Sky Sports has announced major broadcast innovations for F1, including an immersive sidebar with Race Control, onboard cameras for every driver with team radio, and enhanced data features at no extra cost.

The Formula 1 2026 season is in full swing, with significant changes to Sky Sports’ TV coverage. Last week saw Mercedes’ George Russell clinch pole position in Melbourne, and the drivers are now in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Sky Sports announced plans ahead of the season to introduce what it calls ‘cutting-edge broadcast innovations’ for its F1 coverage. Fans will soon have access to an immersive sidebar during each race weekend, featuring Race Control, in-race standings, and a Recap – or replay – function.

Other notable elements of the sidebar include dedicated driver and team pages, enhanced data, explainers, and improved homepage navigation. Viewers will also be able to stream onboard cameras from every driver, complete with team radio messages, throughout each race weekend.

Sky’s discounted Formula 1 package

£49

£35

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Formula 1 fans can watch every practice, qualifier and race live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an introductory deal that saves £336.

As well as nine Sky Sports channels, this includes around 100 regular channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.

These new features will be introduced later this year at no additional charge to Sky Sports customers on Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices, with a launch date yet to be confirmed. F1 enthusiasts who don’t currently have Sky can subscribe from £35 per month for the broadcaster’s premier Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.

This package includes live coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race from every race weekend this season. The bundle comprises nine Sky Sports channels, approximately 100 regular TV channels, and subscriptions to Netflix and Disney+.

There’s also the option of the £42 Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, which includes 35 additional channels and will soon feature Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu at no extra cost from March. Sky customers can add Sky Sports F1 to their current subscription package, with a rolling monthly subscription reduced from £20 to £15 through a special offer.

Virgin Media customers can access Sky Sports channels through the provider’s £52.99 Sport bundle, which includes more than 200 channels, 362Mbps fibre broadband and Netflix. A caveat to both Sky and Virgin’s deals is that prices may change at least twice during the 24-month contracts, including the usual April price increase.

Sky promotes itself as the ‘ultimate destination’ for F1, with the new features complementing existing coverage such as Pit Wall Live, The Grid Walk, The F1 Show and the returning The Notebook. The latter airs post-qualifying and post-race on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively, delivering analysis and the latest updates from the paddock with reporter Ted Kravitz.

Announcing the changes, Sky said: “Sky Sports is preparing for one of the most highly anticipated F1 seasons in recent years. With viewership increasing year-on-year, 2026 promises to be even bigger with new cars and rule changes coming into play.

“Featuring an expert line-up, cutting-edge broadcast innovations, and the only place to watch live coverage of all 24 races, Sky Sports remains the ultimate destination for Formula 1 fans in the UK and Ireland.”