Dutch GP: Start Time, Schedule, Weather, Predictions, and How to Watch F1 Race Today

Formula 1 returns from its summer break this weekend for the 12th round of the 2026 season, with the championship heading to the Circuit Zandvoort for the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli enters the second half of the season with a 50-point advantage over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while George Russell sits third on 160 points. However, the championship leader’s advantage has come under increasing pressure in recent races, with Lando Norris claiming victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break.

The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix will be a historic weekend at Zandvoort. It is currently set to be the final Dutch Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar under the circuit’s existing contract, while the weekend will also feature a Sprint for the first time. That gives Max Verstappen one final chance to claim victory at his home race in front of the passionate Orange Army.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, including race track information, start times, the full weekend schedule, weather forecast, predictions, and how and where to watch the race.

Race Track: Circuit Zandvoort

The Circuit Zandvoort is one of Formula 1’s most distinctive venues. Located on the Dutch North Sea coast, the 4.259-kilometer circuit features 14 corners and several heavily banked sections that create a unique challenge for the drivers.

Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 after a 36-year absence and quickly became one of the sport’s most popular venues. Its narrow layout and limited overtaking opportunities place significant importance on qualifying, while the high-speed corners and banking put considerable demands on the cars and tires.

The circuit has also been dominated by Verstappen since its return. The Red Bull driver won the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021, 2022, and 2023, before Lando Norris won in 2024 and Oscar Piastri took victory in 2025. That history makes this year’s race particularly significant for Verstappen, who remains without a victory in 2026 and arrives sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 109 points.

What Time Does the Dutch GP Race Start in the US, UK, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Other Regions?

The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix will follow the Sprint format, with FP1 and Sprint Qualifying on Friday before the Sprint and Grand Prix Qualifying take place on Saturday. The race itself is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Here is the complete weekend schedule, including start times across major regions.

August 21: Dutch Grand Prix Free Practice 1 (FP1) Timings

• Zandvoort Track Time: 12:30 – 13:30 CEST
• United States and Canada: 06:30 – 07:30 ET / 03:30 – 04:30 PT
• Mexico City: 04:30 – 05:30 CST
• Brazil (São Paulo): 07:30 – 08:30 BRT
• United Kingdom: 11:30 – 12:30 BST
• Italy, Monaco, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium, Spain (Europe): 12:30 – 13:30 CEST
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar: 13:30 – 14:30 AST
• UAE: 14:30 – 15:30 GST
• India: 16:00 – 17:00 IST
• China and Singapore: 18:30 – 19:30 CST/SGT
• Japan: 19:30 – 20:30 JST
• Australia: 20:30 – 21:30 AEST

August 21: Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying Start Time

• Netherlands Track Time: 16:30 – 17:14 CEST
• United States and Canada: 10:30 – 11:14 ET / 07:30 – 08:14 PT
• Mexico City: 08:30 – 09:14 CST
• Brazil (São Paulo): 11:30 – 12:14 BRT
• United Kingdom: 15:30 – 16:14 BST
• Italy, Monaco, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium, Spain (Europe): 16:30 – 17:14 CEST
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar: 17:30 – 18:14 AST
• UAE: 18:30 – 19:14 GST
• India: 20:00 – 20:44 IST
• China and Singapore: 22:30 – 23:14 CST/SGT
• Japan: 23:30 – 00:14 JST
• Australia: 00:30 – 01:14 AEST (August 22)

August 22: 2026 Dutch GP Sprint Race Timings

• Zandvoort Circuit Track Time: 12:00 – 13:00 CEST
• United States and Canada: 06:00 – 07:00 ET / 03:00 – 04:00 PT
• Mexico City: 04:00 – 05:00 CST
• Brazil (São Paulo): 07:00 – 08:00 BRT
• United Kingdom: 11:00 – 12:00 BST
• Italy, Monaco, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium, Spain (Europe): 12:00 – 13:00 CEST
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar: 13:00 – 14:00 AST
• UAE: 14:00 – 15:00 GST
• India: 15:30 – 16:30 IST
• China and Singapore: 18:00 – 19:00 CST/SGT
• Japan: 19:00 – 20:00 JST
• Australia: 20:00 – 21:00 AEST

August 22: Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying Start Time

• Zandvoort Track Time: 16:00 – 17:00 CEST
• United States and Canada: 10:00 – 11:00 ET / 07:00 – 08:00 PT
• Mexico City: 08:00 – 09:00 CST
• Brazil (São Paulo): 11:00 – 12:00 BRT
• United Kingdom: 15:00 – 16:00 BST
• Italy, Monaco, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium, Spain (Europe): 16:00 – 17:00 CEST
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar: 17:00 – 18:00 AST
• UAE: 18:00 – 19:00 GST
• India: 19:30 – 20:30 IST
• China and Singapore: 22:00 – 23:00 CST/SGT
• Japan: 23:00 – 00:00 JST
• Australia: 00:00 – 01:00 AEST (August 23)

August 23: 2026 Dutch Grand Prix F1 Race Timings

• Zandvoort Track Time: 15:00 CEST
• United States and Canada: 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT
• Mexico City: 07:00 CST
• Brazil (São Paulo): 10:00 BRT
• United Kingdom: 14:00 BST
• Italy, Monaco, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium, Spain (Europe): 15:00 CEST
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar: 16:00 AST
• UAE: 17:00 GST
• India: 18:30 IST
• China and Singapore: 21:00 CST/SGT
• Japan: 22:00 JST
• Australia: 23:00 AEST

The official Formula 1 timetable confirms the race will run over 72 laps at Zandvoort, covering 306.587 kilometers.

