F1 start time: When the lights go out for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Monza doesn’t so much host a grand prix as it stages a pilgrimage. The tifosi swarm the royal park in a rolling tide of red, the old banking looms like a postcard from another era, and the current cars blast through the trees at speeds that make you hold your breath. Win here in a Ferrari and you’re immortal. Win here in anything else and you’ll still hear a few whistles, but you’ll also hear history.
Here’s when the 2025 Italian Grand Prix gets underway and how to watch it, wherever you are.
Race start time — Sunday, 7 September 2025
– Local (Monza/CEST): 3:00pm
– United Kingdom: 2:00pm
– United States and Canada: 9:00am Eastern, 6:00am Pacific
– Mexico (Mexico City): 7:00am
– Central Europe/South Africa: 3:00pm
– Gulf Standard Time: 5:00pm
– India: 6:30pm
– Indonesia (WIB): 8:00pm
– China: 9:00pm
– Japan: 10:00pm
– Australia (AEST): 11:00pm
– New Zealand (NZST): 1:00am, Monday 8 September
Note: Always double‑check your local listing if daylight saving or regional time differences apply.
How to watch on TV
Broadcast partners vary by territory, but here’s where the Monza action is carried live or with highlights in many key markets:
– United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 (live), Channel 4 (highlights)
– Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports F1, Channel 4 UK (highlights)
– United States: ESPN / ESPN Deportes
– Canada: TSN (English), RDS (French)
– Italy: Sky Sport F1, TV8
– Spain: DAZN
– France: Canal+
– Germany: Sky Sport F1, RTL
– Netherlands: Viaplay
– Brazil: BandSports / TV Bandeirantes
– Latin America (excl. Argentina, Mexico): ESPN
– Argentina: Fox Sports
– Mexico: Fox Sports
– Japan: DAZN, Fuji TV
– China: CCTV
– Sub‑Saharan Africa: SuperSport
– Middle East & North Africa: beIN Sports
– Australia: Fox Sports
– New Zealand: Sky Sport (Prime for highlights)
– Malaysia: beIN Sports
– India: FanCode
Live streaming options
– UK: Subscribers can stream via Sky Go or choose a month‑to‑month pass with NOW.
– F1 TV Pro: Available in selected territories worldwide, offering onboard cameras from every car, full timing, and extended pre‑ and post‑race coverage. The app works on Apple TV, Chromecast (Gen 2+), Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. Availability varies by country and rights agreements, so check locally.
How long is the Italian Grand Prix?
Monza runs to 53 laps, targeted at the standard 305km race distance (all grands prix except Monaco). If the weather or interruptions take over, the two‑hour time limit within a three‑hour window applies.
Why Monza matters
Call it the Temple of Speed for a reason: minimal downforce, monster straights, and heavy braking zones that punish the timid. It’s a slipstream chess match—qualifying can be a traffic jam of drivers trying to pick the right tow, and the race often turns on a brave pass into the Rettifilo or a decisive move through Ascari. Ferrari’s home race is the championship’s loudest amphitheatre; the podium celebration under that old stone building is a sight you don’t forget.
Set your alarms, prep the espresso, and clear the Sunday schedule. Once Monza wakes up, it doesn’t lift until the chequered flag falls.
