2026 Austrian Grand Prix Timetable Released: FP1 Friday, Race Sunday
Formula 1 has published the full timetable for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. The weekend runs from Friday 26 June to Sunday 28 June. FP1 and FP2 take place on Friday, FP3 and qualifying on Saturday, and the race starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday 28 June. There is no sprint race this weekend.
Full timetable confirmed for Spielberg
Formula 1 has published the complete session schedule for the Formula 1 Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix 2026. The weekend begins on Friday 26 June, with F1 cars hitting the track for the first two Free Practice sessions, before Free Practice 3 and Qualifying take place on Saturday 27 June. [1] The Grand Prix itself is on Sunday 28 June, at 15:00 local time. [2]
The 2026 Austrian GP follows the traditional format of three practice sessions and a qualifying session ahead of the full Grand Prix; there is no sprint race this weekend. [1]
The Red Bull Ring in context
Formula 1 continues its European run and heads to Austria for the eighth race of the season. [4] The Red Bull Ring is set in the Styrian hills at around 700 metres above sea level; it is a very short track that produces some of the most intense qualifying laps on the calendar and offers plenty of overtaking opportunities with three long straights and twisty corners. [4]
The race runs over 71 laps of the 4.326-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. [1] The first and second free practice sessions are on the programme on Friday, followed by the third practice session and qualifying on Saturday. [5] The highlight of the weekend, the Grand Prix, takes place as usual on Sunday. [5]
Championship context heading into Austria
Formula 1's European summer swing continues with the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26 to 28, with all eyes on Lewis Hamilton to see whether he can build on his first victory for Ferrari. [3] Hamilton trails leader Kimi Antonelli by 41 points after the Italian retired in Barcelona following a technical failure on his Mercedes. [3] A further sub-plot is provided by Red Bull returning to Austria for the team's home race. [3]
:::analysis Austria has historically been one of the most consequential weekends of the European summer run, combining a short lap with close championship battles. With the title fight between Antonelli and Hamilton shifting after Barcelona, the Red Bull Ring's compact layout and multiple DRS zones could amplify any performance gap between the frontrunners. The absence of a sprint format means teams have a full three practice sessions to optimise setups before competitive running begins, giving engineers more data ahead of what could be a pivotal qualifying session. :::
Related reading
- [1]Formula 1 Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix 2026 - full timetable (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-20.
- [2]What makes the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix special (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-20.
- [3]Austrian GP 2026: Dates, schedule, weather, UK start time and how to watch (skysports). Accessed 2026-06-20.
- [4]Austrian Grand Prix 2026: Race start time, how to watch, full schedule (espn). Accessed 2026-06-20.
- [5]Formula 1 Spielberg Programme 2026 (redbullring). Accessed 2026-06-20.
- [6]When is the next F1 race? Austrian Grand Prix schedule and details for 2026 (gpfans). Accessed 2026-06-20.