Sky Sports packages - the cheapest way to watch F1 in 2026

The 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off on March 6 with the Australian Grand Prix happening this Sunday. This year, there’ll be 24 Grand Prix weekends with the finale in Abu Dhabi scheduled for the weekend of the 4th of December.  

Here in the UK, Sky TV has F1 exclusivity, meaning you need access to Sky Sports to watch the live races. Other channels might offer highlights post-race, but you won’t get the live experience without access to Sky Sports.  

This means you either need to take out a Sky Sports membership (and there’s a bunch of options depending on your needs) or head to the pub to watch the races live where possible.  

Formula 1: Sky Sports packages – what options are available in 2026?  

Here are some of the Sky Sports packages you could explore if you’re looking to watch F1 this year.  

Sky Sports F1 - £15 per month on a rolling contract  

Sky Sports is currently running a Sky Sports F1 offer for those who already have a Sky TV subscription – you can watch every F1 practice, qualifier, and race life for £15 per month on a 31-day rolling contract. You need to provide 31 days’ notice to cancel when you’re ready to do so.  

This is a great option if you’re planning on watching multiple races and you already have a Sky TV package. Assuming three weekends of races per month, and assuming you watch the Qualifying rounds and Grand Prix, you’d be spending around £2.50 to watch each event.  

Now Sports Fully Flexible – £34.99 per month and cancel anytime  

With Now Sports (Fully Flexible), you get access to every Sky Sports channel allowing you to watch all the F1 races. You can cancel anytime as you’re not on a contract, and you don’t need to have other memberships to get access.  

Assuming around three weekends of races per month, and assuming you’re interested in watching the Qualifying rounds as well as the Grand Prix, you’re paying about £6 per race with this option. It works out even cheaper if you’re planning on watching all the coverage.  

Now Sports Day Membership - £14.99 per day  

This membership starts as soon as you buy it and lasts for exactly 24 hours. It’s really only a good option if you’re specifically interested in watching one day of races each month. Otherwise, it quickly adds up and can mean you’re paying in the region of £15 just to watch one Grand Prix race.  

Is it cheaper to watch the races at the pub?  

The average cost of a pint is around £5.25 in the UK as of 2026, more in London. If you go for a lime and soda, it can work out cheaper, of course. But, if you’re headed to the pub to watch the Grand Prix, you’re probably headed there with friends. So, between you, you’ll easily spend at least the equivalent of a day’s pass for Now Sports (which is also the most expensive option we found if you’re planning on watching F1 at home).  

Realistically, it’s probably not cheaper to watch the races at the pub, unless you’re planning on surviving on lime and sodas and unless you're really only interested in specific Grand Prix events.  

Also, a lot of the races take place early in the morning when most pubs would be shut anyway. The Australian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday at 4AM, for context.  

That said, the pub can be a fun place to soak in the atmosphere and watch the races over drinks with a group of friends.  

Looking at the schedules, a pub trip to watch the Grand Prix races is really only realistic for some of the events, and definitely not the kick off in Australia. However, here are the races you could watch at your local over the next few months:  

• Bahrain – 12th of April at 16:00  

• Saudi Arabia – 19th of April at 18:00  

• Miami – 3rd of May at 21:00 

• Canada – 24th of May at 21:00  

• Monaco – 7th of June at 14:00  

• Barcelona – 11th of June at 14:00  

When does Formula 1 2026 kick off?  

Formula 1 2026 kicks off in Australia tomorrow (Friday 6th March). There’ll be three practice sessions held over the 6th and 7th of March, followed by a Qualifying round which starts at 5am GMT on Saturday the 7th of March. The actual Grand Prix event begins on Sunday at 4am GMT.  

What’s the cheapest way to watch Formula 1 in the UK in 2026?  

If you have an existing Sky TV membership, then the Sky Sports F1 package is probably the cheapest way to watch the races. It works out to an extra £15 per month, but you get access to all the F1 coverage and you can cancel with 31 days’ notice when you’ve had your fill.  

If you don’t have an existing Sky TV membership, and you want to watch a few of the races each month, then you’ll probably want to take a look at the Now Sports Fully Flexible option which works out to around £35 per month. It’s not cheap, but it lets you cancel after the races are over in December.