FORMULA ONE returns for the 2026 season as a new era begins with rule changes, new teams, new drivers and even a new race.
Lando Norris aims to defend his F1 world title after he claimed glory last season, when he became the 11th British winner in history.
Cars are now required to use fully sustainable fuels, as well as use engines that have a near 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion power.
There are also two new teams this year as Audi and Cadillac – two of the biggest car companies – line up on the grid with the German constructor taking the place of Sauber from last year, and the American side forming a new outfit.
There is only one rookie driver in the line-up this year, with British teenager Arvid Lindblad partnering Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls.
41-year-old Lewis Hamilton is fighting for a record-breaking eighth world title this year with Ferrari, which would break the record held by former Prancing Horse driver Michael Schumacher.
The best travel deals for F1
SEE and feel the thrill of the Grand Prix experience with these unbeatable deals.
F1 races in 2026
*If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue.
How to watch the new F1 season
- Sky Sports owns the rights to Formula One and will have exclusive coverage on its channels.
- Sky Sports have a dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel, which will cover practice sessions, qualifying, sprints and races.
- Streaming will also be available via Sky Go and the Sky Sports app.
- F1 will also remain partially free-to-air, thanks to a partnership between Channel 4 and Sky Sports.
- Channel 4 will show highlights of practice, qualifying, sprints and races after the sessions.
- Alternatively, SunSport will live blog select races from the season.
Who are the F1 drivers this season?
- McLaren: Lando Norris / Oscar Piastri
- Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton / Charles Leclerc
- Red Bull: Max Verstappen / Isack Hadjar
- Mercedes: George Russell / Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Aston Martin: Lance Stroll / Fernando Alonso
- Alpine: Pierre Gasly / Franco Colapinto
- Haas: Esteban Ocon / Oliver Bearman
- Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson / Arvid Lindblad
- Williams: Carlos Sainz / Alexander Albon
- Cadillac: Sergio Perez / Valtteri Bottas
- Audi: Nico Hulkenberg / Gabriel Bortoleto
Formula One 2026 full race calendar
Round one – Australia
Practice one – Friday, March 6, 1.30am GMT
Practice two – Friday, March 6, 5am GMT
Practice three – Saturday, March 7, 1.30am GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, March 7, 5am GMT
Race – Sunday, March 8, 4am GMT
Round two – China
Practice one – Friday, March 13, 3.30am GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Friday, March 13, 7.30am GMT
Sprint – Saturday, March 14, 3am GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, March 14, 7am GMT
Race – Sunday, March 15, 7am GMT
Round three – Japan
Practice one – Friday, March 27, 2.30am GMT
Practice two – Friday, March 27, 6am GMT
Practice three – Saturday, March 28, 2.30am GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, March 28, 6am GMT
Race – Sunday, March 29, 6am BST
Round four – Bahrain
Practice one – Friday, April 10, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, April 10, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, April 11, 1.30pm BST
Qualifying – Saturday, April 11, 5pm BST
Race – Sunday, April 12, 4pm BST
Round five – Saudi Arabia
Practice one – Friday, April 17, 2.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, April 17, 6pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, April 18, 2.30pm BST
Qualifying – Saturday, April 18, 6pm BST
Race – Sunday, April 19, 6pm BST
Round six – Miami, USA
Practice one – Friday, May 1, 5.30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Friday, May 1, 9.30pm BST
Sprint – Saturday, May 2, 5pm BST
Qualifying – Saturday, May 2, 9pm BST
Race – Sunday, May 3, 9pm BST
Round seven – Canada
Practice one – Friday, May 22, 5.30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Friday, May 22, 9.30pm BST
Sprint – Saturday, May 23, 5pm BST
Qualifying – Saturday, May 23, 9pm BST
Race – Sunday, May 24. 9pm BST
Round eight – Monaco
Practice one – Friday, June 5, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, June 5, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, June 6, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, June 6, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, June 7, 2pm BST
Round nine – Barcelona, Spain
Practice one – Friday, June 12, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, June 12, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, June 13, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, June 13, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, June 14, 2pm BST
Round ten – Austria
Practice one – Friday, June 26, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, June 26, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, June 27, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, June 27, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, June 28, 2pm BST
Round 11 – Great Britain
Practice one – Friday, July 3, 12.30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Friday, July 3, 4pm BST
Sprint – Saturday, July 4, 12pm BST
Qualifying – Saturday, July 4, 4pm BST
Race – Sunday, July 5, 3pm BST
Round 12 – Belgium
Practice one – Friday, July 17, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, July 17, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, July 18, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, July 18, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, July 19, 2pm BST
Round 13 – Hungary
Practice one – Friday, July 24, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, July 24, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, July 25, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, July 25, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, July 26, 2pm BST
Round 14 – Netherlands
Practice one – Friday, August 21, 11.30am BST
Sprint Qualifying – Friday, August 21, 3.30pm BST
Sprint – Saturday, August 22, 11am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, August 22, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, August 23, 2pm BST
Round 15 – Italy
Practice one – Friday, September 4, 11.30am BST
Practice two – Friday, September 4, 3pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, September 5, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, September 5, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, September 6, 2pm BST
Round 16 – Madrid, Spain
Practice one – Friday, September 11, 12.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, September 11, 4pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, September 12, 11.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, September 12, 3pm BST
Race – Sunday, September 13, 2pm BST
Round 17 – Azerbaijan
Practice one – Friday, September 24, 9.30am BST
Practice two – Friday, September 24, 1pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, September 25, 9.30am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, September 25, 1pm BST
Race – Sunday, September 26, 12pm BST
Round 18 – Singapore
Practice one – Friday, October 9, 9.30am BST
Sprint Qualifying – Friday, October 9, 1.30pm BST
Sprint – Saturday, October 10, 10am BST
Qualifying – Saturday, October 10, 2pm BST
Race – Sunday, October 11, 1pm BST
Round 19 – Texas, USA
Practice one – Friday, October 23, 6.30pm BST
Practice two – Friday, October 23, 10pm BST
Practice three – Saturday, October 24, 6.30pm BST
Qualifying – Saturday, October 24, 10pm BST
Race – Sunday, October 25, 8pm GMT
Round 20 – Mexico City
Practice one – Friday, October 30, 6.30pm GMT
Practice two – Friday, October 30, 10pm GMT
Practice three – Saturday, October 31, 5.30pm GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, October 31, 9pm GMT
Race – Sunday, November 1, 8pm GMT
Round 21 – Brazil
Practice one – Friday, November 6, 3.30pm GMT
Practice two – Friday, November 6, 7pm GMT
Practice three – Saturday, November 7, 2.30pm GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, November 7, 6pm GMT
Race – Sunday, November 8, 5pm GMT
Round 22 – Las Vegas, USA
Practice one – Friday, November 20, 12.30am GMT
Practice two – Friday, November 20, 4am GMT
Practice three – Saturday, November 21, 12.30am GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, November 21, 4am GMT
Race – Sunday, November 22, 4am GMT
Round 23 – Qatar
Practice one – Friday, November 27, 1.30pm GMT
Practice two – Friday, November 27, 5pm GMT
Practice three – Saturday, November 28, 2.30pm GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, November 28, 6pm GMT
Race – Sunday, November 29, 4pm GMT
Round 24 – Abu Dhabi, UAE
Practice one – Friday, December 4, 9.30am GMT
Practice two – Friday, December 4, 1pm GMT
Practice three – Saturday, December 5, 10.30am GMT
Qualifying – Saturday, December 5, 2pm GMT
Race – Sunday, December 6, 1pm GMT
