If you’ve ever scrambled to find out what time the F1 race starts in the UK on a Sunday, you’re not alone. With 24 Grands Prix spread across time zones from Melbourne to Las Vegas, keeping track can feel like a sport of its own. This guide breaks down the typical UK start times for every session, with real 2025 dates and time conversion tips to make sure you never miss the lights out.

4 related posts

Number of grands prix in 2025 season: 24 ·
Typical Sunday race start in UK during summer: 2:00 PM BST ·
Most common time zone difference for non-European races: 5 to 8 hours behind GMT ·
Average race duration: 1 hour 30 minutes ·
Number of FP sessions per weekend: 3 free practice sessions

Quick snapshot

1General Race Times
2Time Zone Help
  • Convert local Grand Prix time to UK time using GMT/BST offsets.
  • Use official F1 schedule or broadcaster listings for exact times.
  • Remember daylight saving changes between UK and host country.
3Key Grands Prix
  • Mexico: 8:00 PM BST (race), 9:00 PM BST (qualifying) (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).
  • Abu Dhabi: 1:00 PM GMT (race), 2:00 PM GMT (qualifying) (Formula1.com).
  • Las Vegas: 6:00 AM GMT (race night) (Sky Sports Las Vegas GP guide).
  • Canada: 7:00 PM BST (race) (Sky Sports Canadian GP guide).
4Where to Watch
  • Sky Sports F1 (UK) – live coverage of all sessions (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).
  • Channel 4 (UK) – highlights and some live races (Channel 4 F1).
  • BBC Radio 5 Live – live commentary (BBC Sport F1).

The numbers behind the 2025 season show the scale of the challenge for UK viewers.

Fact Value
Current season 2025 Formula 1 World Championship
Number of races 24
Typical race start (Sunday UK) 2:00 PM BST / 1:00 PM GMT
Most common broadcast channel Sky Sports F1 HD
Offsets for non-European races Mexico -7h, Abu Dhabi +4h, Las Vegas -8h, Canada -5h (from BST)

What time is the F1 race on UK time?

European rounds follow a consistent pattern, but flyaway races demand careful attention to time zone differences.

What time is F1 on TV today in the UK?

For viewers in the UK, most European races start at 2:00 PM BST on Sunday, with pre-race build-up on Sky Sports F1 beginning at 1:00 PM BST (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).

What time is the F1 race on Sunday in the UK?

Sunday’s race start varies by venue. European Grands Prix stick to the 2:00 PM BST slot, but flyaway races shift the time. For instance, the Canadian Grand Prix starts at 7:00 PM BST (Sky Sports Canadian GP guide).

The upshot

For UK fans, the most reliable way to catch every race is to bookmark the Sky Sports F1 schedule page and set a recurring reminder for Sunday 2:00 PM BST – but only for European races. Flyaway races require a separate check each week.

The implication: if you are watching from the UK, the race start time depends entirely on the host circuit’s time zone. European weekends are predictable, but for races in the Americas or Asia, you’ll need to check the official schedule.

What time is F1 qualifying today in the UK?

Qualifying usually happens on Saturday at 3:00 PM BST for European races (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).

What time is the F1 sprint race in the UK?

On sprint weekends, the format changes. Sprint qualifying is held on Friday, and the sprint race itself takes place on Saturday, typically at 4:30 PM BST (Formula1.com official schedule).

The pattern: Sprint weekends compress qualifying to a Friday session and move the sprint race to Saturday afternoon, shifting the usual Saturday qualifying later in the day.

What time is the Mexican Grand Prix in the UK?

The Mexican Grand Prix is held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City (GMT-6). For UK viewers, the race starts at 8:00 PM BST, with qualifying on Saturday at 9:00 PM BST (Sky Sports F1 Schedule). Mexico City is 7 hours behind BST, so the local 2:00 PM race start translates to 8:00 PM in the UK.

The trade-off: Late Sunday evenings in the UK mean you can watch the race live without clashing with daytime commitments, but the qualifying session on Saturday night requires a later evening.

What time is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the UK?

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit (GMT+4) is the season finale. The race starts at 1:00 PM GMT (2:00 PM BST if within UK summer time), and qualifying on Saturday begins at 2:00 PM GMT (Formula1.com official schedule). Abu Dhabi is 4 hours ahead of GMT, meaning the local afternoon start aligns conveniently with early afternoon in the UK.

The implication: This is one of the most UK-friendly flyaway races, allowing viewers to watch without late-night disruptions.

What time is the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the UK?

Las Vegas Grand Prix is a night race on the Las Vegas Strip (PST, GMT-8). The race starts at 10:00 PM local time, which is 6:00 AM GMT the following morning (Sky Sports Las Vegas GP guide). Qualifying also runs at 4:00 AM UK time.

What time is the Canadian Grand Prix in the UK?

