The Formula 1 season has kicked off with George Russell securing a win in Melbourne. Fans can look forward to a thrilling year ahead as races will be held worldwide throughout 2026. Sky has exciting news for viewers, with a significant TV upgrade on the horizon. The broadcasting company has announced new features aimed at enhancing the live sports viewing experience.
The upcoming update will bring an interactive twist to watching races. Sky will introduce a smart sidebar on screens during race weekends, offering tools like Race Control and Recap for quick replays of exciting moments. Additionally, viewers can easily access live in-race standings. Furthermore, the update will present dedicated driver and team pages, granting fans access to onboard cameras, enriched race data, explanations, and improved navigation on the homepage.
To enjoy these new features, Sky Sports subscribers using Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices will receive them for free. Although an exact launch date has not been confirmed yet, the upgrade is expected to be rolled out later in the season at no extra cost for current Sky Sports subscribers.
Formula 1 enthusiasts can catch every practice, qualifier, and race live by subscribing to Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering a special introductory deal saving £336. This package not only includes access to Sky Sports but also provides around 100 TV channels and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Sky, in an email to Express.co.uk, stated, “New for 2026, fans can look forward to even more flexibility and choice with a new immersive sidebar for TV viewing during race weekends.” Apart from the F1 upgrade, Sky has unveiled an Ultimate TV subscription plan, bundling major streaming services at a reduced monthly price of £24. This plan offers access to Disney+, Netflix, Hayu, and the upcoming HBO Max app in the UK, providing approximately £20 worth of streaming services in a single package.
The £24 Ultimate TV plan includes Netflix Standard with Ads, Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic with Ads starting March 26, Hayu with selected shows available from July, and over 130 Sky channels. Sky’s bundle is designed to offer excellent value by consolidating various streaming services for customers’ convenience.