F1 Australian GP: Friday practice schedule and how to watch in Europe
The 2026 F1 season begins with Friday practice for the Australian GP, airing live in Europe during the early morning hours on Sky and ServusTV. The sessions provide the first true look at the competitive hierarchy between Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull under the new regulations.
The 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, forcing European fans into an overnight viewing schedule for Friday's practice sessions. The action offers the first real glimpse of the competitive order under new regulations, with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull under the microscope.
Why it matters:
The opening practice sessions provide the first meaningful data on car performance in genuine race weekend conditions, setting the early narrative for the season. For European viewers, the inconvenient timing highlights the global nature of the sport and the commitment required from its fanbase to follow live action from distant time zones.
The details:
- Session Times (Central European Time): The first practice (FP1) begins at 02:30 CET on Friday, followed by the second session (FP2) at 06:00 CET.
- Broadcasters: In Germany and Austria, Sky holds the primary live broadcast rights. Austrian free-to-air channel ServusTV will also broadcast both Friday sessions live.
- Streaming Options: Viewers can stream the sessions via Sky Go and WOW in Germany. ServusTV offers its stream through ServusTV On. There is no live Swiss TV coverage for Friday's practices.
- Replays: For those not staying up, Sky will show multiple replays throughout Friday, including at 09:30 CET and 11:00 CET.
- Early Season Focus: All eyes will be on the pecking order between Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, offering initial clues about which team has best adapted to the latest technical regulations.
What's next:
Following the Friday sessions, teams will analyze data overnight before final practice and qualifying on Saturday (local time). The early performance indicators from Melbourne will shape expectations and storylines for the opening rounds of what is anticipated to be a highly competitive season. The true test, however, comes with Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race, where reliability and race pace will become critical factors.