How to Watch Formula 1 Live Streams for Free

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 by Shauli Zacks

How do I watch F1 for free?” is a common question from F1 fans who are tired of paying ever-rising prices for cable or streaming services. It can be hard to find free Formula 1 streams in most countries, due to broadcasters buying exclusive local broadcast rights, but if you’re looking to save money on your F1 habit, you’ve come to the right place. 

This comprehensive guide tells you everything you need to know about where you can watch F1 for free – and how you can avoid common streaming issues with PIA VPN. 


Quick Guide: How to Stream F1 Races for Free with a VPN

  1. Get PIA VPN and install it on your streaming device.
  2. Connect to a VPN server location that matches your free streaming platform. For example, Austrians can connect to our server location in Austria to stream every race for free on ServusTV ON and ORF ON.
  3. Lights out!

Where to Stream F1 Every F1 Grand Prix for Free

F1 fans in Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland can live stream every F1 practice and qualifying session, sprint race, and Grand Prix for free.

How to Watch F1 for Free in Belgium 

RTBF is the free-to-air home of all 24 Grand Prix events in Belgium, and is available to stream on its free digital platform, Auvio. You can watch via your browser, or download the app on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or TV box.

The French-language service is only officially available in Belgium, but if you’re traveling abroad, you can connect to a PIA VPN server location in Belgium to access the live stream as normal. 

How to Watch F1 for Free in Austria

The F1 broadcast rights in Austria are split between ServusTV and ORF. There are 14 race weekends streaming on ORF ON and 11 streaming on ServusTV ON. 

ServusTV ON: Australian GP, Bahrain GP, Monaco GP, Canadian GP, Austrian GP, Belgian GP, Dutch GP, Singapore GP, United States GP, Brazil GP

ORF ON: Chinese GP, Japanese GP, Saudi Arabian GP, Miami GP, Emilia Romagna GP, Spanish GP, Austrian GP, British GP, Hungarian GP, Italian GP, Azerbaijan GP, Mexican GP, Qatar GP, Abu Dhabi GP

Don’t let buffering caused by your internet provider throttling your streaming connection spoil the race. Connect to a PIA VPN server location in Austria to hide your activity from your ISP and stream every Grand Prix smoothly, without interruptions.

How to Stream F1 Races for Free in Switzerland

In Switzerland, Formula 1 fans can watch every race weekend live and for free through the national broadcaster SRG SSR, which offers coverage in multiple languages across its channels:

  • SRF zwei: German commentary
  • RTS Deux: French commentary
  • RSI La 2: Italian commentary

These channels broadcast every Grand Prix, including practice sessions and qualifying rounds. You can access their live streams online via their respective websites and apps:

PIA’s global server network spans more than 90 countries, including Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland. It’s compatible with streaming services the world over, so you can watch F1 live streams securely wherever you are.


How to Stream Individual F1 Grands Prix for Free

Broadcasters in some countries offer select races for free. Here’s how you can catch individual F1 races live without paying for a subscription.

How to Watch F1 for Free in the US

In the US, ABC broadcasts three Grands Prix for free this season:

  • Miami Grand Prix: May 4, 2025
  • United States Grand Prix: October 19, 2025
  • Mexican Grand Prix: October 26, 2025

You can access ABC for free with a TV antenna, but the only way to stream it without paying is with a free trial of a streaming service that carries the channel. This is a great way to watch some races without committing to a subscription.

ServiceChannelsFree trial length
DirecTV StreamESPN, ESPN 2, ABC5 days
FuboESPN, ESPN 2, ABC7 days
Hulu + Live TVESPN, ESPN 2, ABC3 days

How to Watch F1 for Free in Australia

  • Australian Grand Prix: March 16, 2025

In Australia, only the home Grand Prix is available to watch for free. You can catch the race live on Channel 10 or stream it online for free on 10 Play, the channel’s official streaming platform.

How to Stream F1 for Free in France

French viewers can watch the following Grands Prix for free on C8:

  • Miami Grand Prix: May 4, 2025
  • Monaco Grand Prix: May 25, 2025
  • United States Grand Prix: October 19, 2025
  • Mexican Grand Prix: October 26, 2025

You can stream the races online via Molotov.tv, which offers free access to French TV channels, including C8.

How to Watch F1 for Free in the UK

  • British Grand Prix: July 6, 2025

In the UK, Channel 4 will air the British Grand Prix for free live on TV and online via its website and app. For the rest of the F1 season, Channel 4 broadcasts extended highlights of every Grand Prix.

