How to watch every Formula 1 Grand Prix race online
Sports seasons come and go within months, but one of the things fans love about Formula 1 racing is that it's a year-round sport. There's plenty to watch throughout the season and it's easy to get invested. What's not so easy, of course, is finding the best way to stream every Grand Prix race when you're a cable cutter.
Don't miss out on the action. Here's what you need to know to watch the highest class of international racing online.
Can you stream Formula 1 races for free?
There are two platforms that stream Grand Prix races for free: RTBF and Servus TV. If you've never heard of either, that's because RTBF is based in Belgium (with French commentary) and Servus TV is based in Austria (with German commentary). If you don't speak fluent French or German, you can tune into the English commentary for each race via BBC's Radio 5 live while watching the stream.
Because these streamers are based in other countries, you'll have to use a VPN in order to access them from the U.S. Don't worry; it's not as complicated as it sounds.
What is the best VPN for streaming F1 races live?
Not all VPNs are created equally. Terms and conditions vary, as well as the number of servers and server locations, security features, speed, performance, and of course, price. But we've done the hard part for you and rounded up our top picks for a VPN for streaming F1 races live. Here are our favorites.
Best overall: ExpressVPN
We've tested ExpressVPN firsthand at Mashable and found it to be an overall excellent pick. Mashable contributor Branford Shaw noted that it's "easy to use, it works well, and there's ample support available whenever you need it," which is notable for newbies. It offers over 3,000 different servers around the globe, including in Austria and Belgium, so you can seamlessly stream Formula 1 races via RTBF or Servus TV.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
Most affordable: CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN regularly tops our list of the best VPNs due to its low cost, dedicated streaming servers, gigantic network, and annual Transparency Reports. There are 400 dedicated servers in Austria and 216 in Belgium, so you have a wide selection for streaming Formula 1 racing. Plus, as Mashable shopping reporter Haley Henschel noted, "The rate you see at signup is the rate you'll pay forever — no hidden fees here, folks."
Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.
Best premium pick: NordVPN
While it might not be the best VPN for newbies, there's a reason NordVPN regularly makes best VPN lists. It's an industry leader with advanced security features like split tunneling, multi-hop connections, and built-in malware protection. There are over 5,000 servers in over 60 countries, including Belgium and Austria, so you're set for streaming RTBF and Servus TV from the U.S. You can also add on tons of features to your plan — like a password manager or data breach scanner — but it can get expensive pretty quickly.
Read our full review of NordVPN.
Honorable mention: Proton VPN
Don't want to commit to a VPN long-term? Proton VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It's not the biggest or most powerful VPN on the list, but it does offer plenty of servers in Austria and Belgium and is committed to consumer privacy. The price isn't too shabby either.
Read our full review of ProtonVPN.
Best streaming services to watch Formula 1 racing
If the VPN route isn't your game, you can watch Formula 1 racing via cable or streaming services as well. Of course, these options aren't free, but they are a bit simpler.
Cable subscribers still have a leg up on the cord-cutters when it comes to watching live events. If you still subscribe to cable or know someone who does, your best bet will be to use a login to stream ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2 live. Already cut the cord? No problem — you still have some options. As mentioned above, you can use a VPN to stream. Of course, this means you'll have to listen in another language or stream a separate live radio broadcast. You can also subscribe to F1TV or a cable alternative and watch every session live or on demand — but it'll cost you. Each has its pros and cons, so let's weigh them out.
Best for diehard fans: F1TV Pro
For Formula 1 fans who can't get enough and plan to watch every single practice session and race, F1TV Pro is your best bet. It costs $79.99 for the year and gives you access to F1 live and on demand. You can stream practice sessions, qualifiers, and races ad-free from anywhere. You can also watch race replays and highlights, access onboard cameras and team radio, and more. If you're a diehard F1 fan, it's full of enough content to justify the price.
If you only want the live timing data and can settle for delayed race replays (no live footage), you can also subscribe to F1TV Access for only $26.99 per year. This is an affordable way to keep up with F1 without tuning in live.
Best cable alternative: YouTube TV
If you have no access to cable, live TV streaming services serve as solid alternatives. They're still more affordable than cable and many offer trial periods and regular discounts. Our top pick for watching Formula 1 is YouTube TV. The base plan offers ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 — where you'll find every race — plus unlimited DVR space for when you can't tune in live. YouTube TV is currently offering a 10-day free trial, then an $8 per month discount for your first three months. That means you'll pay just $64.99 per month for your first three months after your trial period is up. It'll cost you $72.99 per month thereafter, but you can cancel at any time. It's your best bet for streaming every race live at the best price; competitors either don't offer all three channels or don't offer a trial period or discount quite as good.
Most affordable: ESPN+
ESPN+ might not have every single race, but it has a pretty good chunk of them and only costs $9.99 per month. Plus, as a bonus, you'll get access to plenty of other live sports in addition to F1. If you're already a Hulu or Disney+ subscriber, you can even bundle ESPN+ into the mix for a discounted rate (only $12.99 per month for all three with ads).
Honorable mentions
FuboTV — 7-day free trial, then $74.99/month (access to ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2)
Hulu + Live TV — $69.99/month (access to ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2)
Sling TV Orange — $20/month for your first month, $40/month thereafter (access to ESPN and ESPN2)