News Summary
- FP1 at the United States Grand Prix begins at 12:30 local time in Austin on Friday, October 23, followed by FP2 at 16:00.
- British fans can watch at 18:30 and 22:00 BST, while the sessions begin at 23:00 Friday and 02:30 Saturday in India.
- Colton Herta will replace Sergio Pérez at Cadillac during FP1, while Ferrari evaluates its final major aerodynamic package of 2026.
Formula 1 returns to the track at Circuit of The Americas on Friday, October 23, with the first free-practice session for the 2026 United States Grand Prix beginning at 12:30 local time in Austin, followed by a second session at 16:00 as Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren prepare for the 18th round of the championship.
For American viewers, FP1 begins at 13:30 Eastern and 10:30 Pacific, while FP2 starts at 17:00 Eastern and 14:00 Pacific. In the United Kingdom, the sessions are scheduled for 18:30 and 22:00 BST, with Indian fans able to watch at 23:00 Friday and 02:30 Saturday IST.
The opening day will also feature American driver Colton Herta in Cadillac’s car, replacing Sergio Pérez during FP1, while Ferrari begins evaluating the final major aerodynamic update prepared for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Austin is not a sprint weekend in 2026, meaning teams have two hours of practice on Friday and another hour on Saturday before qualifying.
What time is F1 FP1 at Austin?
The first free-practice session takes place on Friday, October 23, from 12:30 to 13:30 Central Daylight Time.
| Country / City | Local date | FP1 start |
|---|---|---|
| United States — Austin (CDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 12:30 |
| United States — New York (EDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 13:30 |
| United States — Chicago (CDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 12:30 |
| United States — Denver (MDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 11:30 |
| United States — Los Angeles (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 10:30 |
| Canada — Toronto (EDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 13:30 |
| Canada — Vancouver (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 10:30 |
| United Kingdom — London (BST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 18:30 |
| Ireland — Dublin (IST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 18:30 |
| Brazil — Brasília (BRT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 14:30 |
| South Africa — Johannesburg (SAST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 19:30 |
| India — New Delhi (IST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 23:00 |
| Singapore (SGT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 01:30 |
| Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur (MYT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 01:30 |
| Australia — Perth (AWST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 01:30 |
| Australia — Brisbane (AEST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 03:30 |
| Australia — Sydney / Melbourne (AEDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 04:30 |
| New Zealand — Auckland (NZDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 06:30 |
All times refer to the scheduled beginning of FP1, not the start of television coverage.
What time is F1 FP2 at Austin?
The second free-practice session begins at 16:00 local time on Friday, approximately two and a half hours after FP1 finishes.
| Country / City | Local date | FP2 start |
|---|---|---|
| United States — Austin (CDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 16:00 |
| United States — New York (EDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 17:00 |
| United States — Chicago (CDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 16:00 |
| United States — Denver (MDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 15:00 |
| United States — Los Angeles (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 14:00 |
| Canada — Toronto (EDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 17:00 |
| Canada — Vancouver (PDT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 14:00 |
| United Kingdom — London (BST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 22:00 |
| Ireland — Dublin (IST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 22:00 |
| Brazil — Brasília (BRT) | Fri, Oct 23 | 18:00 |
| South Africa — Johannesburg (SAST) | Fri, Oct 23 | 23:00 |
| India — New Delhi (IST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 02:30 |
| Singapore (SGT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 05:00 |
| Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur (MYT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 05:00 |
| Australia — Perth (AWST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 05:00 |
| Australia — Brisbane (AEST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 07:00 |
| Australia — Sydney / Melbourne (AEDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 08:00 |
| New Zealand — Auckland (NZDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 10:00 |
FP2 is scheduled to last 60 minutes.
The second session is particularly important for evaluating race pace because teams can complete longer runs, compare tyre compounds and analyse degradation before finalising their setups.
Colton Herta replaces Sergio Pérez during FP1
One of Friday’s main attractions will be Colton Herta’s fourth official Formula 1 practice appearance of 2026, this time in front of an American audience.
