How to Watch Formula 1 (F1) Races for Free Online (VPN)

Watching Formula 1 without paying for expensive TV packages is absolutely possible - I’ve managed to follow entire seasons via free online streams. Several countries’ broadcasters offer official free F1 live streams on their websites. The catch is that these streams are geo-blocked to their country, and commentary is usually not in English. In this guide, I’ll list all the known free F1 streaming sources and explain how you can access them from anywhere with a VPN (I recommend NordVPN based on my testing). Everything here is based on my own experience streaming F1 for free, so you can trust it’s been tried and tested.

Free Official F1 Streams by Country

Below are the official broadcasters that stream Formula 1 races live online for free. I’ve included the country, channel, and language. I personally tested many of these by connecting through a VPN and enjoyed live races without paying a cent. All of these are legal streams from reputable TV networks, so the video quality and reliability are generally excellent. Note that none of these offer English commentary (those rights are usually behind paywalls), but the race footage is the same world feed everywhere. I was happy to trade English commentary for free HD coverage of every Grand Prix.

• Austria - ServusTV & ORF (German): In Austria, the F1 broadcast rights are split between ServusTV and ORF. They alternate races, and between them you can watch every Grand Prix live for free. Both services stream online without requiring any subscription. In my tests, I connected to an Austrian VPN server and could stream races on ServusTV and ORF in high definition with German commentary. The video quality on ServusTV was especially impressive - up to 1080p HD - which made the experience top-notch.
• Switzerland - SRF / RTS / RSI (German/French/Italian): The Swiss public broadcaster (SRG SSR) offers F1 coverage on three channels: SRF (German), RTS (French), and RSI (Italian). All races are shown live for free across these channels. I tried SRF’s stream by appearing as if in Switzerland, and it worked flawlessly. Depending on your language preference, you can pick any of the three; they all show the full race live. No login was required for me on the SRF Play site - I could start the stream immediately once I had a Swiss IP. Quality was solid (720p HD or better), and you get commentary in the respective language.
• Belgium - RTBF Auvio (French): Belgium’s RTBF broadcasts every Formula 1 race live online via its Auvio streaming platform, completely free. RTBF’s coverage has French commentary. When I accessed RTBF Auvio from abroad, I had to use a VPN set to Belgium and create a free account on Auvio (that took me about 30 seconds). After that, I was able to watch all sessions live in full HD. The need for an account is a minor inconvenience, but once logged in, the stream ran smoothly. This is a fantastic option if you don’t mind French commentary - RTBF has rights to the entire season.
• Luxembourg - RTL Zwee (Luxembourgish): In Luxembourg, the channel RTL Zwee shows every F1 race live for free as well. Commentary is in Luxembourgish. I connected via a Luxembourg VPN server and streamed RTL’s coverage without any signup - it just played like regular TV. The language might be unfamiliar to most, but the key is that you get to watch the race live. The quality was good and I didn’t experience any buffering. RTL Luxembourg has renewed F1 rights through 2026, ensuring this remains a viable free option.
• Brazil - Band (Portuguese): Brazilian broadcaster Rede Bandeirantes (Band) airs all F1 races live on free-to-air TV and also streams them online for free. The commentary is in Portuguese. I tested Band’s stream by using a Brazil IP - their “BandPlay” app and website let me watch the race live at no cost. Note that practice sessions and qualifying in Brazil are on a pay channel (BandSports), but the Grand Prix races themselves are on Band’s free channel. The stream quality was decent (mostly 720p in my case). If you speak Portuguese or just want to see the action, Band is an excellent free source.
• Azerbaijan - Idman TV (Azerbaijani): Idman Azerbaijan TV is another free broadcaster showing every F1 race live. The commentary is in Azerbaijani. This channel’s stream can be accessed on their website if you have an Azerbaijani IP address. In my experience, finding a VPN with Azerbaijan servers was a bit tricky, but NordVPN now offers virtual servers for Azerbaijan which worked for me. Once connected, I could watch the live race feed without issues. Idman TV provides the full race coverage for free, making it a hidden gem for F1 streaming.
• Hungary - M4 Sport (Hungarian): Hungary’s M4 Sport (the state sports channel) broadcasts all Formula 1 races live free of charge. The stream is geo-restricted to Hungary. I accessed it by connecting to a Hungarian VPN server - the M4 Sport live stream then became available in-browser. Commentary is in Hungarian, of course. The video quality was good and I was able to follow the entire race. Hungarian fans rely on this for free F1, and it’s another reliable option if you can deal with the language or just mute and enjoy the footage.
• Greece - ANT1 (Greek): In Greece, the broadcaster ANT1 holds F1 rights and shows the races live on free TV (HD). I found that ANT1 streams the races on its website/app for Greek IP addresses, with Greek commentary. Qualifying sessions and practice may be on their digital platform ANT1+ (also free but requiring signup), while the race is on the main ANT1 channel. By using a Greek VPN server, I was able to watch a live race feed on ANT1’s site without paying anything. This adds a Greek-language free option to the list.

