(Motorsport-Total.com) – Formula 1 returns to German free TV this weekend. RTL will broadcast the Monaco Grand Prix (including qualifying on Saturday) live and free of charge. This marks the first time in more than half a year that a Formula 1 race will be shown on free TV in Germany again.
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RTL last showed the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2025. Although it was planned to broadcast selected races again in 2026, RTL did not announce until recently how exactly the plans for the new season would look.
Now the first race has been officially confirmed with the Grand Prix in Monaco. The timing is no coincidence, as on June 1, the RTL Group took over Sky Deutschland as previously announced, and thus the Formula 1 rights holder in Germany.
Just one day later, RTL announced that it would broadcast the Monaco GP as part of a self-proclaimed “Super Sports Weekend.” The new synergies from the Sky takeover are also to be directly utilized.
A press release states: “In front of the cameras, the teams from the broadcasters will appear together for the first time, while the race commentary will continue to be done separately. RTL relies on its proven Formula 1 team with Kai Ebel, Heiko Wasser, and Christian Danner.”
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Meanwhile, as usual, Peter Hardenacke, Sandra Baumgartner, Ralf Schumacher, Sascha Roos, and Timo Glock are on duty for Sky. The race will be shown on RTL’s main channel and also on the niche channel Nitro. All channels will start broadcasting on Sunday at 1:30 PM (race start 3:00 PM).
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RTL sports chief Frank Robens explains: “This Super Sports Weekend is just the beginning. For the first time, we are working together in this form at an international sports event and combining our strengths for a joint TV and streaming experience.”
RTL managing director Inga Leschek adds: “With our first joint Super Sports Weekend, we make it immediately tangible for the fans what the merger of RTL Germany and Sky Germany means.”
“This is a preview of the sports experiences we will create together for the fans in the future,” says Leschek. However, which role Formula 1 will specifically play in this remains initially open.
Because the Monaco Grand Prix is so far the only World Championship race confirmed for an RTL broadcast in 2026. According to DWDL, it is speculated that a total of seven races will be shown again this year – as in 2025.