The Cadillac development driver will replace Sergio Pérez for the opening session before the Mexican returns to the MAC-26 for FP2.
Herta has already participated in practice sessions at Barcelona, Budapest and Monza, gaining experience with Cadillac’s machinery while continuing his Formula 2 campaign.
The Austin appearance carries additional significance because the American won his first IndyCar race at Circuit of The Americas in 2019.
Herta will take over Pérez’s Cadillac for Friday’s opening practice, completing another stage of his development programme.
The precise moment when Herta leaves the garage will depend on Cadillac’s running plan, but the session begins at 12:30 local time.
The complete guide to Herta’s Austin appearance includes international start times and information about his Cadillac programme.
Ferrari prepares to evaluate final SF-26 upgrade
Ferrari will use Friday’s sessions to evaluate its final major aerodynamic package of the season.
The Italian manufacturer has prepared a revised floor, modifications to the sidepods and changes to the upper bodywork in an attempt to improve aerodynamic efficiency and consistency.
The update arrives after Ferrari demonstrated improved competitiveness in Malaysia and Singapore, although Red Bull has also made substantial progress.
The final Ferrari upgrade package is centred on the SF-26’s floor, with Hamilton and Leclerc expected to provide feedback during the practice programme.
Austin’s combination of high-speed corners, long straights and slower sections makes it a demanding venue for evaluating aerodynamic performance.
The opening sector places particular emphasis on front-end response, while the long back straight and slower corners provide opportunities to assess drag, acceleration and traction.
Friday’s sessions will help Ferrari determine whether the latest changes offer sufficient improvements before qualifying.
Mercedes and Red Bull prepare for another title battle
Mercedes arrives in Austin leading both championships, with Kimi Antonelli holding a 102-point advantage over George Russell.
The Italian has his first mathematical opportunity to secure the Drivers’ Championship on Sunday, although he requires a particular combination of results.
Antonelli must win in Austin, with Russell ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower to become champion with five rounds remaining.
Red Bull has meanwhile recovered strongly since Azerbaijan, with Verstappen winning the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix.
The Dutchman will attempt to secure a third consecutive victory and continue Red Bull’s pursuit of McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship.
Friday’s practice sessions will provide the first indication of whether Mercedes remains the benchmark or whether Red Bull and Ferrari can challenge for pole position and victory.
Where to watch F1 practice at Austin
Formula 1’s authorised broadcasting partners will provide coverage of Friday’s sessions in the principal international markets.
| Country / Market | TV and streaming |
|---|---|
| United States | Apple TV |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1 / NOW |
| India | FanCode |
| Australia | Fox Sports / Foxtel / Kayo Sports |
| Canada | TSN / RDS |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport |
| Ireland | Sky Sports / NOW |
| South Africa | SuperSport |
Coverage and subscription conditions vary by territory.
Apple TV carries Formula 1 in the United States during the 2026 season, while Sky Sports F1 provides coverage in the United Kingdom.
Indian viewers can follow the sessions through FanCode, with Australian coverage available through Fox Sports, Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
The international United States Grand Prix viewing guide provides additional information about the available platforms.
What happens after Friday’s practice sessions?
The United States Grand Prix continues on Saturday with FP3 at 12:30 local time, followed by qualifying at 16:00.
| Session | Austin (CDT) | UK | India (IST) | Brasília (BRT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday FP1 | 12:30 | 18:30 BST | 23:00 Fri | 14:30 |
| Friday FP2 | 16:00 | 22:00 BST | 02:30 Sat | 18:00 |
| Saturday FP3 | 12:30 | 18:30 BST | 23:00 Sat | 14:30 |
| Saturday qualifying | 16:00 | 22:00 BST | 02:30 Sun | 18:00 |
| Sunday Grand Prix | 15:00 | 20:00 GMT | 01:30 Mon | 17:00 |
The United Kingdom switches from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time during the early hours of Sunday, October 25.
Austin returns to the traditional Formula 1 weekend format without a sprint race in 2026, giving teams three practice sessions before qualifying.
The Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at 15:00 local time.
