Australian GP 2025 dates, schedule, weather, UK start time and how to watch or stream F1 season-opener on Sky Sports
Find out the race-week schedule, weather and how to watch the Australian Grand Prix as a new season gets under way at Albert Park; watch all 24 rounds of the 2025 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian GP this weekend
Sunday 16 March 2025 08:11, UK
A new season of Formula 1 begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne as the anticipation continues to build ahead of what could be a year to remember.
The closeness of the field in the second half of last year and no team seemingly having a clear advantage in pre-season testing has got everyone excited for the first race of the year at Albert Park this weekend on March 14-16.
If there is a favourite for Melbourne, most people think it is Lando Norris after McLaren impressed in F1 testing, but team-mate Oscar Piastri will be looking to win on home soil.
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Reigning world champion Max Verstappen could be on the backfoot, but you can never rule him out of contention, and it will be fascinating to see how his new team-mate Liam Lawson fares.
Lewis Hamilton is hoping for a positive start to life at Ferrari after, arguably, the biggest driver change in F1 history, but there are so many other storylines up and down the grid heading into the Australian Grand Prix.
Australian GP circuit - Albert Park
Formula 1 first raced at Albert Park in 1996 and the Australian Grand Prix has stayed there ever since. Aside from the cancelled events in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Melbourne has always featured on the F1 calendar.
Australia has not held the season-opener since 2019 but will host at least five opening races of the year from this season until its contract at Albert Park ends in 2035.
Track changes ahead of the 2022 event saw the circuit become faster to increase overtaking, with some corners removed or changed. There are four DRS zones and the best places to overtake are at Turns 3 and 11.
Australian GP weather forecast in Melbourne
The latest weather forecast for Melbourne suggests showers could affect the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, with rain predicted during the build-up to the race.
Friday practice and Qualifying on Saturday is set to be dry but it will be a hot race weekend with air temperatures in the high 20s to mid 30s, so tyre degradation could be higher than expected.
Australian GP 2025 dates, UK start time and Sky Sports F1's live schedule
Saturday March 15
- 9.55pm: F3 Feature Race*
Sunday March 16
- 12.25am: F2 Feature Race*
- 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
- 7am: Ted's Notebook*
- 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky Showcase)
- 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi - Racing's Untold Tragedy
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
How to watch or stream the Australian Grand Prix in the UK and Ireland
Got Sky?
TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 from the first practice session on Friday morning to the Australian Grand Prix itself on Sunday, March 16 at 4am
App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app - with the option to go onboard with any driver!
Not got Sky?
Stream: Non Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass
Live blog: Anyone on the move can follow live coverage of the race weekend through our dedicated F1 blog
FREE Highlights: Watch F1 highlights shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app
How to watch the Australian GP with the Sky Sports app
Sky Sports Subscribers can:
- Download or open the Sky Sports app
- Head to the 'Watch' section at 2.30am for build-up, ahead of lights out at 4am
- Tap on the Sky Sports F1 or Sky Sports Main Event channel
- Sign in with your Sky iD (*you'll only need to do this once)
*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD
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It's an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. It offers contract-free memberships options, so customers can cancel anytime!
You can choose between a Month or Day Membership. See the latest NOW TV membership prices.
More information about NOW can be found here.
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - No contract, cancel anytime
