Kimi Antonelli enters the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix with a commanding 45-point lead in the driver standings, setting up a championship showdown against Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as Formula 1 heads to Mogyrod for the 11th round of the season. This being the last race before the summer break, there is immense pressure on both Hamilton and Russell to close the gap to the Italian sensation and prevent Antonelli from increasing his advantage before the four-week break.
This high-stakes weekend presents a unique opportunity for US-based F1 fans: Apple TV, the new US rights holder, is offering a free seven-day trial, giving viewers free access to every session of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The platform acquired exclusive statewide broadcast rights in a historic five-year, $750 million deal, dethroning ESPN and transforming the American F1 viewing experience.
Fans can now choose between the iconic Sky Sports commentary team and the F1 TV feed – shown as the main broadcast on Apple TV. The streaming service raises the bar with onboard cameras for all 22 cars, a dynamic data tracker and a real-time track map, providing an immersive experience during every live session.
The action at the Hungaroring begins with Friday’s practice sessions: FP1 at 1:30 pm local time (CEST) and FP2 at 5 pm. Saturday’s schedule features FP3 qualifying at 12:30pm and qualifying at 4pm (3pm BST). The Grand Prix begins at 3pm local time (2pm BST) on Sunday, as the grid battles for supremacy in this decisive round.
Apple TV subscriptions cost $12.99 per month, but new users can watch the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend at no cost with a seven-day free trial. The Apple TV app is widely compatible with iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, major smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL), Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Google TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and streaming via tv.apple.com.
For this weekend’s coverage, presenter Laura Winter leads the F1 TV feed live from the paddock, joined by former IndyCar standouts James Hinchcliffe, Lawrence Barreto and Chris Medland. Returning to the team are former W-Series winner Alice Powell and presenter Ariana Bravo. Commentary duties are handled by Alex Jacques – whose voice became synonymous with Charles Leclerc’s 2024 Monaco win – alongside former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer. The specialist lineup is bolstered by Ruth Buscombe, David Coulthard, Davide Valsecchi, Alex Brundle and Sam Collins. New to the broadcast this year are Juan Pablo Montoya – one of the rare drivers to have won in F1, IndyCar and NASCAR – and presenter Betty Glover.
With Apple TV revolutionizing F1 coverage in the US, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises not only fierce on-track drama, but also a refreshing, feature-rich viewing experience for American fans eager to watch the championship battle without the expense.
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