After a controversial end to the 2021 Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen earned — some say handed — the driver’s championship, outlasting Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and dethroning the Mercedes driver en route to his first championship.
Verstappen and Hamilton came down to the last lap on the last race in Abu Dhabi, and the F1 world has felt the reverberations since. Race director Michael Masi is out, speculation surrounding Hamilton’s future in the circuit swirled for a month and the FIA shuffled some rules to make things a bit less ambiguous.
Now, it’s a new season with new cars, new drivers, new teams and just a pinch of drama already, and it all gets underway on Sunday, March 20.
Here’s what you need to know about the opening race of the 2022 Formula 1 circuit:
MORE: Watch the Bahrain Grand Prix live with fuboTV (free trial)
What channel is the F1 race on today?
Race: Bahrain Grand Prix Date: Sunday, March 20 TV channel: ESPN Live stream: ESPN+, fuboTV
The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2022 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports’ feed, with select races airing on ABC later earlier the season. You can also stream Formula 1 races live in the U.S. with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2022 F1 races in the U.S.
What time does the F1 race start today?
Date: Sunday, March 20 Start time: 11 a. m. ET
The 11 a.m. ET start time for Sunday’s race means the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix will start at 7 p.m. local time. Lights out will likely take place just after 11 a.m. ET. ESPN’s pre-race show usually airs in the hour before the start of the race.
Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend’s F1 events at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. All times are Eastern.
Formula 1 live stream for Bahrain Grand Prix
For those who don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, there are five major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the five, Hulu, fuboTV and YouTubeTV offer free-trial options.
Below are links to each.
fuboTV (free trial) Sling TV Hulu (free trial) YouTubeTV (free trial) AT&T Now
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.
How to watch Formula 1 in Canada
TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French) Live stream: TSN Direct
For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English telecast of races. For those looking for the French broadcast, RDS will have you covered.
Races can also be streamed via TSN’s streaming service, TSN Direct.
How to watch Formula 1 in the United Kingdom
TV channel: Sky Sports F1 Live stream: NOW TV
Viewers located in the United Kingdom can catch all F1 action on Sky Sports F1, the dedicated F1 channel. For viewers planning to live stream F1 in 2022, you can purchase a Sky Sports Pass on NOW TV.
How to watch Formula 1 in Australia
TV channel: Fox Sports; Channel 10 Live stream: Kayo
Fox Sports will carry all races in Australia, with Channel 10 broadcasting the Australian GP on Channel 10.
Formula 1 2022 schedule
In total, there are 22 scheduled events on the F1 docket for 2022, one race shy of tying the mark for longest F1 calendar.
The season starts in Bahrain on March 20, and ends with its customary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although a bit earlier than usual, in November. If the schedule stands, this will be the earliest end of the Formula 1 season since it ended on Nov. 4 in 2013.
Returning to the 2022 F1 slate are the Canadian and Japanese Grand Prix, both of which were canceled in 2021 amidst fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The calendar also holds the maiden voyage for the Miami Grand Prix, the first of two races in the United States in 2022, with the customary United States GP taking place in October.
The Russian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for Sept. 25, was canceled due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Here’s the latest schedule (subject to change):
