Round
23 of 23
🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi GP 2026 Start Time
The Abu Dhabi GP 2026 starts at on Sunday, December 6, 2026 — that’s in the UK and Ireland, on the US East Coast, and in eastern Australia the next day. Round 23 of 23 at Yas Marina Circuit.
Lights out is at 5:00 PM local time at Yas Marina — that’s 13:00 UTC. That local start time is the same wherever you are; the card below converts it to your own timezone.
Also searched as the Yas Marina Grand Prix — the same Abu Dhabi GP start time, in your local timezone.
One-click reminder: Google Calendar · Outlook · every race, auto-updating
Heads up — the Abu Dhabi GP falls on a different day depending on where you are. It is Sunday in US Pacific and US Eastern; Monday in Eastern Australia. What day is it where I am? ↓
Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit
Country
United Arab Emirates
Weekend
Standard
Race start (UTC)
Sunday, December 6, 13:00 UTC
Full Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
| Session | Day & date (UTC) | Start (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Fri, Dec 4 | |
| Free Practice 2 | Fri, Dec 4 | |
| Free Practice 3 | Sat, Dec 5 | |
| Qualifying | Sat, Dec 5 | |
| Race | Sun, Dec 6 |
Every session — practice, qualifying and the race — shown in your local timezone. Times update automatically if the schedule changes.
When is the Abu Dhabi GP?
The Abu Dhabi GP is round 23 of the 2026 Formula 1 season, held at Yas Marina Circuit in United Arab Emirates. Lights out is scheduled for Sunday, December 6 at 13:00 UTC. The card above converts that to your local time automatically and counts down to the start.
What time is the Abu Dhabi GP around the world?
Lights out is at . That puts the Abu Dhabi GP start at (US Eastern / ET, New York) for North American fans, in the UK and Ireland (London & Dublin), and in eastern Australia (Sydney & Melbourne) the next day. Full conversion across major regions and cities:
| Region | Local start time |
|---|---|
| US PacificLos Angeles | |
| US CentralChicago & Austin | |
| US EasternNew York | |
| MexicoMexico City | |
| Brazil (Brasília)São Paulo | |
| ArgentinaBuenos Aires | |
| UK & IrelandLondon & Dublin | |
| Central EuropeParis & Berlin | |
| Gulf (UAE)Dubai & Abu Dhabi | |
| IndiaMumbai & New Delhi | |
| SingaporeKuala Lumpur & Manila | |
| JapanTokyo | |
| Eastern AustraliaSydney & Melbourne | (next day) |
Session start times verified against the official F1 timetable on October 6, 2026. Times can change — this page reflects the last verified schedule and updates automatically when it does.
What time does the Abu Dhabi GP finish?
The Abu Dhabi GP is scheduled to finish at approximately — about two hours after the start. F1 races run to the lesser of 305 km or two hours of racing, so most last around 1h45–2h of green-flag running; a red flag or repeated safety cars can push the finish later, and the FIA caps total race time at three hours (how long is an F1 race?). How many stops it takes to get there comes down to the soft, medium and hard tyre compounds and how fast they wear. In the UK and Ireland that is roughly , and on the US East Coast about . Treat it as a planning estimate — take the exact start time above and add roughly two hours.
Qualifying converts the same way — set your alarm for in the UK:
| Region | Local start time |
|---|---|
| US PacificLos Angeles | |
| US CentralChicago & Austin | |
| US EasternNew York | |
| MexicoMexico City | |
| Brazil (Brasília)São Paulo | |
| ArgentinaBuenos Aires | |
| UK & IrelandLondon & Dublin | |
| Central EuropeParis & Berlin | |
| Gulf (UAE)Dubai & Abu Dhabi | |
| IndiaMumbai & New Delhi | |
| SingaporeKuala Lumpur & Manila | |
| JapanTokyo | |
| Eastern AustraliaSydney & Melbourne | (next day) |
When does F1 Fantasy lock for the Abu Dhabi GP?
