And it’s lights out… Away we go for the 2026 F1 season! Speeds north of 370 km/h. Twenty-four races. Twenty drivers. Ten teams. Five continents. One world championship. Formula 1 is the ultimate motorsport spectacle, where engineering brilliance meets razor-sharp reflexes and hair-raising speeds. So, if you’re wondering where to watch F1, you’ve come to the right grid slot. We’re taking you pole position on the full F1 race calendar, the best places in SA to catch every qualifying session and Sunday showdown, and even pet-friendly pubs where you and your co-pilot can catch every apex and overtake.
PS: While the drivers battle for fastest laps, we’ll show you pet and car insurance claim speeds that move quicker than a pit stop, so your co-pilot and your road rocket are back on track before the chequered flag drops.
Ready? Lights down. Let’s go.
The Must-Watch Grands Prix of 2026
Some races consistently hit top speed in drama:
- Monaco Grand Prix, Precision driving through tight streets.
- Italian Grand Prix (Monza), Slipstream battles and historic passion.
- Brazilian Grand Prix, Unpredictable weather, unpredictable results.
- Las Vegas Grand Prix, Night racing under neon lights.
Mark them early on your F1 calendar.
The 2026 F1 Race Calendar: Full-Throttle Action
The 2026 season is a 24-round global sprint, stretching from Melbourne in March to Abu Dhabi in December. Here’s your full F1 calendar so you don’t miss a single lap:
Round 1: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
| Date | Circuit |
| 8 March 2026 | Albert Park Circuit, Australia |
Then it’s a quick turnaround to Shanghai.
Round 2: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
| Date | Circuit |
| 15 March 2026 | Shanghai International Circuit, China |
Suzuka follows for Round 3.
Round 3: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
| Date | Circuit |
| 29 March 2026 | Suzuka Circuit, Japan |
Then it’s on to one of the drivers’ favourites.
Round 4: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
| Date | Circuit |
| 12 March 2026 | Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain |
April through to May and June, we head to the night lights of Jeddah, the neon flash of Miami, the island speed strip of Montreal and the royal streets of Monte Carlo.
Round 5: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
| Date | Circuit |
| 19 March 2026 | Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia |
Round 6: Miami Grand Prix, Miami Gardens
| Date | Circuit |
| 03 May 2026 | Miami International Autodrome, USA |
Round 7: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
| Date | Circuit |
| 24 May 2026 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada |
Round 8: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
| Date | Circuit |
| 07 June 2026 | Circuit de Monaco, Monaco |
The flyaways continue straight into the European leg.
Round 9: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Montmeló
| Date | Circuit |
| 14 June 2026 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain |
Round 10: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg
| Date | Circuit |
| 28 June 2026 | Red Bull Ring, Austria |
Round 11: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
| Date | Circuit |
| 05 July 2026 | Silverstone Circuit, UK |
Round 12: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
| Date | Circuit |
| 19 July 2026 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium |
Round 13: Hungarian Grand Prix, Mogyoród
| Date | Circuit |
| 26 July 2026 | Hungaroring, Hungary |
Round 14: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
| Date | Circuit |
| 23 August 2026 | Circuit Zandvoort, The Netherlands |
Round 15: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
| Date | Circuit |
| 6 September 2026 | Autodromo Nazionale, Monza |
Round 16: Spanish Grand Prix, Madrid
| Date | Circuit |
| Madring Street Circuit, Spain | Madring Street Circuit, Spain |
Round 17: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku
| Date | Circuit |
| 26 September 2026 | Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan |
Round 18: Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay
| Date | Circuit |
| 11 October 2026 | Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore |
Then the night races come out to play.
Round 19: United States Grand Prix, Austin
| Date | Circuit |
| 25 October 2026 | Circuit of the Americas, USA |
Round 20: Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico City
| Date | Circuit |
| 1 November 2026 | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico |
Round 21: Brazilian Grand Prix, São Paulo
| Date | Circuit |
| 8 November 2026 | Interlagos, Brazil |
Round 22: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
| Date | Circuit |
| 21 November 2026 | Las Vegas Strip Circuit, USA |
Round 23: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
| Date | Circuit |
| 29 November 2026 | Lusail International Circuit, Qatar |
And finally, the championship decider.
Round 24: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi
| Date | Circuit |
| 4–6 December 2026 | Yas Marina Circuit, UAE |
That’s 24 weekends of strategy calls, tyre gambles, and last-lap lunges. Each Grand Prix weekend is a precision-tuned machine:
- Friday: Two practice sessions — data gathering, setup fine-tuning, long-run simulations.
- Saturday: Qualifying — knockout drama for pole position.
- Sunday: Race day — lights out and away we go.
Where to Watch F1 in South Africa
Now the crucial call. Where to watch F1 races live? Here are the best options.
Full throttle coverage of practice, qualifying and race day. Commentary, expert analysis and race replays included.
2. F1 TV Pro
The ultimate fan experience:
- Onboard cameras
- Team radio
- Live timing data
- Multiple commentary feeds
- On-demand replays.
It’s as close as you’ll get to the pit wall without a team shirt.
Top Sports Bars to Watch F1 in South Africa
Prefer race-day atmosphere? These venues regularly screen Grands Prix:
| Cape Town | Johannesburg & Surrounds | East Rand | Pretoria |
| Mitchell’s Scottish Ale House (V&A Waterfront) | Ridgeway Racebar (Edenvale)
The Baron (Witkoppen) Benchwarmers (Rosebank) The Irish Club (Linden) Skyline Sports Bar (Midrand) Prison Break Market (Kyalami) |
Bada Bing (Boksburg)
Restaurant 911 (Boksburg) |
Zappas (Constantia Park)
Summit Grill & Skybar (Menlyn) |
Always call ahead to confirm screening and times.
What About the Four-Legged F1 Fans?
Now here’s where we change gears. Some venues like Prison BreakMarket (Kyalami) and selected branches of The Baron and Mitchell’s offer outdoor, pet-friendly areas. That means your furry race fan can join the watch party.
But remember, Race-day excitement can mean:
- Loud crowds
- Fireworks (especially Vegas & Abu Dhabi weekends)
- Busy roads
- Sudden celebrations when someone dives down the inside into Turn 1.
That’s where comprehensive pet insurance comes in. From unexpected vet visits to accidents at dog-friendly venues, having cover means you’re protected when life throws a red flag. You insure your car before you hit the road. But what about your four-legged pit crew?
TIPS: Keep pets leashed, bring water, avoid crowded indoor sections, and check venue pet policies beforehand.
Final Lap
Formula 1 may not yet race on South African soil, but fans here can still enjoy every hairpin, overtake and podium celebration.
Whether you’re streaming from home, heading to a sports bar, now you know exactly when and where to watch F1 in 2026.
So fuel up. Lock in the dates. Protect what matters with dotsure.co.za: Your car and your pets. Contact us today, because when it comes to real-life bumps and scrapes, you want claim turnaround times with podium pace. Get pet and car insurance that puts you in the driver’s seat.
