News Summary
- United States Grand Prix qualifying starts at 16:00 in Austin on Saturday, October 24, equivalent to 17:00 Eastern and 22:00 BST.
- Fans in India can watch qualifying at 02:30 IST on Sunday, while the session begins at 08:00 in Melbourne and 10:00 in Auckland.
- The Austin weekend follows the traditional F1 format, with three practice sessions, Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Qualifying for the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix begins at 16:00 local time in Austin on Saturday, October 24, as Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Max Verstappen and the rest of the field fight for pole position at Circuit of The Americas.
The session starts at 17:00 in New York and Toronto, 22:00 in the United Kingdom and 02:30 on Sunday in India. Australian viewers will need to tune in on Sunday morning, with qualifying beginning at 08:00 in Melbourne and Sydney.
Formula 1 returns to Texas after a scheduled break following the Singapore Grand Prix, where Verstappen secured another victory and Antonelli extended his championship advantage over Russell to 102 points.
The Mercedes driver enters Austin with his first mathematical opportunity to secure the Drivers’ Championship, adding significance to a qualifying session that could determine his chances of clinching the title on Sunday.
What time is F1 qualifying at Austin in 2026?
The table below shows the official qualifying start time converted into the main international markets.
| Country / City | Date | Qualifying start |
|---|---|---|
| United States — Austin (CDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 16:00 |
| United States — New York (EDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 17:00 |
| United States — Chicago (CDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 16:00 |
| United States — Denver (MDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 15:00 |
| United States — Los Angeles (PDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 14:00 |
| Canada — Toronto (EDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 17:00 |
| Canada — Vancouver (PDT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 14:00 |
| United Kingdom — London (BST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 22:00 |
| Ireland — Dublin (IST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 22:00 |
| Brazil — Brasília (BRT) | Sat, Oct 24 | 18:00 |
| South Africa — Johannesburg (SAST) | Sat, Oct 24 | 23:00 |
| India — New Delhi (IST) | Sun, Oct 25 | 02:30 |
| Singapore (SGT) | Sun, Oct 25 | 05:00 |
| Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur (MYT) | Sun, Oct 25 | 05:00 |
| Australia — Perth (AWST) | Sun, Oct 25 | 05:00 |
| Australia — Brisbane (AEST) | Sun, Oct 25 | 07:00 |
| Australia — Sydney / Melbourne (AEDT) | Sun, Oct 25 | 08:00 |
| New Zealand — Auckland (NZDT) | Sun, Oct 25 | 10:00 |
These are session start times, not television coverage start times. The UK remains on British Summer Time on Saturday, October 24, and changes to GMT early on Sunday.
Why Austin qualifying could be crucial for Antonelli
Antonelli enters the United States Grand Prix leading the Drivers’ Championship by 102 points over Russell, following a season in which Mercedes has established itself as the strongest team.
The Italian has already secured eight Grand Prix victories in 2026 and will have his first opportunity to win the championship in Austin, depending on his result and those of his rivals.
The full championship calculation is available in the analysis of Antonelli’s title opportunity at the United States Grand Prix.
However, Mercedes faces increasingly strong competition from Red Bull and Ferrari.
Verstappen has won the Malaysian and Singapore Grands Prix, while Red Bull’s recent aerodynamic and power-unit improvements have transformed its competitiveness.
The Dutchman also has an exceptional record at Austin, where he can equal Lewis Hamilton’s five victories at Circuit of The Americas.
Ferrari is another team to watch. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will evaluate the final major aerodynamic upgrade package prepared for the SF-26, centred on a redesigned floor.
The changes could influence the battle for pole position, although their effectiveness will only become clear after Friday’s practice sessions.
How does F1 qualifying work at Austin?
Austin uses Formula 1’s traditional knockout qualifying format, divided into three sessions.
| Session | Duration | Elimination |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 18 minutes | Six slowest drivers eliminated |
| Q2 | 15 minutes | Six more drivers eliminated |
| Q3 | 12 minutes | Ten drivers fight for pole |
With 22 drivers competing in 2026, the six slowest competitors are eliminated in Q1, leaving 16 for Q2. Another six are eliminated before the final ten drivers compete for pole position in Q3.
The classification establishes the provisional starting order for Sunday’s Grand Prix, subject to penalties and other decisions from race officials.
Austin is not hosting a sprint weekend in 2026, meaning the drivers will have three practice sessions before qualifying.
Full United States GP 2026 schedule
| Session | Austin local time | UK time | India time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday FP1 | Fri 12:30 | Fri 18:30 BST | Fri 23:00 |
| Friday FP2 | Fri 16:00 | Fri 22:00 BST | Sat 02:30 |
| Saturday FP3 | Sat 12:30 | Sat 18:30 BST | Sat 23:00 |
| Saturday Qualifying | Sat 16:00 | Sat 22:00 BST | Sun 02:30 |
| Sunday Race | Sun 15:00 | Sun 20:00 GMT | Mon 01:30 |
The UK changes from BST to GMT on Sunday, October 25.
The complete United States Grand Prix schedule includes the weekend’s sessions and international start times.
Where can fans watch F1 qualifying live?
The session will be available through the championship’s official broadcasting partners.
In the United States, Apple TV carries Formula 1 throughout the 2026 season. British viewers can watch on Sky Sports F1 or stream through NOW, while FanCode holds the Indian broadcasting rights.
Australian coverage is available through Fox Sports, Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Broadcast availability depends on the country and subscription package. Live timing is also available through the official Formula 1 website and app.
