F1 Schedule and 2022 Guide: What to Know Coming Out of the Summer Break

After a nearly monthlong summer break, Formula One racing returns with its first stop in Belgium from Aug. 26 to 28. 

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has dominated up to this point in the season. He sits at 80 points above second-place driver Charles Leclerc, who races for Ferrari alongside Carlos Sainz (currently at fifth in the standings). Unlike last season, when the final race decided the world title, it is looking more and more like Verstappen will be relatively uncontested in securing the 2022 driver championship. 

Another key story line heading into the second half of the season is whether Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will be able to pull out a win. This is the first time in Hamilton’s career that he has returned from the summer break without a win yet this season, but based on how his results were trending right before the break (he finished in second twice and in third three consecutive times), it’s unlikely that he will finish the season without a win. If he did, it would be the first time—he has won in every year since his F1 career began in 2007. 

Fans should also have their eyes on where drivers may end up after Abu Dhabi. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has announced he will retire at the conclusion of the 2022 season, and the news that his seat at Aston Martin will be filled by Fernando Alonso (who currently drives for Alpine) has stirred up some controversy in the F1 world. Alpine announced Oscar Piastri as its replacement, but the Australian has countered that claim via Twitter. It has also been reported that McLaren informed Daniel Ricciardo it intends to replace him with Piastri. Ricciardo and the team announced they “mutually agreed” to part ways less than a month later. (His original contract goes through ’23, so this move required a substantial pay off.) Though a lot is left unofficial so far, all the rumors and changes swirling are sure to stir up some tension between the two teams as they approach the second half of the season.

How to Watch

Live coverage of each F1 Grand Prix will be broadcast on ESPN. 

ESPN can be watched live with fuboTV. The live sports streaming service can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser. New users can get a free trial of fuboTV.

TV Coverage and Weekly Schedule

Aug. 26–28: Belgian Grand Prix (Round 14)

The race takes place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on Aug. 28 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Last year’s result: 

1. Max Verstappen
2. George Russell
3. Lewis Hamilton

Sept. 2-4: Dutch Grand Prix (Round 15)

The race takes place at the Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands on Sept. 4 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Last year’s result:

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Valtteri Bottas

Sept. 9-11: Gran Premio D'Italia (Round 16)

The race takes place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy on Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Last year’s result:

1. Daniel Ricciardo
2. Lando Norris
3. Valtteri Bottas

Sept. 30–Oct. 2: Singapore Grand Prix (Round 17)

The race takes place at Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Last year’s result: 

The 2021 Singapore Grand Prix did not take place, with “organizers citing ongoing safety and logistic concerns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Oct. 7–9: Japanese Grand Prix (Round 18)

The race takes place at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Japan on Oct. 9 from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Last year’s result: 

The Japanese Grand Prix was also also canceled due to the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Oct. 21–23: United States Grand Prix (Round 19)

The race takes place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on Oct. 23 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Last year’s result: 

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Sergio Perez

Oct. 28–30: Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico (Round 20)

The race takes place at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on Oct. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Last year’s result: 

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Sergio Perez

Nov. 11–13: Grande Prêmio de São Paulo (Round 21)

The race takes place at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Brazil on Nov. 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Last year’s result: 

1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Valtteri Bottas

Nov. 18–20: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Round 22) 

The race takes place at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Last year’s result: 

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Carlos Sainz