The 2026 F1 calendar moves on to the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend and US fans can watch all the action live with a FREE option as well.

The wild new Madring circuit hosts the race for the first time in the suburbs of Madrid, and you should expect a ton of thrills and spills.

Apple TV is the new stateside rights holder for F1 in 2026, after replacing ESPN in a five-year deal worth a staggering $750million.

ESPN typically took the Sky Sports broadcast feed for its own coverage until Apple outbid them for the new rights cycle, but viewers can now choose between the Sky Sports crew and the F1 TV feed, shown as the ‘main’ feed on Apple. There are also onboard cameras for all 22 cars, a data tracker and a track map to enjoy during the live sessions.

Here’s how you can watch the action unfold in Madrid this weekend at no expense via the streaming service’s free trial option.

MADRING CIRCUIT GUIDE: Why F1’s newest track is going to be WILD this weekend

How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix for free

US F1 fans can make use of a seven-day free trial with Apple TV and watch Spanish Grand Prix weekend for no extra cost. To sign up to Apple TV, click here.

Please note if you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

What time does the F1 Spanish Grand Prix start?

The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix starts at 3pm local time on Sunday September 13 (9am Eastern, 8am Central, 6am Pacific).

How much does F1 cost on Apple TV?

The cost is $12.99 per month with that seven-day free trial available for new subscribers.

Where can I watch Apple TV?

The 2026 season is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro and Mac. It can also be viewed via popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others; Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices; Chromecast with Google TV; PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles; and at tv.apple.com.

F1 presenters on Apple TV

On the ‘main’ F1 TV feed, presenter Laura Winter will be live from the paddock with former IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe, Lawrence Barretto, and Chris Medland. They’ll be joined by former W Series race winner Alice Powell and presenter Ariana Bravo, all returning from 2025.

Alex Jacques takes the lead on race commentary with former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, with Ruth Buscombe, David Coulthard, Davide Valsecchi, Alex Brundle and Sam Collins all contributing.

There are a couple of new additions as well for 2026 – namely Juan Pablo Montoya (one of the very few drivers to win races in F1, IndyCar and NASCAR) and presenter Betty Glover.

READ MORE: Where do F1 drivers live, and why so many choose Monaco?

Related

2026 has been a troubled F1 season so far for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari insider Rob Smedley believes Lewis Hamilton is a big reason why.

The 28-year-old Leclerc has really struggled to live up to expectations after signing a new multi-year deal with the Scuderia, and trails team-mate Hamilton by 36 points as he sits fifth in the current Driver’s standings.

The Monegasque is brilliantly fast – of that there is no question – but an error-strewn campaign this year has left him playing second fiddle to Hamilton at Maranello. At least in terms of race results.

His latest miserable moment came at Monza last Sunday when he crashed heavily at the Parabolica on Lap 2, ending his afternoon with a massive impact.

That devastating moment came just after Charles and Lewis had made contact on Lap 1, an incident for which Leclerc has accepted full responsibility.

Leclerc says he is okay from a physical perspective after that terrifying crash, but former Ferrari race engineer Smedley believes he is struggling with the mental pressure of being Hamilton’s team-mate.

Why Leclerc is struggling in 2026 – Smedley analysis

While Hamilton has delivered on a regular basis in 2026, Leclerc by contrast has been inconsistent and prone to errors, a point Smedley was keen to emphasise.

Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast, he explained: “You can’t discount what they did at the start of the season – they came out the box, they had a good car, and Lewis was delivering and is still delivering.

“Charles is up and down, but I’m fairly convinced that is the psychological pressure of having somebody as good as Lewis next to him, or a resurgent Lewis next to him.”

That big moment in Monza was not Leclerc’s first high-profile crash this season – first he clipped the wall in Miami, then crashed twice in Monaco and also in qualifying in Barcelona. This should not be the form of a man who has been in the sport for almost a decade.

F1 HEADLINES: Ferrari boss rejects Hamilton request as Leclerc could miss Spanish Grand Prix

Leclerc crashes not the form of an F1 veteran

“He’s not having a great season by Charles Leclerc’s standards,” continued Smedley.

“He’s a good driver. How many seasons has Charles been in F1 now? 10? You make a decision on a rookie that is very fast and crashes a lot. Not on a guy who has been in F1 five or 10 years.”

Smedley’s colleague – former F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer – emphasised how Hamilton’s mind games can impact a team-mate. Sometimes very directly.

Hamilton is ‘really good’ at mind games

“Lewis is really good at the psychological games,” he claimed.

“[Nico] Rosberg used to like to kick the soccer ball around before the start of the race – everyone does different things. Probably relaxed him, got his reactions sharp.

“And guess what Lewis used to do, used to hide the ball.”

Leclerc is expected to be back in the Ferrari this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, though he will be monitored for any lingering impact from that Monza crash.

READ MORE: Charles Leclerc could miss Spanish GP, faces ‘hardest return in sports’ with FIA health exam

READ MORE: Ferrari F1 boss rejects Lewis Hamilton request after showdown talks

Related

Max Verstappen has revealed his ‘bucket list’ races, after competing in the Nurburgring 24 Hours showpiece earlier this year.

The Red Bull F1 star has talked extensively about racing outside of the series in which he’s a four-time world champion, and spends much of his free time sim racing with his friends.

Verstappen has now told BBC Sport that he has hopes for an extensive schedule outside of F1 at some point in his career, while also revealing that he’s discussed the possibility of doing one of the world’s most iconic races with a fellow F1 star.

Fernando Alonso has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice in as many attempts, victorious alongside Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in both 2018 and 2019, and Verstappen has now admitted that the pair have discussed teaming up for the most famous endurance race on the planet.

F1 HEADLINES: Ferrari confirm Monza inquest as Lewis Hamilton puts his boss on the hotseat

Verstappen: Alonso experience could work at Le Mans

Asked for his bucket list races beyond returning to the Nurburgring in a winning car, he said: “All the endurance races. Eventually, of course also Hypercar [the world endurance championship]. I don’t want to rush it. I want to do it in the right environment. On my terms. And competitive.”

Pressed on whether talk that he wants to enter Le Mans with two-time world champion Alonso, he said: “We’ve talked about it. I mean, look at Fernando. He’s 45 and he’s still flying.

“Especially for Le Mans, with his experience, it could be a good option. It needs to fit our schedules. It needs to make sense. It needs to be on my terms. And there needs to be a real chance to go there and win it.”

Verstappen has committed to running in F1 through the 2030 season with his new Red Bull contract and, asked what gave him the motivation to continue despite his public criticism of the current regulation package and new breed of cars, he answered: “Hoping that it will be better in the future.

“Accepting where we are at the moment. Still the love for the sport. Not at the moment the driving. But the love for the sport.

“I love competition, naturally. I just hope that in the coming years, towards 2030, it can only get better. And to start to make the best of it, because these are the rules for the next four or five years.”

READ MORE: Ferrari have blown it again, only Horner can fix this mess and the Hamilton problem

READ MORE: Honda promise ‘big step’ for Aston Martin engine and it could be crucial to Fernando Alonso’s F1 future

Related