Your Complete Guide to Catching Saturday's F1 Action in Australia

The first day of on-track running at the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix has wrapped, leaving plenty of storylines to unpack heading into qualifying. As teams and drivers prepare for the next phase of competition, here's everything you need to know about how to watch Saturday's crucial sessions. (All times Eastern)

Formula 1

The initial practice session at Albert Park has already generated compelling talking points as Formula 1 kicks off its 2026 campaign down under. With the first round of running now complete, attention turns to what promises to be an intriguing qualifying battle. Fans eager to follow all the action can find comprehensive viewing information below.

The day's schedule features:

8:10pm: Formula 1 Practice 3 – Apple TV

10:10pm: [Additional session information continues]

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Related Regulations

sporting Regulations

Hover over badges for quick summaries, or scroll down for full official text and simplified explanations.

Full Regulation Text

Sporting Regulations

Article B2.4.1

FIA Source

Race Qualifying Session

Chapter: B2

In Simple Terms

Qualifying is the session where drivers compete to determine their starting positions for the race. It normally happens on the second day of a Grand Prix weekend, either 2-3 hours after the final practice session (FP3) or 3-4 hours after the Sprint race, depending on the event format.

Qualifying determines the race grid order - your position in qualifying decides where you start the race
Standard format: held on day two, 2-3 hours after FP3 (free practice 3)
Alternative format: held on day two, 3-4 hours after Sprint race
Timing varies based on whether the weekend includes a Sprint race or follows the traditional format

Official FIA Text

Qualifying determines Race starting grid. Standard Format: second day, 2-3 hours after FP3. Alternative Format: second day, 3-4 hours after Sprint.

qualifyinggrid positionstarting gridqualifying sessionf1 qualifying

2026 Season Regulations

Sporting Regulations

Article B2.1.3

FIA Source

Free Practice Session Classification

Chapter: B2

In Simple Terms

Free Practice sessions are ranked based on each driver's fastest single lap time. The driver with the quickest lap gets first place, the second quickest gets second place, and so on down the grid.

Classification is based solely on fastest lap time achieved during the session
Drivers are ranked from fastest to slowest
Only the single best lap for each driver counts toward the classification
Free Practice results do not affect the actual race grid positions

Official FIA Text

Classification determined by fastest lap time set by each driver, with fastest in first position, second fastest in second position, and so on.

free practiceclassificationfastest lapsession rankingpractice session

2026 Season Regulations

Sporting Regulations

Article B10.1.3

FIA Source

Second day of on track running

Chapter: B

In Simple Terms

On the second day of track running (Saturday), up to ten drivers can spend a maximum of 30 minutes each doing fan activities. Drivers knocked out in Q1 or Q2 must immediately do media interviews after being weighed. The top three qualifying finishers then go through official post-qualifying procedures and attend the press conference.

Maximum 10 drivers can participate in fan engagement activities, limited to 30 minutes each
Q1 and Q2 eliminated drivers must be available for mandatory media interviews immediately after weighing
Top three qualifiers participate in post-qualifying procedures and the official press conference

Official FIA Text

Ten drivers available for fan engagement activities maximum 30 minutes each. Drivers eliminated in Q1/Q2 must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after being weighed. Top three drivers in qualifying participate in post-qualifying procedures and press conference.

fan engagementqualifyingq1 eliminationq2 eliminationmedia interview

2026 Season Regulations