Celsius forecast on Sunday. High track temperatures could impact tyre strategy, but teams likely won’t have to worry about factoring rain into their planning.
When can I watch F2 and F3 during the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix weekend?
After missing out on the top step in Barcelona, F2 championship leader Gabriele Mini will be looking for another win this weekend. Free Practice gets underway at 1105 local time on Friday, June 26 before Qualifying at 1555.
The racing action will kick off with the Sprint Race at 1415 on Saturday, June 27, followed the next day by the Feature Race at 1010.
F3 will also return for the campaign’s fourth round, starting with Free Practice at 0955 local time on Friday, June 26. Qualifying will take place later that day at 1500, with the top 12 drivers reversed for the Sprint Race at 1005 on Saturday, June 27. The Feature Race will round out the weekend at 0840 on Sunday, June 28.
