The Formula 1 season has kicked off with George Russell clinching victory in Melbourne. Fans can expect an exciting calendar spanning the globe throughout 2026. Sky has announced a significant TV upgrade for its customers, introducing new features aimed at enhancing the live sports viewing experience.
The upcoming update will bring a fresh interactive dimension to viewers, with Sky incorporating a smart sidebar that will appear during race weekends. This sidebar will provide access to tools like Race Control and Recap, allowing fans to quickly revisit thrilling overtakes and essential moments. Additionally, viewers can easily check live in-race standings.
In addition to increased interactivity during races, the update will include dedicated driver and team pages, granting fans access to onboard cameras, enhanced race data, explanatory content, and improved homepage navigation.
The new features will be accessible at no extra cost to Sky Sports subscribers using Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices. Although an exact launch date has not been confirmed yet, the upgrade is anticipated to roll out later in the season for existing Sky Sports subscribers.
Formula 1 enthusiasts can enjoy every practice, qualifier, and race live by availing Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which offers a special introductory deal saving £336. This package also includes approximately 100 TV channels, along with complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Sky, in a statement to Express.co.uk, highlighted the introduction of a new immersive sidebar for TV viewing during race weekends, promising fans even more flexibility and choice in 2026. The F1 upgrade is just one of the changes from Sky, as the company has unveiled an Ultimate TV subscription plan that combines major streaming services at a reduced monthly rate.
Priced at £24 per month, the Ultimate TV plan gives both new and existing customers access to Disney+, Netflix, Hayu, and the upcoming HBO Max app in the UK. Sky emphasizes the value of the bundle, consolidating approximately £20 worth of streaming services in a single offering.
Included in the £24 Ultimate TV plan are Netflix Standard with Ads, Disney+ Standard with Ads (from March), HBO Max Basic with Ads (from March 26), Hayu (from July, with selected shows available from March), and over 130 Sky channels.