F1 is back! How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix live in Australia
Formula 1 is back from its summer break and returns with what is arguably one of the best atmospheres on the calendar. Here's how you can catch all the action.
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is round 14 of the 2026 season, and it's a sprint weekend.
The good news for Aussie fans? The session times aren't too bad.
Here's how to watch it, timings and what's at stake.
How do I watch the Dutch Grand Prix live in Australia?
Every session is live on Kayo Sports and Foxtel, both of which carry the full Fox Sports F1 coverage.
There's no free-to-air option for this one.
Here's a list of the plans available across both streaming platforms before we dive into more details.
There's no free trial available, but new customers can get the Kayo Premium plan for $1 for the first month.
On the flip side, Foxtel offers a 10-day free trial for new customers and a 12-month discount on its Ultimate bundle package, which will save you $468 over the year.
It includes live TV channels, sports, on-demand movies, drama, documentaries and kids' content.
What time is the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix in Australia?
The race weekend runs from Friday 21 August to Sunday 23 August.
The main race starts at 11:00pm AEST on Sunday 23 August.
Because it's a sprint weekend, there's a shorter Saturday-night sprint race and two qualifying sessions to keep an eye on as well.
| Session | Day | Start time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday 21 August | 8:30 PM |
| Sprint Qualifying | Saturday 22 August | 12:30 AM |
| Sprint (24 laps) | Saturday 22 August | 8:00 PM |
| Qualifying | Sunday 23 August | 12:00 AM |
| Race (72 laps) | Sunday 23 August | 11:00 PM |
Why is this the last Dutch Grand Prix?
The Dutch track is dropping off the calendar after 2026 because race promoters decided not to renew their contract, so this will be the last time we see F1 race at Zandvoort those famous banked corners in action.
It's also Max Verstappen's home race, and he'll be keen to finish on a high after a tough year so far.
That's because F1 got one of its biggest rule overhauls in years for 2026.
The cars are lighter and more nimble, the fuel is more sustainable and the engines now split their power almost 50/50 between petrol and electric.
It's shaken up the grid quite a bit, with Mercedes leading the way and Verstappen playing catch-up in sixth.
What are the current F1 championship standings?
The big story of 2026 is Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli's gunning for the title and leads the drivers' championship by 50 points heading into round 14.
Here's how the top 10 line up before the Dutch Grand Prix, according to the official F1 standings:
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 219 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 169 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 160 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 138 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 128 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 109 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 92 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 68 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 43 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 42 |
Lewis Hamilton is second in his Ferrari, while Antonelli's teammate George Russell sits third. Australia's Oscar Piastri is seventh after a rocky start for McLaren under the new regulations.
With a sprint race on Saturday, there are extra points up for grabs this weekend, so the order could look pretty different by the time the chequered flag drops on Sunday night.
Sources
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