TV Channels and Live Streaming Platforms: Where to Watch the F1 Dutch GP Zandvoort Race?

Fans around the world can follow every session of the Dutch Grand Prix across Formula 1’s regional broadcast partners as follows:

• Africa: SuperSport
• Albania: DigitAlb
• Armenia: FastSports
• Australia: Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo
• Austria: Servus TV, ORF
• Azerbaijan: Idman Azerbaijan
• Belgium: RTBF, Play Sports
• Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia: Arena Sport
• Brazil: TV Globo, sportv
• Bulgaria: TV Nova
• Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia & Brunei, MENA, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey: beIN SPORTS
• Canada: RDS, RDS 2, TSN, Noovo
• Caribbean: Rush Sports
• China: Shanghai TV, Guangdong Television Channel, Tencent
• Chinese Taipei: Videoland, ELTA
• Croatia: RTL
• Cyprus: OmegaTV
• Czech Republic & Slovakia: Nova
• Denmark: TV3, Viaplay
• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania: Go3, TV3
• Eurasia: Setanta Sports
• Finland: Viaplay
• France: Canal+
• Germany: Sky Deutschland, RTL
• Greece: ANT1, ANT1+
• Hungary: M4 (MTVA Sports Channel)
• Iceland: Viaplay
• India: FanCode, TATA Play FanCode Sports
• In-Ship & In-Flight: Sport 24, Sport 24 Extra
• Israel: Sport 5
• Italy: Sky Italia
• Japan: Fuji TV
• Luxembourg: RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg
• Macedonia: Sport Klub
• Mexico: TUDN, Sky Sports, Izzi
• Myanmar: Canal+ Sports, Canal+ ACTION
• Netherlands: Viaplay
• New Zealand: Sky NZ
• Norway: V sport 1, Viaplay
• Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands: TVWAN Sports
• Poland: Eleven Sports
• Portugal, Spain & Andorra: DAZN
• Romania: Antena
• Slovenia: Kanal A, VOYO
• South Korea: Coupang Play
• Sweden: Viaplay
• Switzerland: SRF, RSI, RTS
• Ukraine: Setanta Ukraine
• United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports, Channel 4
• USA: Apple TV
• Vietnam: K+

F1 TV Pro will also provide live coverage in selected markets, including access to onboard cameras, live timing, and other exclusive features.

Weather Reports for Circuit Zandvoort

Weather could become one of the biggest variables of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. F1’s latest forecasts point toward cool conditions at Zandvoort, with temperatures generally between 16°C and 19°C across the weekend. Friday has the highest risk of rain, with light showers possible during FP1 before conditions become drier for Sprint Qualifying.

Saturday could also see some rain around the Sprint, with forecasts currently suggesting a moderate chance of showers. Conditions are expected to improve by the time qualifying begins later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Sunday currently looks more favorable for the Grand Prix itself, with mostly cloudy or partly sunny conditions, temperatures around 18°C, and little chance of rain.

However, Zandvoort’s coastal location means wind and rapidly changing conditions cannot be ruled out. That could make the opening Sprint weekend at Zandvoort particularly unpredictable, especially with only one practice session available before teams must commit to their setups.

2026 F1 Dutch Grand Prix Predictions

Kimi Antonelli remains the safest pick heading into Zandvoort after winning six races this season and building a 50-point championship lead over Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes has also dominated qualifying, taking pole at all but one Grand Prix, although Ferrari and McLaren have narrowed the gap in recent races.

Lando Norris could provide the biggest challenge. McLaren arrives fresh from Norris’ Hungarian Grand Prix victory, while recent upgrades could make the MCL26 even more competitive. His win at Zandvoort in 2024 also makes him a strong candidate at a circuit where qualifying and tire management are particularly important.

Hamilton gets the final podium spot. Ferrari has shown strong consistency through the European portion of the season, and another solid result would keep the seven-time champion within striking distance of Antonelli.

Then there is Verstappen. His record at Zandvoort is difficult to ignore, with three consecutive victories and a podium in every Dutch Grand Prix since the circuit returned to the calendar in 2021. However, Red Bull has struggled to match Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren consistently this season, making Verstappen a difficult pick for victory despite his home advantage.

The Dutch Grand Prix will also feature a Red Bull lineup change, with Isack Hadjar set to miss the weekend because of a wrist injury. Liam Lawson will temporarily replace him, while Yuki Tsunoda moves back to Racing Bulls.

Lastly, reliability issues have been difficult to ignore this season, with drivers such as George Russell, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc all losing valuable points as a result.

Final Prediction: Kimi Antonelli to win, Lando Norris second, Lewis Hamilton third.