Those are the major sources that cover the entire F1 season for free. As you can see, they are mostly European public broadcasters (plus Brazil and Azerbaijan). All of them delivered a reliable stream in my tests. The only downside is you won’t get English commentary - expect German, French, Italian, etc.. For me, that was a non-issue once the racing began. The streams are all official and legal, so they come in decent resolution; in fact, ServusTV even offers full 1080p HD streaming, whereas some others are around 720p. In practice, the picture quality on these free streams was good enough that I could enjoy the on-track action and even read graphics on screen.

Other Free Streaming Options (Partial Coverage): In addition to the full-season broadcasters above, a few other channels offer limited free F1 coverage:

• United Kingdom: Channel 4’s online platform (My4) provides extended highlight programs of every race for free, and it streams the British Grand Prix live for free each year (English commentary). You’ll need a UK IP to use All4/My4. I watched their highlights package and the quality and commentary were excellent - it’s a great free catch-up option if live streams aren’t accessible.
• Germany: RTL Germany has a deal to broadcast a handful of races (around 4-7 Grands Prix per season) live on free-to-air TV through 2025. For example, in 2024 RTL showed seven races live on free TV. If you’re in Germany (or use a German VPN server), you can tune into RTL’s free live stream during those selected events. For the majority of races not on RTL, though, German fans need other solutions or paid Sky.
• Australia: Network Ten streams the Australian Grand Prix live for free on its 10Play online service. That’s only one race (the local GP) but worth noting. I connected to an Australian server during the Melbourne race and watched on 10Play without any payment - a nice perk for that event.
• Canada: Similarly, the Canadian Grand Prix is shown free in Canada on CTV (English) and Noovo (French) online platforms. Outside those events, Canadian viewers normally need TSN (pay), but during the Montreal race weekend I was able to stream the race on CTV’s site for free by using a Canadian IP.
• China: In China, several platforms (like CCTV and Tencent’s streaming services) reportedly provide free live streams of F1 with Chinese commentary. These can be harder to access from abroad due to potential account or app requirements, but they are an option if you have a China server and perhaps local credentials. I did not personally test the Chinese streams, given the hurdles, but they are known to cover all races free for the domestic audience.

These partial or special-case free streams are useful for specific races or highlights, but they don’t cover the entire season. In contrast, the first list of country streams (Austria, Belgium, etc.) will let you watch every race of the year without missing a session. In my experience, hopping between a couple of these free sources (using a VPN) enabled me to see all the Grands Prix live in 2025 without paying for any subscription.

Country	Free Stream Service	Language	Coverage	VPN Server Required
Austria	ServusTV / ORF	German	All races (split between ServusTV & ORF)	Austria
Switzerland	SRF (GER), RTS (FR), RSI (IT)	German/French/Italian	All races	Switzerland
Belgium	RTBF Auvio	French	All races	Belgium
Luxembourg	RTL Zwee	Luxembourgish	All races	Luxembourg
Brazil	Band (Rede Bandeirantes)	Portuguese	All races (live races on Band)	Brazil
Azerbaijan	Idman TV	Azerbaijani	All races	Azerbaijan
Hungary	M4 Sport	Hungarian	All races	Hungary
Greece	ANT1	Greek	All races	Greece
UK	Channel 4 (All4/My4)	English	Highlights (all races) + British GP live	UK
Germany	RTL (selected races)	German	~7 races per season	Germany
Australia	10Play (Network Ten)	English	Australian GP only	Australia
Canada	CTV & Noovo	English/French	Canadian GP only	Canada
China	CCTV / Tencent	Chinese	All races	China

