The F1 season has kicked off with George Russell securing a win in Melbourne. Fans can look forward to a global tour throughout 2026, with Sky enhancing the viewing experience for its customers. The broadcaster has revealed upcoming features aimed at improving the way sports enthusiasts watch live events.

The forthcoming update will present viewers with a new interactive experience. Sky will introduce a smart sidebar during race weekends, offering tools like Race Control and Recap for quick replays of exciting moments. Additionally, fans can easily access live in-race standings through this feature.

In addition to increased interactivity during races, the update will bring dedicated driver and team pages. These pages will grant fans access to onboard cameras, enriched race data, explanatory content, and improved homepage navigation.

To access the new features, Sky Sports subscribers using Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices will receive them for free. While an exact launch date is yet to be confirmed, the upgrade is expected to roll out later in the season at no extra cost to existing subscribers.

Formula 1 enthusiasts can enjoy live coverage of every practice, qualifier, and race by subscribing to Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle. This bundle not only includes Sky Sports access but also provides access to around 100 TV channels and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.

In an emailed statement to Express.co.uk, Sky mentioned that fans can anticipate a more immersive TV viewing experience during race weekends with the introduction of a new sidebar for 2026.

Apart from the F1 upgrade, Sky has announced a new Ultimate TV subscription plan. Priced at £24 per month, this plan bundles major streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, Hayu, and the upcoming HBO Max app in the UK, offering a consolidated monthly rate for these services valued at around £20.

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.