The 2026 F1 United States Grand Prix runs from Friday, October 23, through Sunday, October 25, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Apple TV is the exclusive home of the weekend’s live coverage in the US, including practice, qualifying and the race.

Round 18 arrives with rather more at stake than another trophy. Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the championship after 17 races and could secure his first world title in Austin, although the mathematics are less simple than merely winning and celebrating.

What time does the US Grand Prix start?

The race begins at 4 p.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. Central and 1 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. The full weekend schedule is:

Friday, October 23

  • Practice 1: 1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT / 10:30 a.m. PT
  • Practice 2: 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. PT

Saturday, October 24

  • Practice 3: 1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT / 10:30 a.m. PT
  • Qualifying: 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. PT

Sunday, October 25

  • Grand Prix: 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. PT

Formula 1 had published its official Practice 1 page by Friday morning, but no classified results were available at that point.

How can US viewers stream the race?

Every US practice session, qualifying session and Grand Prix streams through Apple TV. The service costs $12.99 per month, according to Apple, and new subscribers can receive a seven-day free trial. That differs from the original listing of $14.99 per month, because apparently even streaming prices require close monitoring.

Subscribers can watch through the Apple TV app on supported televisions, streaming devices, phones, tablets and web browsers. Access to Formula 1 coverage is included with the subscription rather than sold as a separate race package.

Apple also says selected alternative broadcasts will stream free on Tubi. It has not presented that option as a full replacement for the complete Apple TV race weekend, so viewers seeking every session will still need the main subscription.

The deal marks Apple’s first season as Formula 1’s exclusive US broadcaster. Apple services chief Eddy Cue called it “the start of a new era for Formula 1 fans in the U.S.” Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said the introduction of new teams, cars, engines and drivers made 2026 “the perfect time” for the partnership.

Can Kimi Antonelli win the title in Austin?

Antonelli has 340 points and leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 102 points. A victory would take the 20-year-old to 365 points and give him his ninth Grand Prix win of the season.

Winning alone, however, would not settle the championship. Reports from Motorsport.com, GrandPrix.com and Speedcafe agree that Antonelli must:

  • Win the United States Grand Prix
  • Have Russell finish ninth or lower
  • Have Lewis Hamilton finish fifth or lower

Antonelli needs to leave Austin at least 125 points clear with five rounds remaining. If those results align, he would clinch the championship one round later than Michael Schumacher managed during his dominant 2002 season.

He would also become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, beating Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 age record by more than three years. Antonelli would be the first Italian to claim the drivers’ championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

If the required combination does not happen, the title race continues to the next round. Given Antonelli’s current advantage, Austin is his first opportunity rather than his last realistic one.