Last verified: August 2, 2026
Event: September 11-13, 2026
Circuit: Madring, Madrid, Spain
Formula 1's first Grand Prix at Madring takes place from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, 2026. The weekend uses the standard format: three practice sessions, Saturday qualifying, and a 1:00 p.m. CEST race on Sunday. That is noon in the UK, 7:00 a.m. Eastern, and 4:00 a.m. Pacific.
US viewers can watch every session live and on demand with Apple TV. Sky Sports F1 and NOW provide full live coverage in the UK, with free qualifying and race highlights on Channel 4. Viewers in Spain can watch Formula 1 live and on demand through DAZN's Motor or Premium plans.
Spanish Grand Prix 2026 schedule
Formula 1's official Madrid page lists the following track times. The event is not a Sprint weekend.
| Session | Date | Madrid (CEST) | UK (BST) | US Eastern (ET) | US Pacific (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday, September 11 | 11:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | 5:30 a.m. | 2:30 a.m. |
| Practice 2 | Friday, September 11 | 3:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. | 6:00 a.m. |
| Practice 3 | Saturday, September 12 | 10:30 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | 4:30 a.m. | 1:30 a.m. |
| Qualifying | Saturday, September 12 | 2:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. |
| Race | Sunday, September 13 | 1:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. | 4:00 a.m. |
These times were checked on August 2, 2026. Confirm late changes on the official Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix page. Sky also lists the September 11-13 Spanish Grand Prix in its current UK calendar.
Viewing options at a glance
| Market | Official service | Price checked August 2 | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Apple TV | $12.99/month; seven-day trial for eligible new subscribers | Every session live and on demand, replays, highlights, Race in 30, and included F1 TV Premium |
| United States, selected sessions | Yahoo Sports | Free where available | Live practice and qualifying; not a confirmed free race stream |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1 | From £20/month as an add-on; requires Sky TV and published terms apply | Every practice, qualifying session, and race live |
| United Kingdom | NOW Sports | £14.99 Day Membership; flexible Month plan renews at £34.99 under current terms | Sky Sports F1 without a traditional Sky TV contract |
| United Kingdom, free | Channel 4 | Free with a qualifying UK account | Qualifying and race highlights; not the live Madrid race |
| Spain | DAZN Motor or Premium | Motor: €29.99 monthly or €19.99/month on the annual monthly-payment plan | Every F1 practice, qualifying session, and race live and on demand |
No official free live video of the full Madrid Grand Prix race was found for the US, UK, or Spain. A temporary trial, a free practice stream, an audio broadcast, or a highlights program is not the same as free live race coverage.
How to watch the Madrid Grand Prix in the US
Apple TV is Formula 1's exclusive US home for the 2026 season. The subscription includes every practice, qualifying session, and Grand Prix live and on demand without a separate race fee.
Apple's official price is $12.99 per month. Eligible new subscribers can receive a seven-day trial. Trial eligibility is tied to the account and should be confirmed on the signup screen; the subscription renews unless cancelled under Apple's terms.
Apple's Formula 1 package includes:
- English and Spanish commentary
- 4K with Dolby Vision and 5.1 sound on supported equipment and coverage
- Up to 30 additional feeds across sessions
- Multiview with up to four feeds on supported devices
- Full replays, highlights, and spoiler-free Race in 30 programs
- F1 TV Premium included for US Apple TV subscribers
Read Apple's official 2026 Formula 1 coverage announcement for current terms.
Which devices can show the race?
Apple lists iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, many Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio and TCL televisions, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and web access at tv.apple.com.
Premium features vary by hardware. Apple identifies Apple TV 4K, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro among Multiview devices. Confirm 4K, Dolby Vision, and Multiview support on the exact device before expecting those features.
Can US viewers watch for free?
Apple says live Formula 1 practice and qualifying sessions are available through its Yahoo Sports collaboration in the US. That provides a confirmed free route for selected parts of the Madrid weekend, but Apple does not describe Yahoo as a free live race service.
Apple Music also carries free live Formula 1 race audio in the US. That is an official commentary option, not live race video.
Apple has announced free Tubi altcasts for selected races, but the supported events are to be announced. Do not assume Madrid is included unless Apple or Tubi publishes a specific listing.
How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix in the UK
Sky Sports F1 carries every practice, qualifying session, and race live. The current Sky page specifically lists the Spanish Grand Prix for September 11-13.
Viewers can access the channel through an eligible Sky TV package or stream it through NOW. These are separate purchasing routes with different contracts and cancellation rules.
Sky Sports F1
Sky currently advertises Sky Sports F1 from £20 per month on a 31-day rolling arrangement, with 31 days' cancellation notice and a Sky TV requirement. A separate all-Sky-Sports offer is shown at £22 per month with a new 24-month Sky TV contract.
The Sports price is not necessarily the complete household total because Sky TV is also required. Confirm the base package, equipment, setup fees, minimum term, cancellation notice, and final checkout total on Sky's Formula 1 page.
Sky Go access and UHD depend on the customer's package and equipment. Do not assume that the lowest advertised add-on includes every resolution or device feature.
NOW Sports
NOW provides Sky Sports F1 without a traditional Sky TV contract. Its current official page states:
- Sports Day Membership: £14.99 for a continuous 24-hour period
- Fully Flexible Sports Month Membership: renews at £34.99 per month under the current terms
- Sports Month free trial: unavailable
- Day Membership: starts immediately after purchase and cannot be paused
- Standard simultaneous streams: plan and add-on dependent
Because Madrid is a standard weekend, a Day Membership activated shortly before Sunday's coverage can include the race but cannot cover Friday practice, Saturday qualifying, and Sunday together.