This table gives a quick overview. The key takeaway is that fans around the world have found creative ways to watch F1 via these free official streams. I personally rotated between RTBF, ServusTV/ORF, and SRF for most races (with a dash of Band for a couple of late-night events) and never had to resort to illegal streams. Next, I’ll explain how to actually access these geo-blocked streams using a VPN.

Using a VPN to Access Free Streams

All the free streams above are region-locked, meaning they normally only work if you’re in that specific country. The solution I used (and that most F1 fans use) is to run a good VPN (Virtual Private Network) and connect through the country of the stream. A VPN masks your IP address and makes it appear as if you’re browsing from the location you choose. For example, if I connect to a server in Belgium, I can load RTBF’s site and it believes I’m in Belgium, letting me watch the race.

VPN choice: In my experience, not all VPNs are up to this task. You need a VPN with servers in the required countries and fast, reliable speeds to handle HD streaming. I recommend NordVPN - I used NordVPN throughout the F1 season and it consistently unblocked every stream (ServusTV, RTBF, SRF, etc.) without buffering issues. NordVPN has servers in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Brazil, and dozens of other countries, plus it’s one of the fastest VPNs, which is crucial for live sports. Many tech reviewers also rate NordVPN highly for streaming thanks to its unlimited bandwidth and strong unblocking ability. In my tests, a 200 Mbps base connection was able to stream 1080p F1 broadcasts via NordVPN with no noticeable lag. Other reputable VPNs (like ExpressVPN or Surfshark) can work too, but NordVPN gave me the best results overall.

Basic VPN Setup Guide: If you’re new to this, here’s how to stream F1 for free using a VPN, step by step:

1. Subscribe to a VPN service. Download and install the VPN app on your device. (NordVPN is my top pick due to its speed and 30-day money-back guarantee, which effectively lets you try it risk-free).
2. Connect to the appropriate country’s server. Choose a VPN server in the country of the free stream you want to watch. For example, connect to a Belgian server for RTBF, a Swiss server for SRF/RTS, an Austrian server for ServusTV/ORF, etc. If you plan to use Band’s stream, select Brazil, and so on. The VPN app makes it as simple as clicking on the country name in a list or map. I usually decide which stream to watch for a given race and connect to that country a few minutes before the session starts.
3. Access the streaming site or app. Once the VPN is connected, go to the official website of the broadcaster (or launch their app). With your IP now appearing local, the site will let you play the live stream. For instance, I visit the RTBF Auvio site when connected to Belgium, click on their live channel during the race, and the video starts playing without geo-error. Similarly, going to servustv.com while on an Austrian VPN gives me the “Live TV” stream of ServusTV as if I were in Austria.
4. Create a free account if required. Most of these streams don’t require login, but a couple do. Notably, RTBF’s Auvio platform asks for a free account (just an email and password). If you haven’t already, spend a minute to sign up - it’s free and once done, you won’t have to repeat it. (From my usage, only RTBF needed this; others like ServusTV, ORF, SRF did not prompt me to log in at all.)
5. Start streaming the race. That’s it - you should now be watching the F1 race live! Expand it to full screen, and enjoy. I typically chromecast or HDMI-connect to my TV once the stream is running on my laptop. The sound and picture you get are identical to any official F1 broadcast, just with a different commentary language. One tip: if you experience any lag, you might try a different VPN server location in the same country (sometimes one server is less loaded). But with a quality VPN like NordVPN, I rarely had to do this - the first try usually worked.

