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how to watch f1 testing in bahrain

How to watch F1 testing in Bahrain (2026)

You can watch Bahrain F1 pre-season testing in 2026 through official TV broadcasters (like Sky), F1’s own streaming service, and limited free trials or local options, plus in-person at the circuit.

Key dates, times and format

  • There are two three-day Bahrain tests in 2026:
    • Test 1: 11–13 February.
* Test 2: 18–20 February.
  • Daily track running:
    • Bahrain local time: 10:00–19:00 AST (split into morning and afternoon sessions).
* UK time: 07:00–16:00 GMT.

Only a small portion of Test 1 is shown live on TV, but all of Test 2 is scheduled to be broadcast in full.

TV and official streaming options

1. Broadcasters (e.g. Sky Sports F1, ESPN)

  • Test 1 (Feb 11–13):
    • Only the final hour each day is broadcast live across F1’s main TV partners (e.g. Sky Sports F1 in the UK).
* Typical slot: around **15:00–16:00 UK time**.
  • Test 2 (Feb 18–20):
    • Planned full-day live coverage on partner channels (from 07:00–16:00 GMT in the UK).

ESPN and similar networks also provide coverage plus live blogs and updates if you cannot watch full video.

2. F1 TV (official streaming)

  • February Bahrain testing is available on F1 TV Premium in many regions, usually with a split between F1 TV’s own commentary and feeds from partner broadcasters like Sky.
  • Some early tests (e.g. Barcelona) are closed to live cameras, but Bahrain is explicitly open for live coverage via F1 TV and TV partners.
  • In the US, access to testing on F1 TV may appear close to the event dates; users report that availability “shows up shortly” before Bahrain testing in the app.

Forum users with F1 TV Premium confirm that Bahrain testing is shown live there, often in partnership with Sky, making F1 TV one of the safest ways to stream the sessions legally.

3. Streaming services and free trials

Some regions can watch F1 testing using streaming platforms that carry the F1 channel and offer free trials:

  • Example services mentioned include Apple TV Plus (US) and Kayo Sports (Australia) where you may leverage a free trial to watch testing coverage.
  • Guides recommend pairing a VPN with services like Kayo Sports if you are travelling, by: signing up to a VPN, choosing an Australian server, and then logging into Kayo for F1 Testing coverage.

Always check that using such configurations complies with the service’s terms in your country.

Watching at the track in Bahrain

If you can travel, Bahrain is actually open to fans for testing:

  • Fans can buy tickets to watch pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit.
  • Tickets are available for Thursday and Friday of the first test (days 2 and 3), while day 1 is closed to spectators.
  • Example pricing:
    • Adults: about BD10 (roughly £19).
    • Children (3–12): about BD5 (around £9.50).

You also get live timing via F1’s website, which runs throughout all testing hours and is available even if you’re only following from home.

Extra options: highlights, blogs and community streams

If you can’t sit and watch full sessions, there are lighter ways to keep up.

  • Official highlights :
    • Barcelona-style behind-closed-doors tests only had short highlight packages on F1 channels; Bahrain, by contrast, has both highlights and some live broadcast.
  • Live blogs :
    • ESPN runs a live blog during Bahrain testing; many motorsport sites (like The Race) do “wall‑to‑wall coverage” across articles, podcasts and YouTube.
  • Community livestreams :
    • Independent channels on platforms like YouTube often host “watch-along” streams with timing overlays, radio snippets and social media updates, though they do not show full official footage for rights reasons.

Forum users sometimes share “free” streams, but links can break, be blocked by ISPs, or be legally dubious; people report needing to change DNS to access them, which is a sign they’re not official.

Practical checklist: how to watch from home

  1. Check your country’s official F1 broadcaster
    • If you’re in a market served by Sky, ESPN, etc., look for “Bahrain F1 Testing” or similar in the EPG around the specified dates and times.
  1. Consider F1 TV Premium
    • Verify availability in your country, then look for Bahrain Testing streams (Test 1 hour-long slots, Test 2 full-day coverage).
  1. Use a verified streaming bundle
    • In places like the US or Australia, use a streaming service that carries the F1 channel and see if a free trial is available around testing dates.
  1. Use live timing and blogs as backup
    • Keep F1.com’s live timing open and follow outlets like ESPN and The Race for text and analysis if you can’t watch full video.
  1. Avoid sketchy links
    • Forum “free streams” are often unstable or blocked and may be illegal; users report ISP blocks and needing DNS tweaks just to connect.

Mini forum-style snapshot

“First testing in January will be closed to the media… February testing in Bahrain will be available on F1TV, usually it’s cooperation between F1TV and Sky, so half day with F1 TV commentary and second half with Sky UK team.”

This captures the general fan expectation: Barcelona = secretive, Bahrain = first real live look at the new cars.

Short TL;DR

  • Bahrain F1 testing 2026 runs 11–13 Feb and 18–20 Feb , 10:00–19:00 local (07:00–16:00 UK).
  • Test 1: Only the final hour each day is live on TV/F1 TV; Test 2: full-day coverage.
  • Watch via your local F1 broadcaster, F1 TV Premium , or supported streaming services with possible free trials; live timing and blogs cover everything else.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.