What time is the Formula 1 2026 United States Grand Prix and how can I watch it?

The 2026 Formula 1 season marches on with this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, which will see teams and drivers face the captivating challenge of the Circuit of The Americas.

Max Verstappen took Red Bull to new heights as he finally won the Singapore Grand Prix on his 10th attempt, improving to P4 in the Drivers’ Championship in the process. His comeback might not be enough to topple Kimi Antonelli – who now leads by 102 points and could theoretically clinch the title in Austin – but once the Dutchman gets into a rhythm, he’s tough to beat.

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 United States Grand Prix?

The weekend will kick off with Free Practice 1 at 1230 local time on Friday, 23 October, followed by Free Practice 2 later that day at 1600.

A final hour of practice will begin at 1230 on Saturday, 24 October, before Qualifying gets underway at 1600. The Grand Prix itself will take place at 1500 on Sunday, 25 October.

Check out the image below to find all the global start times for Sunday’s race.

How can I watch the 2026 United States 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 United States Grand Prix taking place?

The Circuit of The Americas was officially opened in October 2012, with the 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti given the honour of completing the maiden lap in his title-winning Lotus 79.

It held its first Grand Prix just under a month later and Lewis Hamilton secured his last win for McLaren in front of a bustling crowd, establishing COTA as another enticing modern venue that quickly won fans over.

From the renowned Texan hospitality to the medley of corners borrowed from other tracks – watch out for the Maggotts/Becketts-esque run between Turns 3 and 6, and a replica of Hockenheim’s stadium section at Turns 12 through 15 – every aspect of COTA is full of character.

What is the weather forecast in the United States?

It’s expected to be a warm weekend in Austin, with temperatures peaking at 28 Celsius. There’s also a very low likelihood of rain, which should make it a comfortable event for drivers and fans alike.

When can I watch F1 ACADEMY during the 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend?

After a two-month break, F1 ACADEMY returns to COTA for the first time since 2023 for the penultimate round of the season, with Red Bull’s Alisha Palmowski looking to further extend her lead at the top of the standings.

A three-race format will be in place for the second time this year and will feature drivers tackling an Opening Race, Reverse Grid Race and Feature Race, delivering even more action as well as opportunities to score big.

Free Practice will start at 1225 local time on Thursday, 22 October before an all-important Qualifying session at 1630. The Opening Race, which uses drivers’ second-fastest Qualifying time to set the grid, will follow on Friday, 23 October at 1750, with the Reverse Grid Race taking place the next day at 1800.

Last but not least, the Feature Race will round out the weekend at 1200 on Sunday, 25 October.