Summary
- Daylight saving begins on Sunday, 4 October, in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
- MotoGP starts at 4pm AEDT and F1 at 6pm AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne.
- Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not change their clocks, so their race times differ.
Australian motorsport fans need to account for the start of daylight saving before Sunday’s MotoGP and Formula 1 races. In Sydney and Melbourne, the Japanese Grand Prix begins at 4pm AEDT, followed by the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at 6pm AEDT on 4 October.
The clocks move forward in participating states and territories early on Sunday, changing the time difference with Japan and Malaysia. Viewers using Friday or Saturday’s Australian conversions should therefore check the updated Sunday schedule before setting an alarm or planning their afternoon.
Both races have important championship implications. Marc Márquez can overturn Jorge Martín’s seven-point MotoGP lead at Motegi, while Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton share the front row at Sepang, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli starting third.
When do the clocks change in Australia?
Daylight saving begins on Sunday, 4 October 2026. New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory move from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Australian Eastern Daylight Time, with clocks advancing from 2am to 3am.
South Australia also advances its clocks by one hour, moving to Australian Central Daylight Time. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight saving, so their clocks remain unchanged.
The change takes place before either race. Sunday’s viewing times in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide must therefore use their daylight-saving time zones.
F1 and MotoGP race times across Australia
Both races take place on Sunday, 4 October. The table shows the scheduled race starts, rather than the beginning of television coverage.
| Australian city | Time zone | Japanese MotoGP race | Bahrain GP in Malaysia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | AEDT | 4pm | 6pm |
| Melbourne | AEDT | 4pm | 6pm |
| Canberra | AEDT | 4pm | 6pm |
| Hobart | AEDT | 4pm | 6pm |
| Brisbane | AEST | 3pm | 5pm |
| Adelaide | ACDT | 3:30pm | 5:30pm |
| Darwin | ACST | 2:30pm | 4:30pm |
| Perth | AWST | 1pm | 3pm |
Schedules remain subject to changes by the organisers. Broadcasters may begin their programmes before the race starts.
MotoGP begins two hours before Formula 1 in every Australian time zone. That gives viewers a straightforward afternoon sequence, although delays or interruptions could affect how the two events fit together.
Why are the times different from Saturday?
Japan and Malaysia do not change their clocks for this weekend. The difference comes from Australia’s move to daylight saving in participating states and territories.
For example, Saturday’s MotoGP Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix both begin at 4pm on Sydney’s clock, even though their Japanese start times differ: the Sprint began at 3pm in Japan, while Sunday’s race starts at 2pm.
At Sepang, Saturday qualifying began at 6pm AEST in Sydney, and Sunday’s race begins at 6pm AEDT. Those matching Australian clock times also mask different local starts in Malaysia.
AEST and AEDT are different time zones. Checking the abbreviation alongside the hour helps avoid applying Saturday’s conversion to Sunday’s programme.
Where to watch F1 and MotoGP in Australia
Australian viewers can watch both championships through Fox Sports on Foxtel or stream the coverage through Kayo Sports, with the appropriate subscription. Check each provider’s programme guide for channel allocation and the beginning of pre-race coverage.
The Formula 1 race at Sepang starts at 3pm in Malaysia, equivalent to 6pm AEDT. The Bahrain GP television and streaming guide provides further viewing information.
The MotoGP race begins at 2pm in Japan, equivalent to 4pm AEDT. Viewers can also use MotoGP VideoPass for live coverage and replays, subject to subscription availability, as explained in the Japanese GP viewing guide.
What is at stake on Sunday?
Marc Márquez trails Jorge Martín by seven points after winning Saturday’s Sprint. A Márquez victory with Martín third or lower would put the Ducati rider ahead in the championship, making Motegi a potentially decisive afternoon in the battle for the lead.
At Sepang, Verstappen starts ahead of Hamilton and Antonelli. Tyre degradation and the possibility of multiple pit stops add uncertainty to a race in which Mercedes is seeking a recovery after a difficult qualifying session.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from 2–4 October, to Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
MotoGP continues this weekend, from 2–4 October, in Japan. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Motegi.
FAQ
What time is the F1 race in Australia on Sunday?
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia starts at 6pm AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday, 4 October. It begins at 5pm in Brisbane, 5:30pm in Adelaide, 4:30pm in Darwin and 3pm in Perth.
