How to Watch Formula 1 for Free

Finding an F1 live stream free can be pretty tricky, depending on the country you’re in, especially for cord cutters. Thankfully, there is a way for fans to stream each Formula 1 race online and completely free, but there’s a catch — you need the help of a VPN (virtual private network).

A VPN allows you to connect to a server in another country. That masks your true IP address, making you look like you’re actually there. By doing this, you can easily bypass the geoblocks put in place by many streaming services, such as those that broadcast Formula 1.

You can’t just use any VPN, though. Not all providers are capable of unblocking streaming services and others don’t have fast enough speeds to prevent buffering. That’s why we recommend using one of the best VPNs available, such as NordVPN. Keep reading to find out where you can watch the next race live and on-demand for free.

Quick Answer: How to Live Stream F1 For Free

You can watch F1 live streams for free on RTL Zwee (Luxembourg), RTBF (Belgium), and ORF and ServusTV (Austria). If you’re not in any of those countries, you can use a VPN to gain access.

Can You Stream F1 Live?

Yes, you can stream it live on many of the free channels — if you’re not in the correct country, a VPN can help. Alternatively, if you’re in the U.S., you can use a live TV streaming service, such as Sling TV, to watch it live on ESPN, or sign up for sports streaming service ESPN+ and watch it live there. 

How to Stream F1 Live For Free

We’ve given you a quick view above, but this section provides more information on the free F1 streaming options by country. Also, keep in mind that many countries will air their own Grand Prix for free, such as Australia showing the Australian Grand Prix on 10Play for free and Canada showing the Canadian Grand Prix on CTV (English) and Noovo (French) for free.

ServusTV and ORF: Austria

You can watch all F1 races on ServusTV and ORF completely free in Austria. Races will alternate between the two services. If you’re not in Austria, connect to an Austrian VPN server to access the services.

RTBF: Belgium

You can get a live stream of every race with RTBF in Belgium. Note that it has French commentary. If you’re not in France, use a French VPN server to unblock the service.

RTL Zwee: Luxembourg

RTL Zwee in Luxembourg will show every F1 race for free. The commentary is in Luxembourgish. If you’re not in the country, you can easily hop on a Luxembourg server to watch RTL Zwee.

SRF, RTS & RSI: Switzerland

These channels are part of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. All three provide free coverage of F1 races, but in different languages. SRF is in German, RTS is in French and RSI is in Italian. Regardless of the language, you will need to connect to a server in Switzerland to gain access.

ABC: United States

While the main broadcaster for F1 in the U.S. is ESPN, several races, including the U.S. Grand Prix, will be available to watch for free on ABC. However, this is only good for those already in the U.S. with a TV provider log-in or if you have a subscription to a live TV streaming service that includes ABC, such as YouTube TV. 

Channel 4 (My4): United Kingdom

Sky Sports holds the exclusive rights to F1 races in the U.K., however, you can watch extended highlights for every race on Channel 4 (My4) for free. My4 will also show the British GP live for free. You’ll need a U.K. IP address to get access, but a VPN will help you there.

How to Watch F1 Live for Free on Phone

Watching Formula 1 for free on your phone isn’t a tricky task. If you’re not in the correct country for your chosen service, you’ll need to install a VPN app. Also, your phone’s GPS can trigger geoblocks even while connected to a VPN. A good way to get around this is to access the service via a browser, rather than the dedicated app. Here are steps for how to watch on iPhone and Android.

How to Live Stream F1 For Free on iPhone

Follow the steps below to start streaming F1 on your iPhone:

1. Sign up for a VPN like NordVPN, which has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Download and install the app from the Apple App Store.
3. Connect to a server in the country where the service is, such as Belgium for RTBF.
4. Go to the service’s website and start streaming Formula 1.

How to Live Stream F1 For Free on Android

If you’re using an Android phone, follow the steps below to stream F1:

1. Subscribe to a VPN such as NordVPN — you’re covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Download and install the VPN app from the Google Play Store.
3. Connect to a server in the country you need to access, like Austria for ServusTV and ORF.
4. Go to your chosen service’s website and start streaming F1 races.

How to Watch F1 Free Online With a VPN

If you want to stream every F1 race for free and live, the following steps will help you. We’ve used the best VPN, NordVPN, for this example, along with RTBF in Belgium. If you want to watch F1 live streams on a different service, just change the steps where needed.

1. Sign Up for a VPN Service

   In your browser, go to the NordVPN website and sign up for a plan. The two-year plan is the best value and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to fall back on.

   

2. Download and Install the App

   Download and install the VPN app on the device you want to stream on. After that, open the app and log in to your account.

   

3. Connect to a Belgium Server

   Find and connect to a server in Belgium. You can use either the map or server list on NordVPN’s app. Simply click on a server to connect to it. Remember, if you want to watch F1 on a different service, choose the relevant server.

