(Motorsport-Total.com) – In less than two weeks, the 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne (here is the complete race calendar). While pay-TV broadcaster Sky continues to show all races behind the paywall, RTL has so far remained silent about the new season (These broadcasters show Formula 1).
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As part of a content partnership with Sky, the Cologne-based broadcaster aired a total of seven races on free-to-air TV last year. On other race weekends, at least qualifying or the sprint could be seen in the livestream on RTL+.
How things will continue in 2026 remains open, however. “Unfortunately, we also do not have any further information regarding Formula 1 on RTL yet,” explains an RTL spokesperson when asked by Motorsport-Total.com, but holds out the prospect that “clarity in the near future” is expected.
Sky acquisition by RTL not yet finalized
According to information from Motorsport-Total.com, RTL is still interested in showing seven races on free-to-air TV again this season. Now it is apparently up to Sky to agree to a continuation of the previous cooperation and to grant the sub-licensing rights for 2026 to RTL again.
The 2026 Formula 1 cars in their final designs on the racetrack
Until then, Formula 1 fans in Germany will have to be patient. At the same time, the cooperation between RTL and Sky was supposed to become significantly less complicated in the future: On June 27, 2025, RTL Deutschland announced in a press release that it intended to acquire Sky Deutschland for 150 million euros.
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However, the deal is still not finalized because the required approval from the European antitrust authorities, specifically the European Commission, is still pending. The RTL Group expects approval in the first half of 2026.
Only selected races on RTL on free-to-air TV
Until a decision is made, RTL and Sky continue to operate independently of each other, which apparently also has an impact on Formula 1. Because so far, there is no agreement on whether the premier class will be seen on free-to-air TV again this season.
RTL had broadcast all Formula 1 races up to and including 2020 before giving up the rights for cost reasons. In 2021 and 2022, four races each were shown on free-to-air TV as part of a cooperation with Sky. No agreement was reached for the 2023 season.
It was not until the 2024 season that the premier class returned to the free-to-air TV program of the Cologne-based broadcaster. RTL and Sky agreed on a two-year contract that brought seven races per season to free-to-air TV. It is quite likely, but by no means certain, that this model will be continued in the new Formula 1 era.
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