The F1 season has kicked off with George Russell emerging victorious in Melbourne. Throughout 2026, the F1 calendar will span various locations worldwide, offering an exciting experience for fans. Sky has recently announced a significant upgrade for its customers, enhancing the way sports enthusiasts watch live events.
The upcoming update will revolutionize the viewing experience by introducing interactive elements for viewers. Sky will introduce a smart sidebar during race weekends, providing tools like Race Control and Recap for quick replays of exciting moments. Additionally, viewers can easily access live in-race standings through this feature.
In addition to increased interaction during races, the update will introduce dedicated pages for drivers and teams, offering access to onboard cameras, enriched race data, explanatory content, and improved navigation on the homepage.
To access these new features, Sky Sports subscribers using Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices can enjoy them for free. While an exact launch date has not been confirmed yet, the upgrade is expected to be rolled out later in the season, with existing Sky Sports subscribers receiving these features at no extra cost.
Formula 1 enthusiasts can watch every practice, qualifying session, and race live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, saving £336 in an introductory deal. This package also includes access to around 100 TV channels and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Sky, in an email statement to Express.co.uk, mentioned that fans can anticipate a new immersive sidebar for TV viewing during race weekends in 2026. Apart from the F1 upgrade, Sky has unveiled a new Ultimate TV subscription plan that bundles major streaming services at a discounted monthly rate of £24.
The Ultimate TV plan includes Netflix Standard with Ads, Disney+ Standard with Ads starting in March, HBO Max Basic with Ads launching on March 26, Hayu with selected shows available from July (and some from March), and over 130 Sky channels. According to Sky, this package offers substantial value by consolidating approximately £20 worth of streaming services in one comprehensive offering.