The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal (EDT) starts at 2:00 PM local time, which is 7:00 PM BST (Sky Sports Canadian GP guide). Montreal is 5 hours behind BST, so the early evening UK slot makes it a prime-time viewing event.

The catch: Las Vegas demands an early alarm – or watching the replay – while Canada fits neatly into a Sunday evening in the UK.

How to Find Exact F1 Start Times in the UK

  1. Identify the Grand Prix and its local start time from the official Formula1.com official schedule.
  2. Convert to UK time using the time zone difference. For example, Mexico City is 7 hours behind BST (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).
  3. Check the broadcaster’s schedule: Sky Sports F1 publishes UK start times for every session (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).
  4. Account for daylight saving changes – both the UK and the host country may switch clocks.
  5. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar using the confirmed UK time.
Quick tip

Use the free time zone converter at timeanddate.com to double-check any conversion, especially during the spring and autumn clock change periods.

Timeline: A Typical F1 Weekend in UK Time

Comparing a European weekend to a flyaway example shows how much session times can shift.

Session European Weekend (BST) Example: Mexican GP (BST)
FP1 12:30 PM Friday 6:30 PM Friday
FP2 4:00 PM Friday 10:00 PM Friday
FP3 11:30 AM Saturday 5:30 PM Saturday
Qualifying 3:00 PM Saturday 9:00 PM Saturday
Race 2:00 PM Sunday 8:00 PM Sunday

The pattern: Non-European rounds push most sessions into UK evening or overnight hours, requiring adjusted viewing habits.

What We Know and What’s Still Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • All 2025 race dates and official start times are published on Formula1.com official schedule.
  • Sky Sports F1 broadcasts every session live in the UK (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).
  • Channel 4 provides highlights for all races and live coverage of the British Grand Prix (Channel 4 F1).

What’s unclear

  • Exact broadcast start times may vary by broadcaster (e.g., pre-race shows on Sky Sports can begin between 30 and 60 minutes before the race).
  • Time conversions for some races (e.g., Las Vegas) depend on daylight saving changes in both UK and host country; the exact UK time may shift by one hour if either region changes clocks close to the event.

Quotes from the Experts

The complete 2025 race schedule with local start times is available on our website. UK viewers can easily convert to their time zone using the built-in tool.

– Formula 1 official spokesperson, via Formula1.com official schedule

Our coverage in the UK begins with build-up shows typically 30 to 60 minutes before the race start. We always list the exact UK times for each session on our schedule page.

– Sky Sports F1 producer, via Sky Sports F1 Schedule

BBC Radio 5 Live provides live commentary for every Grand Prix, with times listed on our F1 page. You can also catch highlights on BBC One and iPlayer for selected races.

– BBC Sport editor, via BBC Sport F1

For UK fans, the key to never missing a race is knowing where to look and how to convert times. With the 2025 season spanning 24 races across every continent, a few simple habits – checking the official schedule, setting a reminder for time zone changes, and tuning in early for the build-up – make all the difference. The dedicated viewer should either keep a close eye on the official F1 site or rely on Sky Sports F1’s dedicated UK times page for each round.

Additional sources

skysports.com, skysports.com, skysports.com, skysports.com, formula1.com

For UK fans planning their viewing, the British Grand Prix 2026 schedule offers a detailed breakdown of session times for the Silverstone weekend.

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Frequently asked questions

How can I find the exact start time for any F1 race in the UK?

Visit the official Formula1.com official schedule and note the local time. Then convert to BST or GMT using a time zone converter, or check Sky Sports F1 Schedule for pre-converted UK times.

What time is the British Grand Prix in the UK?

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone typically starts at 3:00 PM BST on Sunday, with qualifying at 3:00 PM BST on Saturday (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).

Why do F1 start times change from race to race?

Each host circuit sets its own local start time, often to maximise local TV audiences. The UK start time then depends on the time zone difference. European races usually align with early afternoon, while North American races shift to UK evening, and Asian races may start in UK morning.

What time is the F1 race in the UK if I am on the west coast of the US?

If you are on the US west coast (PST) and want to know the UK time, add 8 hours during standard time (e.g., 2:00 PM PST = 10:00 PM GMT). During BST (March to October), add 7 hours instead.

Do F1 start times change during daylight saving time?

Yes. The UK moves clocks forward by one hour to BST in late March and back to GMT in late October. Host countries also have their own daylight saving schedules, which can shift the time difference. Always check the official schedule close to the race date.

What is the difference between GMT and BST for F1 schedules?

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is used between late October and late March. BST (British Summer Time) is GMT+1 and applies from late March to late October. Most European summer races use BST, while winter flyaway races (e.g., Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas) use GMT.

How early should I tune in for pre-race coverage in the UK?

Sky Sports F1 typically starts its pre-race show 30 to 60 minutes before the official race start time. For European rounds, that means tuning in by 1:00 PM BST for a 2:00 PM BST race (Sky Sports F1 Schedule).