{"id":559857,"date":"2026-03-25T14:07:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/559857\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:07:11","slug":"how-to-watch-the-f1-japanese-grand-prix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/559857\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Watch The F1 Japanese Grand Prix"},"content":{"rendered":"

Formula 1 heads to Suzuka this weekend for round three of the 2026 season<\/a>, the Japanese Grand Prix, from March 27 to 29.<\/p>\n

Mercedes kicked off their 2026 campaign in a dominant fashion, having secured one-two finishes in both of the opening rounds.<\/p>\n

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George Russell took the win in the season opener in Melbourne<\/a>, while 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli celebrated his maiden victory in China<\/a>, becoming the second youngest F1 race winner in history just behind Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n

So far Ferrari has been the only team to come close to challenging the Silver Arrows, with Charles Leclerc taking third in the opener while Lewis Hamilton finally scored his first podium finish for the Scuderia in Shanghai – and his first overall since his second-place finish for Mercedes back in 2024 in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\"F1<\/p>\n

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team drivers #12 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Italy) and #63 George Russell (United Kingdom), Scuderia Ferrari HP driver #44 Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom), and Mercedes Race Engineer Peter Bonnington (United Kingdom) stand together on the top step of the podium following the race at the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, round 2 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, at Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China, on March 15, 2026. (Photo by Wan Mikhail Roslan\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

As for reigning champion McLaren, it was not quite the start to the season they were hoping for.<\/p>\n

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Though defending champion Lando Norris managed a fifth-place finish in Melbourne, he couldn\u2019t make the start the following round in Shanghai due to technical problems with his MCL40 car.<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri\u2019s campaign has gotten off to an even more nightmarish start, having been forced to watch both races from the sidelines after crashing on his out lap to the grid in his home grand prix and failing to start the next due to similar issues to his teammate\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Red Bull is also having its own struggles under the new era of regulations, with their star driver Verstappen enduring the worst start to a season since 2018, scoring only eight points in the two opening rounds.<\/p>\n

In Melbourne he managed to climb from 20th all the way up to sixth place before retiring the following race in Shanghai with a car issue only 10 laps away from the checkered flag.<\/p>\n

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Verstappen has not been shy in voicing his displeasure with the new regulations, calling the new way of racing \u201ca joke.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still terrible,\u201d Verstappen said<\/a> after China. \u201cI don\u2019t know, if someone likes this, then you really don\u2019t know what racing is about.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not fun at all. It\u2019s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing. Look at the racing. You are boosting past, then you run out of battery the next straight. They boost past you again. For me, it\u2019s just a joke.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESF1 Standings 2026 After The Chinese Grand PrixBy Yara Elshebiny<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Heading to Suzuka this weekend, teams have one more chance to turn things around before the F1 circus takes a five-week break, resuming with the Miami Grand Prix in May.<\/p>\n

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This comes after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races<\/a> due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, leaving the month of April without a grand prix.<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESF1 Cancels Bahrain And Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Amid Middle East WarBy Yara Elshebiny<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Suzuka Circuit Stats<\/p>\n

Circuit Length: 5.807km (3.608 miles)<\/p>\n

Race Distance: 307.471km (191.054 miles)<\/p>\n

Fastest Lap Time: 1:30.965 (Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 2025)<\/p>\n

Most Wins (Driver): Michael Schumacher (6)<\/p>\n

Most Wins (Constructor): Red Bull (8)<\/p>\n

Most Pole Positions (Driver): Michael Schumacher (8)<\/p>\n

Most Pole Positions (Constructor): Ferrari (10)<\/p>\n

Previous Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)<\/p>\n

F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2026 Schedule<\/p>\n

The third round of the season<\/a> in Suzuka kicks off with Free Practice 1 (FP1) on Friday, March 27, at 11:30 a.m. local time (JST), followed by Free Practice 2 (FP2) later in the day at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Mar. 28, drivers will climb into their cars for the final practice run (FP3) at 11:30 a.m. before they fight for grid positions in qualifying<\/a> at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

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The 53-lap race will get underway at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 29.<\/p>\n

MORE FROM FORBESHow Does Qualifying Work In F1?By Yara Elshebiny<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Free Practice 1 Start Times<\/p>\n

All below start times are on Friday unless stated otherwise.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (EDT): 10:30 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (CDT): 9:30 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (PDT): 7:30 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (MDT): 8:30 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

