beIN SPORTS ushered in the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season in the Philippines with an Australian Grand Prix watch party, celebrating both the opening race weekend and the broadcaster’s newly-extended partnership with the sport.
READ: George Russell wins Australian GP in smashing start to F1 season
Earlier in February, beIN SPORTS secured an extension of its exclusive Formula 1 broadcasting rights across 10 Asian territories, including the Philippines, through the end of the 2030 season, ensuring fans in the region continued access to the world’s premier motorsport championship.
To kick off the campaign, hundreds of members of the growing local F1 community gathered at the racing-themed Monza Barcade to watch the #AusGP, ushering in what is expected to be a transformative era for the sport.
Through the beIN SPORTS CONNECT streaming app, fans can follow the entire Formula One season live, from practice and qualifying sessions to sprint races and the Grand Prix along with support series Formula 2, Formula 3, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and F1 Academy.
Coverage will also include Sky Sports F1 programming such as The F1 Show and Ted’s Notebook, alongside original content including beIN SPORTS’ behind-the-scenes series Off The Grid, which features driver reactions and race-weekend insights.
Additional productions such as F1 Kids and the Formula 2 docuseries 'Chasing the Dream' will also be available to viewers.
Fans can subscribe to beIN SPORTS CONNECT for as low as PHP 199 per month or PHP 1,670 per year to catch all Formula 1 action with more updates and exclusive content throughout the season.
New technical era for F1
The 2026 season also introduces sweeping technical changes across the grid, including a new generation of hybrid power units, the shift to 100 percent sustainable fuels, the introduction of Overtake Mode in place of the traditional Drag Reduction System (DRS), and smaller, lighter next-generation cars designed to improve wheel-to-wheel racing.
The grid will also expand with the arrival of Cadillac as the championship’s 11th team, the first expansion in more than a decade.
“2026 marks the start of an exciting new era for Formula One fans, with game-changing regulations set to make the racing even more intense and unpredictable,” said Magdalene Ng, Executive Vice President for Marketing, Growth, and Consumer at beIN Asia Pacific.
“Our Australian Grand Prix watch party is just one of the many official ways Filipino fans can come together and connect with their favorite sport, and there’s nothing quite like watching a race alongside fellow fans who share the same passion,” she added.
To further engage the local community, beIN SPORTS also launched the #beINGPCreator Major Shift Challenge, inviting fans to create short-form TikTok or Instagram videos explaining what the sport’s sweeping 2026 changes mean for teams, drivers, and racing itself.
The most creative entry will win a four-day, three-night Grand Prix experience with Off The Grid social media presenter Marti Pecache.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
