The 2026 Formula 1 season continues in Spielberg as the Austrian Grand Prix hosts Round 8 of the championship.
The championship story adds extra spice this year. Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings on 156 points for Mercedes after a standout rookie campaign. Lewis Hamilton sits second on 115 points following his breakthrough win for Ferrari in Barcelona two weeks ago. George Russell holds third place on 106 points.
Last season at this same circuit, McLaren delivered a dominant 1-2 with Lando Norris beating teammate Oscar Piastri. Expect fireworks as Antonelli tries to stretch his advantage, Hamilton chases more momentum in red, and McLaren looks to bounce back on a track that has suited them well recently.
When the Action Happens
Practice 1 and Practice 2 take place on Friday, followed by Practice 3 and qualifying on Saturday. The main event, the Austrian Grand Prix, gets underway on Sunday afternoon local time.
With sessions scheduled at convenient European hours, fans across most time zones should find it easy to follow the weekend live.
Best Official Ways to Watch the Austrian Grand Prix
F1TV
F1TV remains the best standard for Formula 1 fans. A Pro or Premium subscription provides access to every session live, including:
- Practice sessions
- Qualifying
- The Grand Prix race
- Onboard cameras from every car
- Live timing and telemetry
- Team radio communications
- Driver tracker features
- Multiple commentary options
The service works across smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Apple TV. Streaming quality is excellent, and users avoid the pop-ups and interruptions commonly found on unofficial streaming sites. Many subscriptions also include access to Formula 1’s extensive race archive.
United States: Apple TV
In the United States, Apple TV has taken over Formula 1 broadcasting rights for the 2026 season.
The biggest bonus for fans is that the entire Austrian Grand Prix weekend streams completely free through the Apple TV app. No subscription is required to watch practice sessions, qualifying, or the race itself.
Viewers can also choose between the official F1 TV feed and the Sky Sports broadcast, making this one of the most accessible Formula 1 weekends for American audiences this season.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 & Channel 4
UK viewers can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1. Fans without a Sky subscription can still catch race highlights and selected coverage on free-to-air Channel 4.
Austria: ServusTV & ORF
Formula 1 fans in Austria can enjoy free coverage through ServusTV and ORF, which continue to share broadcasting duties across a large portion of the season, including several Grand Prix weekends in 2026.
Viewers in other countries should consult the official Formula 1 broadcaster guide for local viewing options.
Popular Free Streaming Alternatives
Many fans continue to search for free ways to watch Formula 1 online. Popular streaming aggregators often mentioned by viewers include:
- Sportsurge
- Totalsportek
- WestreamF1
- Rushstreams.net
- Other live-stream aggregation websites
These platforms regularly collect links from various streaming sources and can sometimes provide working race broadcasts.