United Kingdom (GMT): 2:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Central European Time (CET): 3:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (AEDT): 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (AWST): 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Bras\u00edlia, Brazil: 11:30 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

Mexico City, Mexico: 8:30 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 5:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 6:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

China Standard Time (CST): 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Indian Standard Time (IST): 8 a.m.<\/p>\n

Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Free Practice 2 Start Times<\/p>\n

All below start times are on Friday unless stated otherwise.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (EDT): 2 a.m.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (CDT): 1 a.m.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (PDT): 11 p.m. on Thursday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (MDT): 12 a.m.<\/p>\n

United Kingdom (GMT): 6 a.m.<\/p>\n

Central European Time (CET): 7 a.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (ACDT): 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Bras\u00edlia, Brazil: 3 a.m.<\/p>\n

Mexico City, Mexico: 12 a.m.<\/p>\n

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

China Standard Time (CST): 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

Indian Standard Time (IST): 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Free Practice 3 Start Times<\/p>\n

All below start times are on Saturday unless stated otherwise.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (EDT): 10:30 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (CDT): 9:30 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (PDT): 7:30 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (MDT): 8:30 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

United Kingdom (GMT): 2:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Central European Time (CET): 3:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (AEDT): 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (AWST): 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Bras\u00edlia, Brazil: 11:30 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

Mexico City, Mexico: 8:30 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 5:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 6:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

China Standard Time (CST): 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Indian Standard Time (IST): 8 a.m.<\/p>\n

Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Qualifying Start Times<\/p>\n

All below start times are on Saturday unless stated otherwise.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (EDT): 2 a.m.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (CDT): 1 a.m.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (PDT): 11 p.m. on Friday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (MDT): 12 a.m.<\/p>\n

United Kingdom (GMT): 6 a.m.<\/p>\n

Central European Time (CET): 7 a.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (ACDT): 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Bras\u00edlia, Brazil: 3 a.m.<\/p>\n

Mexico City, Mexico: 12 a.m.<\/p>\n

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

China Standard Time (CST): 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

Indian Standard Time (IST): 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Race Start Times<\/p>\n

All below start times are on Sunday unless stated otherwise.<\/p>\n

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United States and Canada (EDT): 1 a.m.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (CDT): 12 a.m.<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (PDT): 10 p.m. on Saturday<\/p>\n

United States and Canada (MDT): 11 p.m. on Saturday<\/p>\n

United Kingdom (BST): 6 a.m.<\/p>\n

Central European Time (CET): 7 a.m.<\/p>\n

Australia (ACDT): 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Bras\u00edlia, Brazil: 2 a.m.<\/p>\n

Mexico City, Mexico: 11 p.m. on Saturday<\/p>\n

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 8 a.m.<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

China Standard Time (CST): 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Indian Standard Time (IST): 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

How To Watch 2026 F1 Japanese Grand Prix<\/p>\n

Fans in the United States can catch the live action of the grand prix on Apple TV, while viewers in the United Kingdom can tune in to Sky Sports for extensive coverage of the weekend, with highlights available for free on Channel 4.<\/p>\n

In select regions, F1 TV Pro subscribers can tune in for live coverage on any device, along with the opportunity to catch up on full session replays and highlights afterwards.<\/p>\n

Below is the broadcast information for some key territories:<\/p>\n

United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports<\/p>\n

Belgium: RTBF, Play Sports<\/p>\n

Australia: Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo<\/p>\n

Canada: RDS, RDS 2, TSN, Noovo<\/p>\n

China: Shanghai TV, Guangdong Television Channel, Tencent<\/p>\n

Germany: Sky Deutschland, RTL<\/p>\n

Mexico: TUDN, Sky Sports, Izzi<\/p>\n

Middle East and Turkey: beIN SPORTS<\/p>\n

Highlights from each day of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix weekend will be available on F1\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Formula 1 heads to Suzuka this weekend for round three of the 2026 season, the Japanese Grand Prix,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":559858,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[49,48,578,576,577,3024,14847,1885,1882,206869,82,127,772,178053],"class_list":{"0":"post-559857","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-formula-1","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-f1","11":"tag-formula-1","12":"tag-formula1","13":"tag-george-russell","14":"tag-japanese-grand-prix","15":"tag-max-verstappen","16":"tag-red-bull","17":"tag-shanghai-international-circuit","18":"tag-sports","19":"tag-united-kingdom","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-united-states-and-canada"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=559857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559857\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/559858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=559857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=559857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=559857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}