2026 Austrian Grand Prix: Schedule, preview and how to watch

Formula 1 heads to the Red Bull Ring this weekend for the Austrian Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton arriving in form after his breakthrough Ferrari victory in Barcelona. The championship battle has tightened, and the Spielberg venue promises another dramatic chapter as extreme heat descends on the Styrian mountains.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's win moved him within 41 points of leader Kimi Antonelli, whose run of five straight victories ended with a retirement in Spain. McLaren also needs a result at the scene of Lando Norris's 2025 win, with the squad still searching for its first victory of 2026. Meanwhile, a forecasted heatwave pushing temperatures to 36°C on Sunday will test strategies and reliability.

The details:

• Broadcast (Australia): Fox Sports 506 holds exclusive live rights, with streaming on Kayo Sports and Foxtel Go. No free-to-air coverage is available.
• Broadcast (New Zealand): Sky Sport splits coverage across its channels, with streaming via Sky Go and Sky Sport Now.
• Race start: The Grand Prix begins at 11pm AEST on Sunday, June 28 (12:55am NZST Monday).
• Track profile: At 4.326km, the Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest laps on the calendar, but its mix of long straights, heavy braking zones and fast sweepers consistently produces close racing.
• Historical context: Since returning in 2014, only Ferrari (Leclerc in 2022) and McLaren have broken the Mercedes-Red Bull stranglehold here.

What's next:

With four different winners across the last four Austrian GPs, the circuit has become an unpredictable battleground. Verstappen remains the undisputed king of Spielberg with four wins, but Hamilton is still chasing an elusive first Austrian victory. Given the tight championship margins and punishing temperatures, this weekend could easily prove season-defining.