F1 Practice Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2025 start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV

Hamilton and Norris lead start of Sprint in Shanghai — Photo: © IMAGO

Chinese Grand Prix

F1 Practice Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2025 start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV

Formula 1 heads to China for the second race of the season

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Thursday 20 March 2025 14:00

Right off the back of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Formula 1 hits Shanghai this weekend for the Chinese Grand Prix.

This weekend is the first of the season to feature a sprint race, meaning that fans will get to see some extra racing action, as well as a second qualifying session.

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McLaren looked to have the dominant car in Australia in round one, with Lando Norris winning, and both Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri being over 16 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen before changing conditions and multiple safety cars allowed the Dutchman a late sniff of a victory.

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari will be hoping for a strong sprint weekend, following a dismal grand prix debut in red for the seven-time champion, where he could only qualify eighth and finish the race down in 10th in Australia.

F1 Practice times - Chinese Grand Prix

The action starts on Friday with FP1 at 11:30am local time (CST), before the all-important sprint qualifying gets underway later in the afternoon.

Find the session start times converted to your local time zone below:

Chinese Grand Prix FP1 - Friday, March 21 2025

Location	Start Time
Local Time (CST)	11:30 AM
New York, United States (ET)	11:30 PM (Thursday)
Chicago, United States (CT)	10:30 PM (Thursday)
Denver, United States (MT)	9:30 PM (Thursday)
Los Angeles, United States (PT)	8:30 PM (Thursday)
London, United Kingdom (GMT)	3:30 AM
Sydney, Australia (AEDT)	2:30 PM
Adelaide, Australia (ACDT)	2 PM
Perth, Australia (AWST)	11:30 AM
Mexico City, Mexico (CST)	9:30 PM (Thursday)
Berlin, Germany (CET)	4:30 AM
Tokyo, Japan (JST)	12:30 PM
Cape Town, South Africa (SAST)	5:30 AM
Cairo, Egypt (EEST)	5:30 AM
Beijing, China (CST)	11:30 AM
New Delhi, India (IST)	9 AM
São Paulo, Brazil (BRT)	12:30 AM
Singapore, Singapore (SGT)	11:30 AM

How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix practice live on TV today

Broadcast details vary depending on your location. Check below to see how to tune in for some major countries:

Country	Broadcaster(s)
United States	ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Mexico	Fox Sports Mexico, Televisa
Australia	Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo
United Kingdom	Sky Sports
Italy	Sky Italia
Belgium	RTBF, Play Sports
Netherlands	Viaplay, Viaplay Xtra
Spain	DAZN F1
Canada	RDS, RDS 2, TSN, Noovo
Germany	Sky Deutschland, RTL
France	Canal+
Singapore	beIN SPORTS
China	CCTV, Shanghai TV, Guangdong Television Channel, Tencent
Japan	Fuji TV, DAZN
Hungary	M4 (MTVA Sports Channel)
Brazil	Bandeirantes, Bandsports
Austria	Servus TV, ORF
Middle East & Turkey	beIN SPORTS
Africa	SuperSport
India	FanCode
Latin America	ESPN

F1TV Pro also carries coverage of the sport, depending on which territory you are in.

Written by

Sam Cook - Digital Journalist

Sam Cook is a talented young sports journalist and social media professional who now specialises in Formula 1, having previously worked as a football journalist and a local news reporter for a variety of different brands.

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Formula 1 Daniel Ricciardo FIA Australian Grand Prix Chinese Grand Prix