F1 Race Today: Live Start Time, TV Channel, Streaming Link & Must-Know Grid Surprises

The streets of Monte Carlo are set for another unforgettable showpiece as the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix goes green today, Sunday 25 May. Pole-sitter Lando Norris heads a packed grid on the tight, unforgiving circuit where track position is everything, while title leader Oscar Piastri and local hero Charles Leclerc vie to snatch victory around the glamour-soaked 3.337 km layout. Below is everything fans are searching for right now: start times, TV channels, live-stream options, the full starting grid after late penalties, weather outlook and what’s at stake in the Formula 1 championship fight. WHEN IS THE F1 RACE TODAY? • Lights out: 15:00 local (CEST) / 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT • Expected duration: 78 laps, roughly 1h 45m unless rain or Safety Cars intervene. HOW TO WATCH AND LIVE-STREAM United Kingdom – Sky Sports F1 (coverage from 12:30 BST), NOW TV day pass available. United States – ESPN2 and ESPN+ simulcast, plus F1 TV Pro for onboard and data channels. Canada – TSN / RDS; Australia – Fox Sports; global streaming via F1 TV. Most major territories also carry live radio commentary on BBC 5 Live, SiriusXM and local partners. A reliable VPN can unlock streams for travellers outside their home region. STARTING GRID AFTER PENALTIES 1. Lando Norris (McLaren) 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 7. Lewis Hamilton* (Ferrari) 8. Esteban Ocon (Haas) 9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 10. Alex Albon (Williams) (-- full 20-car grid below) *Hamilton serves a three-place penalty for impeding Verstappen in qualifying. KEY STORYLINES TO FOLLOW • Norris chases his first Monaco win after a blistering record lap in Q3. The Brit’s clean launch will be critical; fewer than 15 per cent of Monaco winners start outside the front row. • Ferrari gamble: Leclerc has endured heartbreak at home before. With Hamilton relegated, Ferrari’s hopes rest on an aggressive undercut strategy and a possible rain shower forecast for mid-race. • Verstappen’s comeback mission: fourth on the grid may suit Red Bull’s tyre whispering, and the Dutchman’s uncanny ability to force mistakes could shake up the podium. • Midfield surprise: 20-year-old rookie Isack Hadjar starts a career-best fifth, while two-time champion Alonso lurks just behind, eager to add another Monaco masterclass. • Championship picture: Piastri leads Norris by 13 points and Verstappen by 22. With only 279 points separating McLaren and Mercedes in the constructors’ table, every Monaco position carries huge weight. PIT-STOP WINDOWS & TYRES Pirelli brings the softest trio (C3, C4, C5). Monaco typically rewards a one-stop, but an early Safety Car can flip strategies. Look for leaders to stretch the opening stint on the medium C4 before switching to hards; anyone stuck in traffic may roll the dice with an overcut on fresh softs. WEATHER FORECAST Morning sunshine gives way to a 40 % chance of light rain during the closing third of the race, plus shifting winds through the tunnel section. A sprinkle at Portier or the Swimming Pool could transform the order in seconds. FULL GRID (11–20) 11. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 12. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) 13. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) 14. George Russell (Mercedes) 15. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Alpine) 17. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 18. Franco Colapinto (Williams) 19. Lance Stroll** (Aston Martin) 20. Ollie Bearman*** (Haas) **Stroll: four-place combined penalties; ***Bearman: 10-place grid drop for red-flag infringement. WHY MONACO STILL MATTERS No other venue rewards precision and punishes lapses like Monaco. Concrete walls create instant viral highlights (and heartbreak), making the event a magnet for casual viewers searching “F1 race today” every season. With overtaking scarce, qualifying speed meets chess-like pit strategy, turning split-second calls into race-winning moves. Add Hollywood star power, super-yachts at La Rascasse and the championship’s tightest fight in years, and 2025’s edition promises peak traffic for every screen. Stay tuned for live lap-by-lap updates, fastest-pit-stop stats and post-race reaction as Norris, Leclerc, Piastri and Verstappen battle for the sport’s ultimate street-race crown.