How to follow Spanish Grand Prix on the BBC

A general view of the Madring circuit with the Spanish flag flying above the circuit and grandstands — Image caption,
Madrid last hosted a Formula 1 grand prix in 1981 at Jarama, 20 miles north of the Spanish capital

Sophie Trifonoff

BBC Sport journalist

1 hour ago

Round 14 of the 2026 Formula 1 season heads to the new Madring circuit, for the Spanish Grand Prix, from 11-13 September.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli came back from 19th on the grid for a spectacular win in front of his home fans at the Italian Grand Prix.

In another surprise during the weekend, Alpine's Pierre Gasly managed to secure the first pole position of his career on Saturday.

Antonelli was joined by his Mercedes team-mate George Russell on the Monza podium, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen third.

It was a disappointing weekend for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc crashing out of the race and Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth.

Lights out for Sunday's 57-lap race will be at 14:00 BST.

Antonelli takes stunning Monza win from 19th on grid
Antonelli extraordinary as Gasly has superb weekend - driver ratings

Session start times and BBC coverage

Commentary of the race will be available across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

You can also listen by asking most smart speakers to "play Sports Extra 2".

Make sure to listen to every episode of the Chequered Flag podcast. For the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube., external

All times BST

Friday, 11 September

First practice: 12:30-13:30 (Sports Extra 2 and via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Second practice: 16:00-17:00 (Sports Extra 2 and via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Saturday, 12 September

Third practice: 11:30-12:30 (Sports Extra 2 and via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Qualifying: 15:00-16:00 (BBC Sport website and app)

Sunday, 13 September

Race: 14:00 (Sports Extra 2 via BBC Sounds and smart speakers)

Lewis Hamilton lifting the trophy on the podium at the Barcelona Grand Prix — Image caption,
This is the second Spanish race of the season, with Lewis Hamilton taking his first Ferrari win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix earlier in the year

What is the Madrid weather forecast?

After last weekend's heat-hazard race at Monza, temperatures will continue to be high, with all five sessions for the weekend forecast to be dry and sunny.

Race day is expected to be the hottest, with highs of 33C. Friday and Saturday will be slightly cooler at 31C and 32C respectively.

The new Madring

A general view of the Madring Formula 1 circuit — Image caption,
The Madring has been built over the past two years after it won the contract to host the Spanish Grand Prix

The Madring has replaced the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.

The new purpose-built track, which will run for 5.47km around 20 corners, incorporates both street-circuit and road-course sections around the Ifema Exhibition Centre between the Spanish capital and Barajas airport.

Barcelona remained on the calendar this year, hosting the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, but from 2027 it will rotate on the calendar with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.