Suryaa Sports Desk: Indian Standard Time (IST) and live streaming details have been revealed for this crucial qualifying event which will determine the grid positions of the main race. Qualifying date and time in India: As there is a difference of around 10 hours 30 minutes between US time and India time, the session will be telecast at midnight for fans in India. Date: October 25, 2026 (Sunday Morning) Timing: The qualifying session will start at 02:30 AM (IST). Where to watch live streaming in India?: FanCode has acquired the official digital broadcast rights of Formula 1 in India. Fans can watch all sessions including race qualifying live through the FanCode app and website. A separate Race Weekend Pass or Season Subscription is required for this.
TV viewers can also watch via TATA Play FanCode Sports channel available on Tata Play. Additionally, subscribers to F1 TV Pro, the official international platform, can also watch qualifying live with onboard camera feeds and live timings. Key turning point in the title fight: While Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the championship points table this season, top racers such as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are vying for pole position. The 5.513 km long COTA track will feature twists and fast straights, so qualifying will be interesting. The main race is scheduled to start on October 26 (Monday) at 1:30 am (IST).