Lights out and away we go. The 2026 Formula 1 season is approaching and you can follow every turn, pit stop and overtake live on the BBC.
You can enjoy all the build-up on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, listen to every grand prix on the radio and keep up with all the talking points on our app.
Listen wherever you are in the United Kingdom by tuning in on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sounds app.
Live text commentary and reaction will also cover all of action from practice through to race day on the BBC Sport website and app.
How to listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
BBC Radio 5 Live is bringing you live commentary from every session of every race this season.
Every grand prix this season, you can listen to all the updates on BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport app and website, and via your smart speaker.
Harry Benjamin will again be the main race commentator with Jennie Gow and Rosanna Tennant presenting. Regular co-commentators will include 1996 world champion Damon Hill and racing drivers Sam Bird, Alice Powell, Abbie Eaton, Abbi Pulling, plus former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley.
This is when you can listen to the opening round at the Australian Grand Prix:
Friday, 6 March:
First practice: 01:25 GMT – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Second practice: 04:55 GMT – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Saturday, 7 March:
Third practice: 01:25 GMT – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Qualifying: 04:45 GMT – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Sunday, 8 March:
Grand Prix: 03:30 GMT – BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Here are ways to download the BBC Sounds app in the UK:
What’s new with the Chequered Flag podcast?
The Chequered Flag podcast will preview and review every race. For the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
Alternatively, you can listen via the BBC Sounds app.
What’s new on the BBC Sport website and app?
You can follow the action from every race weekend through the BBC Sport website and app live page – starting from the Australian Grand Prix on Friday.
F1 correspondent Andrew Benson will report on every race and provide his unrivalled analysis, as well as being part of the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary team.
And do you have a burning question? Andrew is again doing a weekly Q&A in 2026, so you can send in your questions below and we’ll put the best to him each week.
Listen on your smart speaker
You can now listen to the F1 via your smart speaker, so if you’re busy at home you don’t need to miss a moment.
Just ask your smart speaker to ‘play 5 Live’ or ‘play Sports Extra, for example.
Or if you want to find the race, you can also – for example – say ‘ask BBC Sounds to play the Australian Grand Prix’, or ‘ask BBC Sounds to play the Chequered Flag podcast’. This is available on most smart speakers.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.
More questions answered…
- Which tyres will be used in F1 in 2026?
- What is sandbagging in F1?
- What are the main rule changes for F1 cars for 2026?