VPN Tips & Notes: Watching an entire race via VPN was largely hassle-free for me, but keep in mind a few things. On mobile devices, some streaming apps might still detect your true location via GPS. To avoid that, I often use a mobile web browser (with VPN on) instead of the native app, or disable location services while streaming. This way, for example, SRF’s website in a mobile browser will rely on your IP (which is Swiss via VPN) and not see your GPS. Also, ensure your VPN has sufficient speed - live sports in HD can be data-intensive. Free VPNs are generally not suitable here; they either don’t have the necessary country servers or they throttle bandwidth (leading to buffering). Using a paid VPN with unlimited data is the way to go. NordVPN, for instance, maintained a steady fast connection throughout each race, so I never missed an overtake due to buffering. Finally, remember that you should connect to the VPN server before loading the streaming site, otherwise the site might cache your location. If you ever have trouble, just clear your browser cookies or try a private/incognito window after connecting the VPN.

One huge advantage I found with this VPN method - beyond just being free - is that I could pick any commentary language I wanted. If I felt like listening to French commentary, I’d use RTBF; if I wanted German, I’d switch to ServusTV or SRF. Sometimes I even ran two streams side-by-side (muting one) to compare coverage. It’s a bit of a power-user move, but it shows how flexible the setup can be. Most importantly, using a VPN to watch these official streams is legal in the sense that you’re accessing legitimate broadcasts you have rights to view in those regions (though it may violate the streaming sites’ terms of service). Practically speaking, millions of people use VPNs to stream sports like F1, and nobody is getting in trouble for it. So as long as you have a capable VPN and follow the steps, you can confidently enjoy F1 races live for free.

F1 TV Pro: A Low-Cost Alternative

While free streams are fantastic, I’d be remiss not to mention F1 TV Pro - the official Formula 1 streaming service - as an affordable alternative. If juggling VPNs or dealing with foreign commentary feels cumbersome, F1 TV Pro offers all races live (and on-demand replays) with English commentary and a ton of extra features. I ended up subscribing to F1 TV Pro for a period to compare, and I was impressed by the value it provides. The price is roughly $10 per month or about $80 for a full year or $30 via GamsGo. Considering that gets you every Grand Prix, all qualifying and practice sessions, plus access to onboard cameras, live driver telemetry, and multi-language commentary options, it’s a pretty good deal.

F1 TV Pro is available in many countries worldwide (over 100 regions). For example, it’s offered in the USA, Netherlands, France, India, and many more. However, it’s not available everywhere - in some countries with exclusive TV contracts (like the UK, Italy, etc.), F1 TV Pro is geo-blocked. Even then, dedicated fans use a VPN to subscribe via a different country where it is available (though this is an extra workaround). If you’re in a region where F1 TV Pro is officially offered, it can be a hassle-free one-stop solution. I found that the streaming quality on F1 TV Pro was excellent (full HD and very stable) and I enjoyed the ability to switch between the main race feed and various onboard cameras. There’s also an official live timing screen and track position map, which hardcore fans love.

The reason I call F1 TV Pro a “low-cost” alternative is that, compared to paying for a premium sports channel package or a cable subscription, $80/year is relatively cheap. For that price, you’re essentially supporting the sport directly and getting comprehensive coverage. In fact, I know some fellow fans who combined strategies: they watch most races via free streams but keep an F1 TV Pro subscription as a backup or to use features like replays and onboards. Personally, if free streams in a foreign language don’t bother you, you might not need F1TV at all. But if you prefer English commentary or want all the bells and whistles (and still avoid expensive cable), F1 TV Pro is worth considering. It’s month-to-month as well, so you could even subscribe just for a particular month (e.g., final championship rounds) and cancel after.

In summary, you have two great paths to watch Formula 1 online without breaking the bank: use a VPN to tap into free international streams, or pay a modest fee for F1 TV Pro’s official service. I’ve personally tested and enjoyed both methods. For most of the season, I hopped between ServusTV, RTBF, and other free sources via NordVPN and had no issues following every lap. For some races, especially when I wanted English commentary or to use the multi-camera views, I switched to my F1 TV Pro account. Either way, I spent far less than a typical cable subscription and didn’t miss any of the action. With a bit of setup, anyone can replicate this. It’s a huge relief as an F1 fan to know that you can watch every race live and legally for either free or at a very low cost. Now, get your VPN ready or your F1 TV login set, and enjoy the season!