2026 F1 United States GP: times and how to watch

Qualifying for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix starts this Saturday, October 24, at 4pm in Austin (CDT, UTC−5). The race begins on Sunday, October 25, at 3pm in Austin. The official list names Apple TV in the United States, TV Globo and sportv in Brazil, DAZN in Spain, and Canal+ in France. Since schedules can vary, viewers should confirm local listings before each session.

Qualifying times

The grid-setting session is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, from 4pm to 5pm Austin time. The city is five hours behind UTC, according to the official weekend timetable.

The converted start times are:

• Austin: Saturday, October 24, at 4pm (CDT, UTC−5)
• US Eastern Time: Saturday at 5pm (EDT, UTC−4)
• US Pacific Time: Saturday at 2pm (PDT, UTC−7)
• Brasília: Saturday at 6pm (UTC−3)
• Mainland Spain and France: Saturday at 11pm (CEST, UTC+2)

Ahead of qualifying, third practice began at 12:30pm in Austin. The official event page records Lewis Hamilton first in that session with a 1m34.893s lap, followed by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. That is a practice result and does not determine the starting grid.

Race times

The Grand Prix starts on Sunday, October 25, at 3pm in Austin. It is scheduled for 56 laps or a maximum of 120 minutes, covering a stated total distance of 308.432 kilometres.

• Austin: Sunday, October 25, at 3pm (CDT, UTC−5)
• US Eastern Time: Sunday at 4pm (EDT, UTC−4)
• US Pacific Time: Sunday at 1pm (PDT, UTC−7)
• Brasília: Sunday at 5pm (UTC−3)
• Mainland Spain and France: Sunday at 9pm (CET, UTC+1)

The European time difference between Saturday and Sunday is intentional: mainland Spain and France end daylight saving time on October 25. The US change has not yet taken place, so EDT and PDT remain in effect on Sunday.

How to watch in each territory

Formula 1’s official broadcast list names Apple TV in the USA, TV Globo and sportv in Brazil, DAZN in Spain and Andorra, and Canal+ in France. The page advises fans to consult local listings for precise television coverage.

F1 also says every session can be watched live through F1 TV Pro in selected countries. Availability should not be carried over from one market to another. Check the official page and the service offered in your territory before subscribing or making viewing plans; the cited source does not specify a secondary channel, package, price, or free access here.

For fans who prefer data to video, the official timing and viewing guide confirms live timing on F1.com and the F1 app throughout every session. Live timing and video coverage are separate services.

The sporting context in Austin

The event is round 18 of the 2026 season. According to F1’s official preview, published October 19, Max Verstappen arrived in Austin after winning the Singapore Grand Prix and sat fourth in the championship. Kimi Antonelli led the standings by 102 points, but the source does not identify Verstappen as the driver directly trailing by that margin.

The weekend also features F1 Academy, returning to the Circuit of the Americas for the first time since 2023. Its Feature Race is scheduled for noon local time on Sunday, before the F1 drivers’ parade at 1pm.

The race circuit

The Circuit of the Americas, commonly called COTA, is 5.513 kilometres long and hosted its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2012. F1 compares Turns 3 through 6 with sections at Silverstone and Suzuka, while Turns 12 through 15 recall Hockenheim’s stadium section. The uphill approach to the broad first corner is among the layout’s most recognisable features.

Historical images available through Wikimedia Commons show the construction and physical development of the complex, but they do not document its condition in 2026. Any timetable changes should be checked against Formula 1’s official schedule.