F1 Fantasy players need the same thing this page does best — a time, in your own timezone. Your team locks at the start of qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP:
F1 Fantasy lock deadline: Qualifying start — (UTC). Set your team before qualifying begins. See every round’s F1 Fantasy deadline →
Derived from this round’s qualifying start time above, so it always matches the schedule. For every round’s deadline in your timezone with a live countdown, see the F1 Fantasy deadline tracker.
About Yas Marina Circuit
The Abu Dhabi GP is run over 58 laps of the 5.281 km Yas Marina Circuit — the venue for the season finale, run as a day-to-night race in Abu Dhabi. The venue first hosted a round of the Formula 1 World Championship in 2009.
- Circuit length: 5.281 km
- Race distance: 58 laps
- First World Championship race here: 2009
- Race lap record: 1:25.637, Kevin Magnussen (Haas) in 2024
The official Formula 1 race lap record at Yas Marina Circuit is 1:25.637, set by Kevin Magnussen (Haas) during the 2024 Grand Prix. Only laps set in the race itself count, so faster qualifying laps don’t — see every circuit’s mark on the F1 lap records page. (Source: formula1.com.)
Full Yas Marina Circuit circuit guide — length, race distance & every recent winner →
2025: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won. Full 2025 Abu Dhabi GP result
Who won the last Abu Dhabi GP? Recent winners at Yas Marina Circuit
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) won the most recent Formula 1 race at Yas Marina Circuit in 2025. Max Verstappen has won here 5 times in the last 6 runnings — more than any other driver in this span. Here are the winners of the last 6 runnings at Yas Marina Circuit:
| Season | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2024 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2020 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
Historical results are immutable facts, compiled from public Formula 1 records — unofficial and not affiliated with Formula 1. Verified 2026-10-06.
Abu Dhabi GP practice, qualifying times
A Grand Prix weekend is more than race day. The Abu Dhabi GP runs 4 timed sessions before lights out, listed here in UTC — the table above shows each one in your own timezone:
- Free Practice 1: Friday, December 4 at 09:30 UTC
- Free Practice 2: Friday, December 4 at 13:00 UTC
- Free Practice 3: Saturday, December 5 at 10:30 UTC
- Qualifying: Saturday, December 5 at 14:00 UTC
Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP sets the grid on Saturday, December 5 at 14:00 UTC. Open this page on race weekend and every time shown updates to wherever you are in the world.
How to watch the Abu Dhabi GP live
In the US the Abu Dhabi GP is live on Apple TV, which became the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the United States from 2026 with every session live. In the UK it’s on Sky Sports F1, with free highlights on Channel 4; and worldwide, F1 TV Pro streams every session where it’s available. Major viewer markets:
| Viewer market | Where to watch |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | Apple TV (exclusive from 2026 — every session live; all practice sessions and select races free in the Apple TV app) |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1 (every session live)Free-to-air: Channel 4 (free-to-air highlights; live coverage of the British GP) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | TSN / RDS (French); stream via TSN+ |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Fox Sports / Foxtel; stream via Kayo SportsFree-to-air: Network 10 (free-to-air for the Australian GP) |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Globo — sportv and GloboPlay (every session live)Free-to-air: TV Globo (free-to-air) — 15 Grands Prix live and on delay |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Grupo Televisa — Sky Sports channels via Sky and Izzi (every session live)Free-to-air: Canal 5 (free-to-air for the Mexican GP) |
| 🇫🇷 France | Canal+ |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Sky DeutschlandFree-to-air: RTL (free-to-air for select races) |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Sky ItaliaFree-to-air: TV8 (free-to-air for select races/highlights) |
| 🌍 Worldwide | F1 TV Pro (official live stream of every session, where available) |
For subscription costs, free trials and how to watch F1 free in every market, see the full 2026 F1 TV & streaming guide.
Broadcast details can change — confirm with your provider before lights out. Unofficial; not affiliated with Formula 1 or any broadcaster.
Watch the Abu Dhabi GP back — highlights & replays
Missed it? Official Abu Dhabi GP highlights are posted free on the Formula 1 YouTube channel and at formula1.com/video within a few hours of the chequered flag. Full-race replays and every session on demand are available to F1 TV Pro subscribers wherever F1 TV is offered.
