Where To Watch F1 — where to watch f1: Start of F1’s Japanese GP delayed; OFFICIAL GRID revealed
where to watch f1 — The Japanese Grand Prix day was disrupted when barrier repairs at Turn 12 delayed the formation lap after a large crash in a support race, and Formula One World Championship Limited released the official starting order with Kimi Antonelli on pole. The formation lap was pushed back and the pitlane opened at a delayed time of 1: 30 p. m. ET for reconnaissance laps. Teams and fans are recalibrating for the revised start window while the grid order is confirmed.
Where To Watch F1: Delay, timing and what changed
The race day timetable shifted after a dramatic accident in the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan that sent one car airborne into the barriers and fence; the driver appeared to walk away. Barrier repairs at Turn 12 forced organisers to delay the start of the formation lap by 10 minutes, and F1’s pitlane opened at a delayed time of 1: 30 p. m. ET to line up reconnaissance laps that match the new start planning. The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix had been scheduled to begin at 2: 00 p. m. ET, with live coverage slated to start an hour earlier at 1: 00 p. m. ET, but teams adjusted operations to the revised timeline.
Official Starting Order and on-track ramifications
Formula One World Championship Limited published the full official starting order for the race: Kimi Antonelli secured pole for the second consecutive event, with Mercedes locking out the front row as Antonelli dominated team mate George Russell in qualifying. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will start third alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth. Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton line up fifth and sixth. Pierre Gasly occupies P7, heading a closely packed midfield; Isack Hadjar is eighth, Gabriel Bortoleto ninth and Arvid Lindblad rounds out the top ten after knocking stablemate Max Verstappen out in Q2.
The grid configuration sets a clear tactical map for the first laps: Mercedes’ one-two gives them a premium on clean air into the opening corners, while McLaren and Ferrari will be aiming to pressure the leaders immediately. Teams must also account for any lingering track repairs and the compressed pre-start window when finalising fuel, battery and hybrid deployment plans.
Support-race crash, safety and immediate operational response
The incident in the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan that triggered the delay saw two cars collide through a high-speed section before the Spoon Curves, with one car launched and then rolling into the barriers and fence. Track personnel carried out barrier repairs at Turn 12 before clearance for the F1 formation lap could be given. Race control authorised the delayed pitlane opening and staggered reconnaissance laps as the remedial work continued. Marshals and safety crews remained on-site monitoring the repaired barrier before green-lighting final grid procedures.
What’s next — run-up to the revised start
Teams will complete final system checks during the extended pitlane window and line up on the confirmed grid published by Formula One World Championship Limited. Race control will clear the circuit once all repairs meet the safety standard; the field will form up for the formation lap adjusted to the new schedule. Fans seeking where to watch f1 should follow the live broadcast window beginning at the revised pre-race opening. Officials have signalled readiness to proceed once everyone confirms the repaired barrier and marshal positions, with further updates expected as the situation is reassessed ahead of the rolling start.
Time-stamped at 1: 30 p. m. ET for the delayed pitlane opening and noting the scheduled race start window at 2: 00 p. m. ET, this situation remains fluid while safety crews complete checks and teams finalise their race starts—keep monitoring official updates for the next confirmation of when to watch the action.