   

4. Go to the RTBF Website

   Visit RTBF’s website (or the service you prefer) and search for Formula 1. Once you’ve found it, you can start streaming F1 races when they air.

   

The Best VPNs to Watch Formula 1 Online

There are more VPN providers on the market than Michael Schuhmacher has trophies. Fortunately, you don’t have to test every single one — we did the work for you. Our top three providers, NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN, all have a few things in common:

• They let you surf securely and anonymously with unbreakable encryption.
• They keep no user records, thanks to a no-logs policy.
• They offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t like the service or change your mind.

Here’s a brief overview of each of the three services.

1. NordVPN — Best Formula 1 VPN

NordVPN is our favorite VPN and it has the fastest available speeds. The provider also has worldwide servers available and it can easily access streaming platforms.

If you’re willing to commit for 24 months, you’ll get solid performance at a low price of $2.99 per month. For more info on our price-performance favorite, check out our NordVPN review.

Basic

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

Plus

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

Complete

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

2. Surfshark — Best Cheap VPN for Formula 1

Surfshark is a great NordVPN alternative, offering fast speeds, wide server coverage and ad blocking. An all-round excellent choice for watching F1 races.

Surfshark costs $1.99 per month on the two-year plan, and you can get a refund within 30 days if you’re not satisfied with the service. Our Surfshark review has more info.

Surfshark Starter

• Unlimited GB bandwidth,
  Unlimited devices,
  Secure VPN,
  Ad blocker,
  Cookie pop-up blocker.
  Plans renew: $59.76 for one year, $59.76 per year for the two-year plan.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

Surfshark One

• Everything in Starter, plus
  Antivirus protection,
  Identity protection,
  Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts,
  Online Alias
  Plans renew: $79 for one year & $79 per year for the two-year plan.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

Surfshark One+

• Everything in One, plus
  Data removal
  Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Best User-Friendly VPN for Formula 1

ExpressVPN offers 166 server locations in 105 countries, compatibility with all devices and operating systems, and consistently high surfing speeds. This makes the premium provider perfect for F1 HD streaming.

ExpressVPN costs $6.25 per month on the yearly subscription, plus you get three months free. You can learn more about it in our detailed ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN Plans

Can You Live Stream F1 for Free Without a VPN?

It depends on where you’re located. There are many free F1 streaming options, but unless you’re physically in the country where they’re available, you’ll need to use a VPN to gain access.

Where Can You Watch F1 Race Live? 

If you’re already subscribed to a paid service or don’t mind signing up, here are all the services that offer premium access to F1.

How to Watch F1 Live in the US

You can watch F1 live on ESPN in the U.S. Coverage will be spread across the ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 channels, as well as on ESPN+. If you don’t have cable or ESPN+, you can watch ESPN by signing up for a live TV streaming service that has ESPN channels, such as Sling TV (Sling Orange plan).

How to Watch F1 Live in the UK

F1 is available on Sky Sports in the U.K., but if you don’t have a cable package, you can sign up for streaming service Now and watch F1 live streams there. 

2024 F1 Calendar

This year’s test days took place in February, and the race schedule began in March. The final 2024 F1 race will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 8. Six of the Grand Prix will include Sprint Qualifying:

• China
• Miami
• Austria
• USA
• Brazil
• Qatar

Final Thoughts

We hope your guide has helped you to stream F1 for free. Remember, if you’re not in the same country as your chosen service, a VPN is the tool you need. Just connect to a server in the same country as the service and you’ll unblock it. 

NordVPN is the best tool for watching F1 live streams, and its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can easily get a refund if you don’t like it.

Where will you be streaming F1? Will you need to use a VPN? Let us know which one in the comments section and if you’re a fan of the Formula E World Championship, check out our guide on how to watch Formula E for free. As always, thank you for reading.

FAQ: F1 Free Live Stream

• Can I Watch F1 for Free?

  Yes, you can watch F1 live streams for free on some services around the world, such as on RTBF in Belgium, ServusTV and ORF in Austria, and RTL Zwee in Luxembourg. If you’re not in the country, you’ll need to use a VPN to get access, though.

• Which Streaming Service Has Formula One?

  F1 is available on different services in different countries around the world, such as ESPN in the U.S. Some options are paid and some are free. For instance, you can stream for free on RTBF in Belgium, and if you’re not in the country, a Belgium VPN server will help you get access.

• Can I Watch F1 on Amazon Prime?

  You can watch it on the F1 TV Amazon Prime Video channel. This includes live and on-demand races, extended highlights and much more. It’s not free, but it’s a great option for top fans. 

• Is F1 Free on Hulu?

  No, to watch F1 on Hulu, you need to subscribe to its live TV bundle, which includes the ESPN channels and ABC. You can get a three-day free trial, though.