How to Stream F1 for Free in Italy

Italian viewers can watch the following Grands Prix for free on TV8:

  • Italian Grand Prix: September 7
  • Monaco Grand Prix: May 25, 2025
  • United States Grand Prix: October 19, 2025

You can stream the races live on the TV8 official website, along with delayed highlights for every other race.

How to Watch F1 in Singapore for Free

  • Singapore Grand Prix: October 5, 2025

The Singapore Grand Prix is broadcast live and free on MeWatch. You can stream the entire race weekend, including practice and qualifying, with no need to sign up for an account.

How to Stream F1 for Free in Mexico

  • Mexico Grand Prix: October 26, 2025

In Mexico, the home race is broadcast live and for free on Canal 5. You can tune in via traditional TV or stream the race online through Canal 5’s official platform.

How to Stream F1 for Free in the Netherlands

  • Dutch Grand Prix: August 31, 2025

NOS provides full coverage of the Netherlands’ home race for free on TV and through its online platform. Coverage includes practice and qualifying sessions, as well as the race.

How to Stream F1 for Free in Canada

In Canada, the Canadian Grand Prix is available for free in both English and French:

  • Canadian Grand Prix: June 15, 2025
    • CTV broadcasts the race in English.
    • Noovo provides coverage in French.

Both channels offer live coverage of the race weekend, and you can access them online through their respective streaming platforms.

Why Use a VPN to Stream F1?

When you’re traveling abroad, a VPN ensures you never miss an F1 race. By masking your IP address and making it appear as though you’re in your home country, a VPN lets you access your usual streaming platforms—whether it’s ESPN, Sky Sports, or any free-to-air broadcaster—just like you would back home.

But that’s not all a VPN does. It also encrypts your internet activity, creating a private tunnel that shields your data from prying eyes, so you can stream sports with confidence. This is especially important when you’re streaming F1 on public Wi-Fi at an airport, hotel, or café, where unsecured networks can attract cybercrooks looking to steal your personal data.

A VPN also helps bypass network restrictions on Wi-Fi networks that limit streaming, such as those in offices and schools. With a VPN, you can watch every practice session, qualifying round, and Grand Prix, wherever you are.

Why PIA Is the #1 VPN for watching F1

PIA VPN helps you stream every F1 race smoothly and without errors, on any network.

  • Global server locations: With servers in 91 countries, it’s easy to find one anywhere you need one.
  • Fast 10-Gbps network: Get the speeds you need to stream smoothly in any resolution across our entire network.
  • Dedicated streaming servers: Optimized servers in key countries (including the US, UK, and more) work flawlessly with platforms broadcasting F1.
  • Unlimited bandwidth: Watch every Grand Prix, practice, and qualifying session without cut-offs or slowdowns.
  • Robust encryption: Keep your browsing activity and personal data out of the hands of cybercriminals, online snoops, and your ISP.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee: Try PIA VPN risk-free for a month and stream F1 races securely from anywhere in the world.

FAQ

Can I watch F1 on Amazon Prime?

No, Formula 1 isn’t available on Amazon Prime Video. In the US, ESPN holds the rights to F1, and you can stream it through platforms like Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or DirecTV Stream, many of which offer free trials.

Can I watch F1 live on YouTube?

No, live F1 races aren’t available on YouTube, but the official F1 YouTube channel has race highlights and other related content. In addition, the individual teams’ channels offer interviews, driver profiles, and plenty of fun stuff fans will enjoy. 

Can you get F1 on Netflix?

No, Netflix doesn’t stream live F1 races, but it does offer the popular docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which gives an in-depth look behind the scenes of each F1 season. You can use our detailed guide to find out where to stream F1 in your country.

Is F1 on Peacock?

No, Peacock doesn’t broadcast Formula 1 – it primarily focuses on sports like the Premier League and NFL. To watch F1 live, you’ll need access to ESPN and ABC, which you can get through services like FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV.

What is the cheapest way to watch F1?

In some countries, you can watch F1 for free – check out our comprehensive guide above. The most budget-friendly way to watch F1 in the US is with cord-cutting services that carry ESPN, like Sling TV and Fubo, which offer lower-cost packages. If you’re traveling abroad, you don’t have to lose access to free F1 broadcasts. Connect to a PIA VPN server in your home country to stream on your usual platform.

Can I use a VPN to watch sports events that aren’t available in my country?

Some VPN users may use a server in another country, where certain sports events are available, to watch from their own country. While we cannot see what you are doing online due to our no-logs policy, this goes against our terms of service and is not acceptable.

PIA VPN puts your privacy first and we don’t track our users’ activity. That said, you should always comply with relevant laws, including copyright.


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