What time is the Formula 1 2026 Japanese Grand Prix and how can I watch it?

The 2026 Formula 1 season moves onto the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend – and here are the global start times for Sunday’s race.

After an action-packed double header across Australia and China, the drivers and teams will face the challenge of the iconic Suzuka Circuit for Round 3 of the championship.

Head to the RACE HUB or scroll down for more on how and when you can watch the action, along with the global start times for each session.

What time is the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix?

Free Practice 1 will start proceedings on Friday, March 27 at 1130 local time, with Free Practice 2 following at 1500.

Free Practice 3 takes place at 1130 on Saturday, March 28, ahead of Qualifying at 1500 before the Grand Prix itself gets underway at 1400 on Sunday, March 29.

Check out the image below to find all the global start times for Sunday’s race.

How can I watch the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix?

You can enjoy coverage from every session live on F1 TV Pro, which brings fans closer to the action via exclusive features like onboard cameras on all 22 of the drivers’ cars, and access to both Pre-Race and Post-Race Shows.

F1 TV Pro can be streamed easily via Apple TV, Chromecast Generation 2 and above, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. F1 TV Pro is free of ad breaks and available with commentary in six languages.

Fans can also watch via F1 TV Premium, a premier service that invites fans to step into the heart of the action with the ability to watch races in 4K Ultra HD/HDR on up to six different devices, as well as a personalised Multiview feature available on select devices with 26 different feeds to choose from.

Viewers can watch every F1 Grand Prix, F1 Sprint, Qualifying and practice session live in 4K Ultra HD/HDR at home, with F2, F3, F1 ACADEMY and Porsche Supercup sessions also available to watch live on the platform.

Alternatively, live timing will be available on F1.com and the F1 app across every session during the Grand Prix weekend.

Where is the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix taking place?

The Japanese Grand Prix will be held at the Suzuka Circuit, a track that has become much loved by many drivers since its first appearance in 1987.

Suzuka has played host to some memorable moments over the years, including two infamous title-deciding collisions between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

Michael Schumacher holds the record of the most wins at the famous venue, having stood on the top step of the podium on six occasions.

What is the weather forecast in Suzuka?

Conditions currently look favourable at Suzuka throughout the weekend, with cool temperatures and light winds expected on Friday and Saturday.

A similar forecast is in store for Sunday, with sunny conditions expected and a maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.