The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix has already taken place. The Shanghai weekend ran from Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 15, 2026, with the race starting at 3 a.m. EDT on Sunday. In the United States, Apple TV was the exclusive Formula 1 broadcaster for the 2026 season, offering live coverage and on-demand replays of every session. Kimi Antonelli won for Mercedes, ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Here is the original schedule, the U.S. viewing information, the weekend format, and the replay and highlights options now that the event is complete.
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How to watch the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in the U.S.
U.S. viewers watched the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix on Apple TV. Apple’s 2026 Formula 1 agreement made Apple TV the exclusive U.S. home of F1, replacing ESPN as the live broadcaster.
The Apple TV service carried every major session live and on demand, including:
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- Practice
- Sprint qualifying
- The Sprint
- Grand Prix qualifying
- The Chinese Grand Prix
- Full-session replays
- Highlights
- The shorter Race in 30 condensed version
Apple announced a price of $12.99 per month and a seven-day free trial for new subscribers in its March 5, 2026 launch information. Subscription prices, trial eligibility, and catalog availability can change, so check the current Apple TV offer before subscribing.
Apple TV coverage was available through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, supported smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and the web. “Apple TV” here means Apple’s streaming service; you do not necessarily need an Apple TV 4K device.
For additional F1 feeds and series coverage
In the U.S., F1 TV Premium remained available through an Apple TV subscription at no additional cost. It provided additional F1 feeds and access to related championship content, including Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy, and Porsche Supercup, through the F1 TV app on supported Apple devices.
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This is the better option for viewers who want more than the standard television presentation. Availability and supported-device requirements should be checked in the F1 TV app before relying on a particular feed.
What about ESPN?
ESPN was the previous U.S. F1 rights holder. It was not the 2026 U.S. live broadcaster for the Chinese Grand Prix. Apple TV held the exclusive U.S. Formula 1 rights for the 2026 season.
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2026 Chinese Grand Prix schedule
The Chinese Grand Prix was a Sprint weekend, so the event used a different session order from a conventional Grand Prix weekend. The table below preserves the original schedule in Shanghai local time, UTC, and the two most commonly requested U.S. time zones.
Shanghai was eight hours ahead of UTC during the event. The U.S. times below reflect Eastern Daylight Time and Pacific Daylight Time.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday, March 13 | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | 3:30–4:30 a.m. | Thursday, March 12, 11:30 p.m.–Friday, March 13, 12:30 a.m. EDT | Thursday, March 12, 8:30–9:30 p.m. PDT |
| Sprint qualifying | Friday, March 13 | 3:30–4:14 p.m. | 7:30–8:14 a.m. | Friday, March 13, 3:30–4:14 a.m. EDT | Friday, March 13, 12:30–1:14 a.m. PDT |
| Sprint | Saturday, March 14 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | 3–4 a.m. | Friday, March 13, 11 p.m.–Saturday, March 14, midnight EDT | Friday, March 13, 8–9 p.m. PDT |
| Qualifying | Saturday, March 14 | 3–4 p.m. | 7–8 a.m. | Saturday, March 14, 3–4 a.m. EDT | Saturday, March 14, midnight–1 a.m. PDT |
| Grand Prix | Sunday, March 15 | 3 p.m. start | 7 a.m. start | Sunday, March 15, 3 a.m. EDT | Sunday, March 15, midnight PDT |
The key U.S. viewing time was 3 a.m. EDT on Sunday. For Pacific viewers, the race began at midnight PDT. The Sprint was also unusual for Eastern viewers: it began at 11 p.m. on Friday night and finished around midnight Saturday morning.
How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix after the race
Full race and session replays
Apple TV was the primary U.S. destination for the full Chinese Grand Prix replay, along with replays of practice, Sprint qualifying, the Sprint, and qualifying. The service also offered a condensed Race in 30 version for viewers who want the main action without watching the complete broadcast.
Do not assume that a particular replay will remain available indefinitely. Apple’s catalog and replay terms can change, so search for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix inside the Apple TV app or on the Apple TV website before subscribing specifically for this event.
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Official highlights
Formula 1 published an official 2026 Chinese Grand Prix race-highlights video on March 15, 2026. Official coverage also included Sprint highlights, qualifying highlights, onboard footage, and team-radio content.
