F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2026: Full Schedule, Race Time, Live Streaming, Sprint Format And Why Zandvoort is Hosting Its Final Race

Formula 1 roars back into action this weekend as the summer break concludes with the last home race of Max Verstappen, the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. This weekend will mark the first time the challenging, banked Dutch circuit hosts a Sprint weekend format. However, the event carries a bittersweet undertone for fans, as this edition is set to be the final Formula 1 race held at Zandvoort under its current agreement.

As the season heads into its second half, Mercedes are the team to beat. Rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently leads the Drivers’ Championship with 219 points. On the other hand, the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton sits in second place with 169 points, closely followed by Kimi’s teammate George Russell, with 160 points.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen will be motivated to deliver a spectacular performance in front of his home crowd, eager to disrupt the Mercedes dominance and claim his first victory of the season for Red Bull Racing. He will be wearing a special helmet this time, a homage to the final Dutch Grand Prix. He is 6th in the standings with 106 points. 

In the Constructors’ standings, Mercedes maintain a dominant lead with 379 points, comfortably ahead of Ferrari (307 points) and McLaren (220 points).

Why is the Dutch GP leaving the F1 calendar after 2026?

Despite the success and the sea of orange fans that Zandvoort has brought to the sport, the 2026 race will be its last. The organisers of Circuit Zandvoort opted not to seek a long-term contract extension beyond their current 2026 agreement. According to the circuit’s director, the decision was financial. The Dutch Grand Prix is a privately funded event, and the organisers felt it was prudent to step away while the event was still successful rather than continue carrying the substantial financial risks associated with hosting a Formula 1 race long-term.

F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2026 Schedule: 

For the first time in its history, the Dutch Grand Prix will be one of the six events on the 2026 calendar to utilise the Sprint format. This means teams will have only one practice session to set up their cars before heading straight into competitive action. The Sprint is a 24-lap dash scheduled for Saturday, which adds crucial points to both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships before the main Grand Prix on Sunday.

Here is the complete schedule for the weekend (all times in IST):

Friday, August 21

• Free Practice 1: 4:00 PM (12:30 PM Local)
• Sprint Qualifying: 8:00 PM (4:30 PM Local)

Saturday, August 22

• Sprint (24 Laps): 3:30 PM (12:00 PM Local)
• Grand Prix Qualifying: 7:30 PM (4:00 PM Local)

Sunday, August 23

Main Race (72 Laps): 6:30 PM (3:00 PM Local)

F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2026 Live Streaming Worldwide:

• Africa: SuperSport

• Albania: DigitAlb

• Armenia: FastSports

• Australia: Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo

• Austria: Servus TV, ORF, Sky

• Azerbaijan: Idman Azerbaijan

• Belgium: RTBF, Play Sports

• Bosnia: Arena Sport

• Brazil: TV Globo, sportv

• Bulgaria: TV Nova

• Cambodia: 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: Go3 Estonia, TV3

• Eurasia: Setanta Sports

• Finland: Viaplay

• France: Canal+

• Germany: Sky Deutschland, RTL

• Greece: ANT1, ANT1+

• Hong Kong: beIN SPORTS, Now Sports 1 & 2

• Hungary: M4 (MTVA Sports Channel)

• Iceland: Viaplay

• India: FanCode

• Indonesia: beIN SPORTS

• Israel: Sport 5

• Italy: Sky Italia

• Japan: Fuji TV

• Kosovo: Arena Sport, Artmotion Kosovo

• Laos: beIN SPORTS

• Latin America: ESPN

• Latvia: Go3 Latvia, TV3

• Lithuania: Go3 Lithuania, TV3

• Luxembourg: RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg

• Macedonia: Sport Klub

• Malaysia & Brunei: beIN SPORTS

• Malta: PBS Malta

• MENA: beIN Sports

• Mexico: TUDN, Sky Sports, Izzi

• Montenegro: Arena Sport

• Myanmar: Canal+ Sports, Canal+ ACTION

• Netherlands: Viaplay

• New Zealand: Sky NZ

• Norway: V sport 1, Viaplay

• Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands: TVWAN Sports

• Philippines: beIN SPORTS

• Poland: Eleven Sports

• Portugal: DAZN

• Romania: Antena

• Serbia: Arena Sport

• Singapore: beIN SPORTS

• Slovenia: Kanal A, VOYO

• South Korea: Coupang Play

• Spain & Andorra: DAZN

• Sweden: Viaplay

• Switzerland: SRF, RSI, RTS, Sky

• Thailand: beIN SPORTS

• Turkey: beIN SPORTS

• Ukraine: Setanta Ukraine

• United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports, Channel 4

• USA: Apple TV

• Vietnam: TV360