Free-to-air catch-up and highlights in your country:
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Channel 4 (free-to-air highlights; live coverage of the British GP)
- 🇦🇺 Australia: Network 10 (free-to-air for the Australian GP)
- 🇧🇷 Brazil: TV Globo (free-to-air) — 15 Grands Prix live and on delay
- 🇲🇽 Mexico: Canal 5 (free-to-air for the Mexican GP)
- 🇩🇪 Germany: RTL (free-to-air for select races)
- 🇮🇹 Italy: TV8 (free-to-air for select races/highlights)
Highlights and replay availability vary by region and can change; only official Formula 1 and licensed broadcaster sources are listed. Unofficial; not affiliated with Formula 1 or any broadcaster.
Common questions about the Abu Dhabi GP
What time does the Abu Dhabi GP start?
Lights out for the Abu Dhabi GP is at 13:00 UTC on Sunday, December 6. That is 8:00 AM EST in the US (Eastern), 1:00 PM GMT in the UK and Ireland, and 12:00 AM AEDT in eastern Australia the following day. The card at the top converts it to your own timezone automatically.
What day is the Abu Dhabi GP?
The Abu Dhabi GP falls on a different calendar day depending on where you watch: Sunday in US Pacific and US Eastern; Monday in Eastern Australia. It happens at the same instant everywhere — set your reminder for the local day shown in the card and table above.
What time does the Abu Dhabi GP finish?
The Abu Dhabi GP is scheduled to finish about two hours after the 13:00 UTC start — roughly 15:00 UTC. Most F1 races last around 1h45–2h, but safety cars or a red flag can extend it, up to a three-hour maximum.
What time is the Abu Dhabi GP in the US?
In the US the Abu Dhabi GP starts at 8:00 AM EST on the East Coast (Eastern) and 5:00 AM PST on the West Coast (Pacific). It is shown live on Apple TV, the exclusive US home of Formula 1 from 2026.
Where is the Abu Dhabi GP held?
The Abu Dhabi GP is held at Yas Marina Circuit, United Arab Emirates — round 23 of the 2026 Formula 1 season. It is run over 58 laps of the 5.281 km circuit.
Is the Abu Dhabi GP a sprint weekend?
No — the Abu Dhabi GP is a standard Grand Prix weekend: practice sessions and qualifying, then the Grand Prix on Sunday. There is no sprint race at this round.
What channel is the Abu Dhabi GP on?
In the US the Abu Dhabi GP is live on Apple TV; in the UK it is on Sky Sports F1, with free-to-air highlights on Channel 4. Worldwide, F1 TV Pro streams every session where it is available.
Where can I watch the Abu Dhabi GP highlights?
Official Abu Dhabi GP highlights are posted free on the Formula 1 YouTube channel and at formula1.com/video within a few hours of the chequered flag. In some countries a free-to-air broadcaster also airs a highlights show — for example Channel 4 in the UK and TV8 in Italy.
Can I watch the Abu Dhabi GP full race back on replay?
Yes — full-race replays and every session on demand are available to F1 TV Pro subscribers wherever F1 TV is offered. Free official highlights (not the full race) go up on the Formula 1 YouTube channel and formula1.com/video shortly after the race.
When does F1 Fantasy lock for the Abu Dhabi GP?
Your F1 Fantasy team locks for the Abu Dhabi GP at the start of qualifying — 14:00 UTC on Saturday, December 5. That is 9:00 AM EST in the US (Eastern), 2:00 PM GMT in the UK and Ireland, and 1:00 AM AEDT in eastern Australia. Make any transfers and set your line-up before then.
What is the lap record at Yas Marina Circuit?
The official Formula 1 race lap record at Yas Marina Circuit is 1:25.637, set by Kevin Magnussen (Haas) in 2024. Only laps set during the Grand Prix itself count toward the record, so quicker qualifying laps do not.
Add it to your calendar
One click adds the Abu Dhabi GP to your calendar with the 13:00 UTC start time already localised to wherever you are — no download, no app:
Prefer a file? Use the Add to calendar button above to download an .ics for this race with a 30-minute heads-up alarm. Want every round at once? Subscribe to the full-season calendar — one tap adds it to Google, Apple or Outlook and keeps it in sync if a session time changes.