Highlights are the most practical option if you only want the result and major incidents. They are not a substitute for the full broadcast if you want the complete strategy, radio exchanges, pit stops, or every lap.
2026 Chinese Grand Prix preview
A Sprint weekend in Shanghai
China was the second round of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the first Sprint weekend of the year. The format meant that there was only one traditional practice session before Sprint qualifying. The Sprint then took place on Saturday morning, followed by the main qualifying session for Sunday’s Grand Prix later that afternoon.
That compressed format reduced the amount of practice time available for teams to tune their cars. It also made the opening sessions more important because setup decisions had to be made with less opportunity to test changes on track.
Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai International Circuit is a 5.451-kilometre track. The scheduled Grand Prix distance was 56 laps, subject to Formula 1’s normal two-hour race limit.
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The race’s early U.S. start was caused by the circuit’s local afternoon start time. At 3 p.m. in Shanghai, it was 3 a.m. in the U.S. Eastern time zone and midnight on the U.S. West Coast.
The 2026 technical reset
The Chinese Grand Prix was one of the first races held under Formula 1’s major 2026 technical regulation changes. The new-era cars were described as approximately 30 kilograms lighter, while their power units moved toward an approximately 50/50 split between internal-combustion and electric power. The regulations also introduced fully sustainable fuel.
Those figures describe the 2026 regulations, not a race-specific performance result. They provide the technical context for the weekend, but they should not by themselves be treated as proof that one team or driver had a particular advantage in Shanghai.
An expanded 2026 grid
The 2026 field expanded to 11 teams and 22 cars. Audi entered as a works team, while Cadillac joined as a new entrant. Both developments were important season context, although neither should be described as decisive in the Chinese Grand Prix without separate race-specific evidence.
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Spoiler: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix result
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix for Mercedes after 56 laps in a time of 1:33:15.607. It was the breakthrough Formula 1 victory for Antonelli.
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- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes — 1:33:15.607
- George Russell, Mercedes — +5.515 seconds
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari — +25.267 seconds
- Charles Leclerc
- Oliver Bearman
- Pierre Gasly
Russell completed a Mercedes one-two, while Hamilton took third for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Oliver Bearman and Pierre Gasly.
Best option based on what you want to watch
| Your goal | Best route | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Watch the entire race | Apple TV | Full U.S. broadcast replay, subject to current catalog availability |
| Watch every 2026 Chinese GP session | Apple TV | Practice, Sprint qualifying, Sprint, qualifying, and the Grand Prix on demand |
| See the race quickly | Apple TV’s Race in 30 | A shorter version focused on the principal race action |
| See the main moments for free | Official Formula 1 highlights | Race highlights, plus separate Sprint, qualifying, onboard, and radio videos when available |
| Get extra feeds and support-series coverage | F1 TV Premium through Apple TV | Additional F1 feeds and selected F2, F3, F1 Academy, and Porsche Supercup content |
Availability outside the United States is not covered by the U.S.-focused broadcast information above. Viewers in other countries should check the Formula 1 broadcaster listed for their territory rather than assuming that Apple TV has the same rights everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?
The event took place at Shanghai International Circuit from Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 15, 2026. The Grand Prix was run on Sunday, March 15.
What time did the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix start in the U.S.?
The race started at 3 a.m. EDT and midnight PDT on Sunday, March 15. The local Shanghai start time was 3 p.m., or 7 a.m. UTC.
Who won the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli won for Mercedes in 1:33:15.607. George Russell finished second and Lewis Hamilton finished third.
Was ESPN broadcasting the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in the U.S.?
No. Apple TV became Formula 1’s exclusive U.S. broadcaster for the 2026 season. ESPN was the previous U.S. rights holder.
Can I still watch a replay of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?
Apple TV was the U.S. source for full-session and race replays, while Formula 1 published official highlights. Catalog availability can change, so search for the event in the relevant app before subscribing.
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The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix is finished, but U.S. viewers can look for the full race and session replays on Apple TV, with Race in 30 available as a shorter option. Formula 1’s official highlights are the quickest way to revisit the weekend. Kimi Antonelli won the 56-lap race, leading a Mercedes one-two ahead of George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton third for Ferrari.
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