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F1 testing 2026 on TV: Channel, schedule and live stream

Your complete guide on how to watch F1 testing on TV and live stream, including full broadcast details.

Max Verstappen, in a blue and red Red Bull F1 car, drives on the track at a testing event in Bahrain.

(Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Published: Saturday, 14 February 2026 at 10:00 am

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Excitement is building for the start of the new Formula 1 season and the final testing event should have fans' pulses racing – with live coverage on offer across all three days.

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It's been a winter of change for F1. Cadillac has arrived as the 11th team on the grid, while cars have been overhauled as a result of rule changes, which should mean the new models are smaller, lighter, and greener.

Significant changes to the cars have meant an extended pre-season schedule, including three testing events. The media and fans were kept out of the private shakedown in Barcelona at the end of January but we have learned plenty about the new cars in Bahrain.

The third and final F1 testing event should be the best of the lot from the fans' perspective, with live coverage of every session on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

It is about more than just putting the cars through their paces. There are no points on offer, but with drivers aiming to post the best times and prove the quality of their new cars, it marks the start of the battle for F1 supremacy in 2026.

RadioTimes.com brings you all the details about how to watch F1 2026 testing.

Is F1 testing on TV and live stream?

Fans can tune into extensive live coverage of the second F1 2026 test event on Sky Sports from Wednesday 18 February to Friday 20 February.

Sky Sports can be added to any Sky TV package for just £20 per month for all nine sports channels, or you can pick up the complete sports package plus Netflix for £35 per month.

Sky Sports customers can live stream testing via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription.

You can also watch the action via NOW with a day membership (£14.99) or month membership (£34.99).

NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via TNT Sports.

Lewis Hamilton, in a red and black Ferrari F1 car, in the pit lane with Ferrari staff around his car in Bahrain.

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)

F1 2026 testing schedule

All UK time.

Second test event

Wednesday 18 February

Live on Sky Sports F1 and NOW

Thursday 19 February

Live on Sky Sports F1 and NOW

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Friday 20 February

Live on Sky Sports F1 and NOW

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Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Ned Holmes, smiling against a lime green background.

Ned Holmes

Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.

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