NOW supports more than 60 device types, including selected smart televisions, phones, computers, PlayStation, and Xbox. Boost adds Full HD and two simultaneous streams on supported content; Ultra Boost can add 4K, Dolby Atmos, and three streams. NOW lists at least 12 Mbps for Boost and 30 Mbps for Ultra Boost.
Review NOW's official Formula 1 membership page before purchase.
Are there free UK highlights?
Yes. Channel 4's agreement provides free-to-air highlights of Formula 1 qualifying and every Grand Prix through 2026. Live Channel 4 Formula 1 coverage is reserved for the British Grand Prix, so the Madrid program should be treated as highlights rather than a live race.
Read the official Channel 4 and Sky rights announcement and check the Channel 4 schedule near September 13 for the exact highlights time.
How to watch Formula 1 in Spain
DAZN's official 2026 announcement says it carries every Formula 1 practice session, qualifying session, Sprint, and race live and on demand in Spain. It also plans specific programming around the Madrid and Barcelona Grands Prix.
Formula 1 is included in DAZN's Motor and Premium plans. DAZN's current Spanish help center lists Motor at:
- €29.99 per month on the monthly subscription
- €19.99 per month on an annual commitment paid monthly
- €219.99 for the annual single-payment option
The current terms say monthly subscriptions renew automatically, require 30 days' notice to cancel, and allow two simultaneous streams from one location. Annual plans run through the twelve-month commitment.
See DAZN's 2026 Formula 1 coverage announcement and current Spanish plan prices.
No official announcement of free live Madrid race video was found. DAZN made the 2025 Barcelona event temporarily free, but that expired promotion is not evidence that the 2026 Madrid race will be free.
What is the new Madring circuit?
Madring makes its Formula 1 debut in 2026. It is not the Jarama circuit that hosted earlier Grands Prix outside Madrid.
Formula 1's official circuit specification lists:
- Circuit length: 5.416 km
- Race distance: 308.524 km
- Race laps: 57
- Corners: 22
- Layout: a combination of public roads and private land, mixing street-circuit and permanent-venue characteristics
- Signature corner: La Monumental, a long Turn 12 with 24% banking
The circuit is based around the IFEMA Madrid area and is designed for public-transport access. Because this is its first Formula 1 weekend, there is no established Formula 1 lap record or previous race strategy to rely on.
Predictions about overtaking, tyre wear, Safety Car probability, or the fastest racing line should be treated as analysis rather than established facts until Formula 1 cars complete official sessions.
Set up your stream before the weekend
- Check Formula 1's Madrid schedule again within 72 hours of Practice 1.
- Confirm that the event appears in Apple TV, Sky, NOW, DAZN, or the relevant official service.
- Install or update the official app on the exact device you will use.
- Play normal live or on-demand content to test the account, audio, and display.
- Confirm that your television input, streaming stick, and power supply are stable.
- If using a NOW Day Membership, activate it only when ready to begin its continuous 24-hour period.
- Open Sunday's race coverage at least 10 to 15 minutes before the start.
Use the Start2Watch internet speed guide for HD and 4K streaming to plan bandwidth. If the picture pauses or drops quality, follow the stream buffering diagnostic. Fire TV users with a connection warning can use the Firestick Wi-Fi connected but no internet guide.
The previous European race is covered in the 2026 Italian Grand Prix watch guide, which has different session and race times.
Watching from another country
Apple's Formula 1 benefit described here is for the United States. Sky, NOW, Channel 4, and DAZN publish territorial account and viewing requirements.
A subscription may display a different catalog while travelling. Use the service licensed in the country where you will actually watch, and consult Formula 1's official broadcast information page for other markets.
Spanish Grand Prix 2026 FAQs
What time does the Madrid Grand Prix start?
The race starts at 1:00 p.m. CEST on Sunday, September 13. That is noon BST, 7:00 a.m. Eastern, and 4:00 a.m. Pacific.
Is the Madrid Grand Prix a Sprint weekend?
No. Formula 1 lists three practice sessions, Saturday qualifying, and the Sunday race.
Is the Spanish Grand Prix on ESPN in the US?
No. Apple TV became the exclusive US Formula 1 broadcaster for the 2026 season.
Can US viewers watch qualifying for free?
Apple says live practice and qualifying sessions stream through Yahoo Sports in the US. That does not include a confirmed free live race stream.
Can I watch the Madrid race live on Channel 4?
No. Channel 4 provides free UK qualifying and race highlights for Madrid, not the live race.
Can one NOW Day Membership cover the race?
Yes, if activated shortly before Sunday's coverage. It lasts for 24 continuous hours but cannot cover the entire three-day weekend.
Does DAZN show Formula 1 in Spain?
Yes. DAZN says its Motor and Premium plans include the complete Formula 1 season live and on demand.
Is Madring the same as Jarama?
No. Madring is a new 5.416 km circuit around IFEMA Madrid. Jarama is the older circuit north of the city that hosted past Formula 1 Grands Prix.
How many laps is the Madrid Grand Prix?
Formula 1 lists 57 laps and a race distance of 308.524 km.
Is there a free live Spanish Grand Prix stream?
No complete official free race video has been confirmed for the US, UK, or Spain. Confirmed free options are limited to US practice and qualifying through Yahoo Sports, US race audio through Apple Music, and UK Channel 4 highlights.
Verification and update policy
This article was verified on August 2, 2026 using Formula 1, FIA, Apple, Sky, NOW, Channel 4, and DAZN sources. Start2Watch will recheck the session schedule, circuit status, platform rights, prices, device terms, replay availability, and any newly announced free coverage within 72 hours of Practice 1.
Start2Watch does not link to unofficial streams, distribute credentials, or claim that a temporary promotion applies when the broadcaster has not confirmed it for this event.