European Formula 1 TV coverage expands in 2026 as free‑to‑air races draw strong viewership

For the 2026 Formula 1 season, Germany’s RTL will again broadcast selected Grand Prix races on free‑to‑air television after a deal with rights holder Sky. The agreement, reached in 2024, provides seven free‑to‑air races in 2024 and 2025 and a limited number of races in 2026, starting with the Monaco Grand Prix. The season also introduces a new team – Cadillac – and sees Sauber rebranded as Audi, alongside a revised technical rulebook that emphasizes active aerodynamics, higher electric power share and sustainable fuels.

Ratings for the Hungarian Grand Prix show robust audience numbers across the region. Pay‑TV Sky recorded 562,000 TV viewers with an additional 135,000 streaming accesses, while RTL’s free‑to‑air German broadcast attracted 519,000 viewers. Austria’s public broadcaster ORF led with 632,000 TV viewers, capturing a 47 % market share. These figures underline growing interest in Formula 1’s televised events despite the shift toward mixed pay‑TV and free‑air arrangements.