How to Watch F1 in the US in 2026

Watching F1 live in the United States in 2026 is easier than it's ever been, but the options have shifted compared to recent years. The season runs 24 races from March through December, and between ESPN's broadcast deal, F1 TV's streaming platform, and a few free options, there's a way in at every budget. Knowing where each session lives before the weekend starts is the difference between catching lights out and finding out the race already happened.

The GridLine Club calendar shows every session time in US Eastern, so you can plan your weekends without manual timezone math.

Where to watch F1 live in the US in 2026

ESPN: the main TV option

ESPN holds the US broadcast rights for Formula 1 through 2025, with the deal extended into 2026. All 24 races air live across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, with ABC typically carrying the marquee events like the Monaco GP, British GP, and all three US races (Miami, Austin, Las Vegas). Qualifying and sprint sessions air on ESPN2 or ESPN News depending on the weekend.

ESPN's coverage uses the Sky Sports F1 commentary feed from the UK, which means you get Martin Brundle, David Croft, and the full Sky team. Pre-race and post-race analysis is handled by ESPN's own studio team. If you have a cable or satellite subscription that includes ESPN, you're covered for every race at no extra cost.

ESPN+ and streaming access

ESPN+ streams all F1 sessions live, including practice, qualifying, sprints, and races. The subscription runs $10.99/month or $109.99/year. If you're already subscribed for other sports (UFC, MLS, college football), F1 comes included at no additional cost.

The Disney+ Bundle ($14.99/month) includes ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu — the best value if you don't already subscribe to any of them.

F1 TV Pro: the hardcore fan option

F1 TV is Formula 1's official streaming platform, completely independent of ESPN. The F1 TV Pro plan ($9.99/month or $79.99/year) includes every session live, plus features ESPN doesn't offer:

• Onboard cameras for every driver, live during sessions
• Team radio communications in real time
• Live telemetry — tire degradation, ERS deployment, sector times
• Driver tracker — GPS positions of all 20 cars on a live circuit map
• Multiple commentary options — English, Spanish, Portuguese, and more

The F1 TV Premium plan adds Multi View (multiple camera feeds on one screen), 4K UHD/HDR quality, and support for up to 6 simultaneous devices.

• Pro: best for fans who want data, onboard cameras, and team radio
• Premium: best for the living room TV with maximum image quality

Available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and web browsers.

Free options (100% legal)

ABC broadcasts

Several races each season air on ABC, which is free over-the-air with a basic antenna. The US Grand Prix in Austin, Miami GP, Las Vegas GP, and select other races typically air on ABC. Check the schedule before each weekend — if it's on ABC, you don't need any subscription.

ESPN free previews

ESPN occasionally offers free streaming previews of F1 race weekends through the ESPN app. These aren't guaranteed every weekend, but they've become more common as F1's US audience has grown. Worth checking before reaching for your credit card.

Session times in US Eastern

F1 races happen across every timezone on Earth, which means the schedule varies wildly for American fans:

• European GPs (Monaco, Italy, Spain, Britain): races typically 9:00–10:00 AM ET
• Asian GPs (Japan, China, Singapore): races at 1:00–8:00 AM ET — early morning or overnight
• Americas GPs (Miami, Austin, Brazil, Mexico): races 1:00–4:00 PM ET — prime time
• Las Vegas: race starts around 10:00 PM ET Saturday night
• Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Qatar): races around 8:00–10:00 AM ET

The American rounds are the most convenient — Miami at 1:00 PM ET on a Sunday is perfect viewing. European races mean waking up early but still manageable. Asian GPs are the tough ones — Suzuka at 1:00 AM ET requires dedication.

Always confirm exact times on the GridLine Club calendar before each race weekend.

Missed the race?

The GridLine Club publishes recaps after every race, covering strategy, pit wall decisions, incidents, and driver highlights. To understand how tire strategy works and why a specific team won, our technical analysis breaks it all down.

F1 TV Pro also offers full race replays available within minutes of the checkered flag, plus extended highlights and onboard compilations.

Summary: the right option for every fan

• ABC (free): select races over-the-air, no subscription needed
• ESPN / ESPN+ ($10.99/month): all 24 races + all sessions, Sky Sports commentary
• Disney+ Bundle ($14.99/month): ESPN+ included with Disney+ and Hulu
• F1 TV Pro ($9.99/month): everything live + onboard cameras + team radio + telemetry
• F1 TV Premium: 4K + Multi View + 6 devices