The Austrian Grand Prix start time is set for 1500 local time on Sunday, June 28, when the 71-lap race begins at the Red Bull Ring in Round 8 of the 2026 season. Fans following the weekend also get the full timetable for Friday and Saturday, plus the live viewing options Formula 1 has set out.
Lewis Hamilton and Sunday
Lewis Hamilton arrives after a maiden win for Ferrari in Barcelona-Catalunya, a result that has loosened Kimi Antonelli’s grip on the Drivers’ Championship slightly. Hamilton’s line, “I don't give up,” fits the timing of this weekend, with Sunday’s race now fixed and the title picture already shifting before the first car turns a wheel in Austria.
Red Bull Ring schedule
Free Practice 1 starts at 1330 local time on Friday, June 26, and Free Practice 2 follows at 1700 the same day. Saturday opens with Free Practice 3 at 1230 local time, then Qualifying at 1600. Sunday closes the weekend with the 71-lap Grand Prix at 1500 local time.
The Red Bull Ring has its own pull in this part of Austria. The circuit was originally built as the Osterreichring in 1969, Hermann Tilke oversaw a complete rebuild in late 1995, and it hosted its first race in 1996 after becoming the A1-Ring. The venue dropped off the calendar after 2003 before returning in the summer of 2014.
Formula 1 viewing options
Formula 1 says fans can watch every session live on F1 TV Pro in selected countries, with streaming available through Apple TV, Chromecast Generation 2 and above, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. F1 TV Pro carries commentary in six languages and runs without ad breaks. F1 TV Premium adds 4K Ultra HD/HDR on up to six devices, plus a personalised Multiview feature on select devices with 26 different feeds.
Live timing is available on F1.com and the F1 app across the whole weekend, so viewers can track the session flow even if they are not using the live video feed. Max Verstappen adds another layer to the weekend: he owns four pole positions and four race wins at the Red Bull Ring, and the venue remains a regular draw for his Dutch support. Warm, dry conditions are expected throughout the weekend, with Sunday’s maximum forecast set at 31.5 degrees Celsius.
