2025 Australian Grand Prix start time: how to watch, live stream and F1 schedule

How dedicated an F1 fan are you really? Set your alarm clock to watch the start of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix and you’ll find out on Sunday morning: TV coverage in the build-up to the first race of the season starts at 2.30am GMT, with the race underway at 4am (midnight for Eastern Time US viewers). Not everybody will avoid the temptation to hit snooze.

Those that do, however, will be rewarded with the first laps of what looks to be a classic season and an unpredictable race. Oscar Piastri is aiming to be the first Australian winner of his home GP, but Max Verstappen won’t want to let the two McLarens on the front row get away. The Ferraris will be pushing to join the fight from seventh and eighth on the grid — but they’ll need to get past Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda first. And then there’s the raft of rookies further back who’ll want to make up for a dismal qualifying. If that’s not enough, rain is forecast too.

Anyone who followed Formula 1 before 2020 is likely to feel nostalgic at the early morning start; Melbourne opens the season for the first time in six years, reclaiming, for this year at least, a slot that it held almost exclusively for more than two decades.

As ever, UK viewers can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, which is also available through Now TV. Qualifying and race highlights will be free-to-view on Channel 4. US viewers can watch all sessions live on ESPN platforms.

Nobody knows what will happen when the lights go out. Here’s how to watch all of the action, including the Formula 2, Formula 3, Supercars and Porsche Carrera Cup support races

2025 Australian Grand Prix
F1 start times, streaming and TV schedule

All times in GMT for UK TV viewers

Friday 14 March

Saturday 15 March

Sunday 16 March

How to watch F1
Streaming and TV broadcast details

F1 sprint races will return in 2025, but the Australian Grand Prix retains the standard race weekend format of three practice sessions, qualifying and a 58 lap grand prix.

Live TV

All on-track sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 starting 1t 1am ahead of Free Practice 1 on Friday. As in previous seasons, subscribers can download the Sky Sports App and simultaneously stream onboard footage from any driver of their choice. There’s also the option of a ‘Battle Channel’, showing the most exciting fights for position, as well as various race control streams, including multi-screen views and timing.

Live stream

Sky Sports F1 subscribers in the UK can watch all the running live on the Sky Go app. Now TV subscribers can also see live coverage of every session via Sky Sports F1, as well as the choice of 20 onboard views. Live timings are available through the F1 app.

Highlights

Channel 4 will show highlights of the weekend, with action from Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s Grand Prix available to watch later on the respective days of each event.

2025 Australian Grand Prix weekend schedule
F1, F2, F3, Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercars

All times in GMT

Thursday 13 March

Friday 14 March

Saturday 15 March

Sunday 16 March