The Formula 1 circus heads to the Las Vegas Strip this month, and the race starts at 8:00 PM local time on Saturday, November 21. That is 8:00 PM Pacific and 11:00 PM Eastern, which puts the green flag in prime time for fans in the Bay Area and on the East Coast.
Below you will find every session in Pacific and Eastern time, how to watch in the United States, a few facts about the Strip Circuit and ideas for turning race night into a proper watch party. All timings come from Formula 1's official timetable and Apple's F1 page, so check both close to race day because schedules can change.
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026 schedule in Pacific and Eastern time
Formula 1's timetable lists local Las Vegas time, which matches Pacific time for Bay Area viewers, and it notes that Las Vegas is 8 hours behind UTC. Apple's page lists the Eastern equivalents. The weekend follows the standard format of three practice sessions, qualifying and the race.
Practice 1 is on Thursday, November 19, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific, which is 7:30 PM Eastern. Practice 2 follows the same night from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific, or 11:00 PM Eastern. Practice 3 is on Friday, November 20, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific, or 7:30 PM Eastern.
Qualifying is on Friday, November 20, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific, which is 11:00 PM Eastern. The race is on Saturday, November 21, with the drivers' parade at 6:00 PM, the national anthem at 7:44 PM and the green flag at 8:00 PM Pacific. Formula 1 lists the Grand Prix as 50 laps or a maximum of 2 hours, so the race window runs to about 10:00 PM Pacific.
How to watch the Las Vegas GP in the US
Apple TV is the U.S. home of Formula 1, and its F1 page says every Grand Prix, practice, qualifying session and Sprint is available live to subscribers. The same page says every practice is available without a subscription, along with a select number of race weekends, so check the Las Vegas listing in the app to see what your account can watch.
Apple says U.S. subscribers get F1 TV Premium at no additional cost by linking their Apple Account at f1.com/apple. Coverage comes with English and Spanish commentary, onboard cameras for every driver and Multiview, which plays up to four feeds at once on Apple TV 4K, iPad and Vision Pro. If you share a subscription with family, Apple says Family Sharing covers up to five other members.
DIRECTV also advertises Apple TV access as an add-on, according to a viewing guide published by AmericanTV.com, and it advises Eastern viewers to confirm any recording or replay rules before relying on them. An installed app alone does not grant access, so sign in and confirm your entitlement a day early. Playback works on Apple devices, Android, smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles and the web.
What to know about the Las Vegas Strip Circuit
Formula 1 describes the track as the 6.201 kilometer Las Vegas Strip Circuit, run over 50 laps in Nevada. Every session on the timetable runs in the late afternoon or evening local time, which is why the start times above are so kind to US viewers.
The title picture matters less this year than it did a few weeks ago. Our São Paulo Grand Prix preview covered how Kimi Antonelli clinched the drivers' title in Mexico City, according to Formula 1, so Las Vegas arrives as the third to last round with the championship already settled. That tends to free up the racing and the conversation, because fans can follow storylines up and down the grid instead of one points fight.
The remaining rounds are close together. Apple's schedule lists the Qatar Grand Prix for November 27 to 29 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for December 4 to 6, so Las Vegas is the first of three consecutive race weekends worth putting on the calendar.
Plan a Saturday night watch party in the Bay Area
An 8:00 PM Pacific start is easy to host around. Invite people for a 7:00 PM dinner, put the drivers' parade on at 6:00 PM if you want a longer build-up and keep the group chat open during the race for reactions. Qualifying on Friday at 8:00 PM works as a casual weeknight gathering, since the session lasts an hour and sets the grid.
Starting a thread on Thursday for practice takes the pressure off the weekend. Post predictions before qualifying, then settle them after the chequered flag. Our F1 group chat names guide has plenty of ideas if your crew needs a name, and the NBA Cup explainer and guide to running an NFL pick'em league in a group chat cover what else to put in the same chat this month.
People on the Peninsula and in the South Bay have an easy way to find company for a night like this. Tribe organizes South Bay Renaissance, a community started in August 2026 to rebuild the startup and social scene in Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Jose and the cities around them one gathering at a time. Its games nights are a good template for a race night, and the N64 Mario Kart Tournament at The Pro in Palo Alto on October 14 was a casual evening of friendly competition with light appetizers and new people.
Watch with your crew
Race weekends are better with company, and there is always a friend who wants to explain tire strategy. Follow the Tribe Events calendar on Luma to see upcoming dinners, hikes and game nights, and join the South Bay Renaissance group chat to find people near you who want to watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix together.
