F1 start time: What time does Monaco GP qualifying start? How to watch and more
The unforgiving streets of Monaco set up arguably the most dramatic qualifying session of any Formula 1 season.
Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the key moments of the whole season, so here is the F1 start time info for around the world so you don’t miss out.
The drivers spend all three practice sessions building up for their one crucial lap around Monaco, getting as close to the walls as possible for one of the most thrilling hours of the year – as well as probably the most critical battle for pole position, given how hard it is to overtake.
F1 start time: What time does Monaco Grand Prix qualifying start?
Monaco Grand Prix qualifying will start at 4pm local time on Saturday 24 May 2025, which equates to these times in the following territories around the world:
United States and Canada*: 7am Pacific, 9am Central, 10am Eastern
Mexico: 8am [Mexico City]
United Kingdom: 3pm
Central European Time**: 4pm
South Africa: 4pm
Gulf Standard Time: 6pm
India: 7.30pm
Indonesia*: 9pm [Western Indonesia Time]
China: 10pm
Singapore: 10pm
Malaysia: 10pm
Philippines: 10pm
Japan: 11pm
Australia*: 12am [Australian Eastern Standard Time] [Sunday 25 May]
New Zealand: 2am [New Zealand Standard Time] [Sunday 25 May]
*Convert to check locally if you do not live in an area of this territory with these time zones.
**Covers 30 nations and territories: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (except the Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
How to watch the Monaco Grand Prix on TV
Viewers in the UK can stream every F1 race live with a Sky Sports subscription or a NOW Sports Month Membership. With NOW TV, there is no contract in place and you can cancel any time!
Different nations and territories around the world have their own broadcasting rights deals with Formula 1, and here is a selection of where F1 fans will be able to watch from across the globe, be it through pay TV or free-to-air:
Argentina: Fox Sports
Australia: Fox Sports
Brazil: BandSports, TV Bandeirantes
Canada: RDS (French), TSN (English)
Central Asia: Setanta Sports
China: CCTV
France: Canal+
Germany: Sky Sport F1
India: FanCode
Italy: Sky Sport F1
Japan: DAZN, Fuji TV
Latin America (except Argentina and Mexico): ESPN
Malaysia: beIN Sports
Mexico: Fox Sports
Middle East and North Africa: beIN Sports
Netherlands: Viaplay
New Zealand: Sky Sport, Prime (highlights)
Pakistan: A Sports
Republic of Ireland: Sky Sports F1, Channel 4 UK (highlights)
South Korea: Coupang Play
Spain: DAZN
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1, Channel 4 (highlights)
United States: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ABC
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Monaco Grand Prix qualifying live stream: How to watch online
F1 fans will be able to stream the Monaco Grand Prix online through platforms such as NOW and Sky Go in the UK.
F1 TV Pro is available worldwide in selected territories, which offers exclusive features like onboard cameras from all 20 cars, pre and post-race shows and much more.
F1 TV Pro is also able to be live streamed via Apple TV, Chromecast Generation 2 and above, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku, without ad breaks and with commentary available in six languages.
Here is a list of all the territories where F1 TV Pro is available.
What is the F1 qualifying format used and how does it work?
F1 qualifying is broken down into three parts over the course of an hour and uses a knockout format to determine the grid, which has proven extremely popular since it was introduced into the sport:
Q1: 18 minutes
Five drivers are eliminated at the end of this period, setting places 16 to 20 on the grid, with drivers able to set as many timed laps as they wish within the 18-minute stint.
Q2: 15 minutes
After an eight-minute break, the remaining 15 cars go out for another session before another five drop out at the end of Q2, setting places 11-15 on the grid. The same rules apply, with drivers allowed to set as many timed laps as they like within 15 minutes.
Q3: 12 minutes
After a seven-minute gap, the final 10 cars re-emerge onto the track for the shootout for pole position. At the end of the final 12-minute session, the top 10 places on the grid are decided for the Grand Prix.
For a full look at the intricacies and other rules around F1 qualifying, here is a full breakdown of the current format.
Read next: F1 start time: What time does the Monaco Grand Prix start? How to watch and live stream