The 2026 Formula 1 season is now underway, and we’re headed into the second race of the year: the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit. If you haven’t heard, Apple TV is the new streaming home of Formula 1 racing. (Even F1 TV Premium, the subscription service that was previously available as a comprehensive hub to watch every race, is part of Apple TV now and is included at no additional cost for Apple subscribers.)
This means that practices and qualifying races, as well as Sunday’s main event, will all be available to watch on Apple TV. Apple promises loads of alternate feeds at every race this weekend too, including a Driver Tracker that offers a bird’s-eye view of the race; real-time telemetry and timing; a mixed onboard feed that automatically switches between onboard cameras; and Podium feeds that dynamically follow the drivers running in P1, P2, and P3 throughout each race. You can catch all the action on the dedicated F1 channel on Apple TV.
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Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
How to watch the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026:
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
Time: 3 a.m. ET
Location: Shanghai International Circuit
TV channel: N/A
Streaming: Apple TV
When is the next F1 Grand Prix 2026?
The Chinese Grand prix is on Sunday, March 15 at 3 a.m. ET. You can also tune in to practices and qualifying races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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F1 Chinese Grand Prix start time:
Unfortunately, thanks to the time difference, the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix will kick off at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 15.
Chinese Grand Prix TV channel
F1 races used to air on ESPN and ESPN2 in the U.S., but Apple TV has signed an exclusive five-year deal to be the U.S. broadcaster of Formula 1 starting this season. That means the Chinese Grand Prix and every other race of the 2026 F1 season will stream live on Apple TV.
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For those without traditional cable, that makes watching F1 much easier. If you aren’t already an Apple TV subscriber and don’t want to shell out for yet another streaming service, we have a guide on how to get Apple TV for free in 2026.
Where to watch the F1 Chinese Grand Prix:
Starting in 2026, F1 races and exclusive programming are now part of Apple TV. Apple TV is the place to watch every Grand Prix live and on demand — including all practice, qualifying, and Sprint sessions, along with races — all season long and it’s all included with an Apple TV subscription.Â
You can get a monthly subscription to Apple TV for $12.99/mo or snag an annual plan for $99, which will give you access to shows like Pluribus, Severance, and The Last Thing He Told Me, plus the entire MLS season, MLB games, and F1 races. And you can try it all out for free with a 7-day trial.
An F1 TV Premium subscription is now included with Apple TV. You can activate your free subscription using your Apple TV credentials and an existing F1 account. F1 TV Premium lets you stream every F1 race live, plus all the practices, qualifying races and pre-race shows. F1 TV is also home to F1’s post-race live shows, analysis, Tech Talks, documentaries and the official F1 archive.
Schedule of events at the Chinese Grand Prix:
All times Eastern
Thursday, March 12
Weekend Warmup: 4:30 a.m.
Friday, March 13
Sprint Qualifying: 3:10 a.m.
Saturday, March 14
Sunday, March 15
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix: Coverage starts at 1:50 a.m., race begins at 3 a.m.
F1 2026 Grand Prix schedule
March 6-8: Australian Grand Prix
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March 13-15: Chinese Grand Prix
March 27-29: Japanese Grand Prix
April 10-12: Bahrain Grand Prix
April 17-19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
May 1-3: Miami Grand Prix
May 22-24: Canadian Grand Prix
June 5-7: Monaco Grand Prix
June 12-14: Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona-Catalunya)
June 26-28: Austrian Grand Prix
July 3-5: British Grand Prix
July 17-19: Belgian Grand Prix
July 24-26: Hungarian Grand Prix
Aug. 21-23: Dutch Grand Prix
Sept. 4-6: Italian Grand Prix
Sept. 11-13: Spanish Grand Prix
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Sept. 24-26: Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Oct. 9-11: Singapore Grand Prix
Oct. 23-25: United States Grand Prix
Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Mexico City Grand Prix
Nov. 6-8: São Paulo Grand Prix
Nov. 19-21: Las Vegas Grand Prix
Nov. 27-29: Qatar Grand Prix
Dec. 4-6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
More ways to get Apple TV:
Eligible T-Mobile subscribers who maintain one qualifying Experience Beyond or Experience More line in good standing are eligible for a discounted Apple TV plan for just $3/month.Â
Customers in the U.S. can save over 30% on regular prices by subscribing to the Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle for $14.99/month, or the ad-free Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus for $19.99/month, through either app or website. (If you’re an existing Apple One subscriber on a Family or Premier plan, you can subscribe to Peacock Premium Plus and receive a special 35% discount.)
This first-of-its-kind bundle offers the best of both services, including award-winning originals, live events and sports, and blockbuster movies. You’ll get shows like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Paper, The Traitors, MLS and MLB games, the NBA, and much more, all through one monthly subscription.
This bundle cannot be purchased on third-party device partners, and the Apple TV subscription (formerly Apple TV+) does not include third-party branded subscription services or content available for rental or purchase in the Apple TV app.