The São Paulo Grand Prix commences today, Friday, November 6, 2026, with two live practice sessions at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos. The initial session, Free Practice 1 (FP1), is scheduled to begin at 15:30 GMT. Free Practice 2 (FP2) will follow at 19:00 GMT.
For viewers in the United States, Apple TV holds exclusive broadcast rights for Formula 1 in 2026. Both practice sessions are included with an Apple TV subscription. FP1 starts at 10:30 AM Eastern Time, with FP2 commencing at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky Sports F1 will broadcast both sessions live. Coverage begins at 3:30 PM GMT for FP1 and 7:00 PM GMT for FP2. Subscribers to NOW with an eligible sports membership can also access the live feed. Channel 4 will provide highlights of the weekend’s events.
Indian fans can stream the practice sessions via FanCode, the exclusive rights holder for the Indian subcontinent through 2028. FP1 is scheduled for 9:00 PM IST, with FP2 starting at 12:30 AM IST on Saturday, November 7. FanCode also manages F1 TV Pro and Premium subscriptions in India.
In Australia, live F1 practice sessions are available on Kayo Sports. Fox Sports and Foxtel are also listed as broadcast options. For Sydney and Melbourne, FP1 begins at 2:30 AM AEDT on Saturday, and FP2 at 6:00 AM AEDT. Brisbane viewers will see sessions one hour earlier, and Perth three hours earlier.
Canadian audiences can watch the sessions on TSN for English commentary and RDS for French commentary. These networks hold exclusive Canadian rights for all 2026 F1 sessions. FP1 starts at 10:30 AM Eastern Time in Toronto and Montreal, with FP2 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.
New Zealand coverage is provided by Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now, which have extended their partnership with Formula 1 through 2026 and beyond. FP1 is scheduled for 4:30 AM NZDT on Saturday, followed by FP2 at 8:00 AM NZDT.
The opening practice session will feature several changes to the regular driver line-up. Six established drivers are stepping aside for reserve and rookie talent. Leonardo Fornaroli will take Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. Colton Herta is scheduled to drive Sergio Pérez’s Cadillac.
Dino Beganovic will replace Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Luke Browning is set to drive Carlos Sainz’s Williams. Gabriele Minì will take over Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, and Freddie Slater will be in Nico Hülkenberg’s Audi.
Notably, Rafael Câmara will make his Formula 1 race debut at his home Grand Prix, driving for Haas for the entire weekend. This is a full race seat appearance, distinct from the FP1-only substitutions. These sessions provide crucial track time for young drivers and allow teams to evaluate car updates.
Cadillac entered Formula 1 in 2026 with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas as their primary drivers. Pérez recently extended his contract with the American outfit, securing his position until at least the end of the 2029 season.
