F1 UK start time: What time is the grand prix today?

The 63-lap Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix takes the start at 3 p.m. local time in Imola on Sunday, 18 May, signalling the seventh contest of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.



Fans in the United Kingdom will see lights out at 2 p.m. BST, while viewers on America’s East Coast need to tune in at 9 a.m. EDT.



The race begins at 8 a.m. CDT and 6 a.m. PDT for central and west-coast audiences in the United States, respectively.



Supporters in Brazil catch the action at 10 a.m. BRT, and South-African fans share Italy’s 3 p.m. SAST slot.



Asian start times vary: 6 : 30 p.m. IST in India, 9 p.m. SST in Singapore and China, and 10 p.m. JST for Japan.



Australian viewers face a late night, with lights out at 11 p.m. AEST, 10 : 30 p.m. ACST and 9 p.m. AWST.



Where to watch



Sky Sports F1 holds live television rights in the UK, pairing comprehensive coverage with Sky Go and NOW streaming.



Channel 4 will broadcast free-to-air highlights several hours after the chequered flag.



ESPN screens the race live across its U.S. network, with a Spanish-language option on ESPN Deportes.



Canadian fans can choose between TSN’s English feed and RDS’s French programme.



Australia’s Fox Sports and Kayo stream the Grand Prix, supplemented by a Network Ten highlights package.



Europe’s major pay-TV partners include Sky Italia, DAZN F1 in Spain and Servus TV in Austria, while Germany relies on Sky Deutschland.



Free streaming paths



Italian viewers can watch the race live and free on TV8, which simulcasts Sky’s world feed.



In the Netherlands, Viaplay Xtra provides a complimentary stream via KPN channel 51, Ziggo channel 13 and Odido channel 13.



Selected territories also enjoy Formula 1’s own F1 TV Pro service, offering onboard cameras and driver radio for a monthly fee, though blackout restrictions apply.



Grid narrative



Oscar Piastri starts from pole for McLaren after a blistering 1 : 13.402 that extended his qualifying streak to four.



Max Verstappen lines up alongside in the Red Bull, eager to convert front-row proximity into victory calculus at Tamburello.



George Russell and Lando Norris share row two, promising an inter-team duel for early track position.



Ferrari endured a chastening afternoon: Charles Leclerc begins 11th, and new recruit Lewis Hamilton occupies 12th after complaining that fresh soft tyres “found no extra grip.”



Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso surprised the paddock with fifth, giving the veteran an outside podium chance after six pointless rounds.



Strategic picture



Pirelli’s C3-C4-C5 allocation steers most strategists toward a medium-to-hard one-stop, although last year’s sprint taught teams to guard against early graining.



Imola’s single DRS zone and narrow asphalt usher undercuts into prominence, so expect leaders to pit as soon as lap 19 if traffic permits.



Safety-car probability sits above 40 percent because gravel traps lurk metres from the racing line, especially at Acque Minerali.



Weather window



Forecasters predict 27 °C ambient with a light northerly breeze and less than 10 percent rain risk—ideal for high-energy tyre management yet still hot enough to punish aggressive rear slip.



Track temperatures could crest 45 °C by lap 30, raising brake-cooling concerns after multiple lock-ups in practice.



Storylines to watch



McLaren aims to protect a 105-point constructors’ lead, while Mercedes eyes damage limitation after plank-wear scares on Kimi Antonelli’s car.



Red Bull must translate Verstappen’s launch into lap-one supremacy to avoid getting undercut by Russell’s offset tyres.



Ferrari’s midfield starting slots demand bold alternate strategies; an early stop could catapult Hamilton into the top six if clean air emerges.



Further back, Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto seeks redemption from Saturday’s speeding penalty, and Yuki Tsunoda targets points after his qualifying flip.



Final reminder



Check local listings for last-minute scheduling tweaks, enable app notifications for live-timing access and brace for one of the calendar’s most atmospheric races as the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari roars back to life.
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