Free F1 livestream: Apple TV’s huge win for fans on Oct. 4
Apple TV is offering a free F1 livestream of this weekend’s 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, which has been moved to Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. U.S. viewers can watch practice, qualifying and Sunday’s race on Oct. 4 without a subscription, Variety reported Sept. 30.
The race was relocated from Bahrain because of uncertainty in the Middle East tied to the U.S. war with Iran, according to Variety. The Bahrain race was called off in April and later rescheduled in Malaysia, keeping it on the calendar as Round 16, ESPN reported. Its official name is now the “2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.”
How to watch the free F1 livestream
The race starts at 3 p.m. local time in Malaysia, which is 3 a.m. ET or midnight PT on Sunday, Oct. 4. Fans can stream it through the Apple TV app or website. Amazon Prime members can also add Apple TV as a channel inside Prime Video.
Apple is carrying the weekend in 4K with Dolby Vision and 5.1 surround sound. Viewers need a streaming device that supports 4K to get that feed, Variety noted.
Here is the weekend schedule in Eastern time, converted from ESPN’s listing:
- Practice 1: Friday, Oct. 2, 12:30 a.m.
- Practice 2: Friday, Oct. 2, 4 a.m.
- Practice 3: Saturday, Oct. 3, 12:30 a.m.
- Qualifying: Saturday, Oct. 3, 4 a.m.
- Race: Sunday, Oct. 4, 3 a.m. (56 laps)
Apple said the free F1 livestream weekend is part of its previously announced plan to make select races and practice sessions available at no cost throughout the season.
Why the free F1 livestream race moved to Sepang
Sepang, a 5.5-kilometer track outside Kuala Lumpur, hosted the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017, according to Variety. The circuit’s return to the calendar comes under the Bahrain race’s name and title sponsor rather than as a new Malaysian Grand Prix.
The championship heads to Malaysia after George Russell edged Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a photo finish to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend, his third victory of the season. Russell’s Mercedes teammate and points leader Kimi Antonelli recovered from 16th to finish fifth and still leads by 66 points, ESPN reported.
Malaysia is the middle stop of a triple-header that ends with the Singapore Grand Prix on Oct. 11. More than half the current grid has never raced at Sepang, and Max Verstappen won the last Formula 1 race there in 2017, according to ESPN. Rain is in the forecast, which could shake up the order. ESPN also reported that Mercedes plans to bring a major upgrade to Malaysia, while McLaren is expected to be strong on the high-speed layout.
What the free F1 livestream saves fans
A regular Apple TV subscription now costs $14.99 a month after an Aug. 28 price increase from $12.99, Deadline reported. The annual plan rose to $119 from $99. After the free F1 livestream ends, fans can subscribe at the monthly rate or start a 7-day free trial.
Apple’s big bet on Formula 1
Apple became the official U.S. streaming home of Formula 1 this season after striking a deal in October 2025 that The Hollywood Reporter valued at $750 million. The same month, Apple dropped the “+” from Apple TV+ and announced a bundle with Peacock.
“Everyone on Apple TV in the U.S. will now get Formula One,” Apple services chief Eddy Cue said at the time, according to THR. Apple’s F1 push also follows the success of Apple’s racing film “F1,” which passed $600 million at the global box office.
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