Formula 1 races are accessible to viewers globally through a combination of dedicated streaming services and regional television broadcasters. The method of watching live events varies significantly depending on geographical location and local media rights agreements.
The 2026 Formula 1 season introduces new exclusive broadcast partnerships in several key markets, reshaping how fans engage with the sport.
Official Formula 1 streaming services
F1 TV Pro offers comprehensive live streaming of every Formula 1 session, including practice, qualifying, sprint races, and the Grand Prix itself. This service provides an ad-free experience, live onboard camera feeds for all drivers, and access to team radio communications.
Subscribers to F1 TV Pro can also access live timing data, an extensive archive of classic races, and coverage of supporting series such as Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy. F1 TV Access provides on-demand replays and highlights, but typically does not include live race broadcasts.
Watching Formula 1 in the united states
From 2026, Apple TV holds the exclusive broadcast rights for Formula 1 in the United States, under a five-year agreement. This partnership means all live Formula 1 sessions, including practice, qualifying, sprint events, and Grands Prix, are streamed exclusively through an Apple TV subscription.
F1 TV Premium content, which includes features like 4K streaming and multi-view options, is integrated into the Apple TV subscription for US audiences at no additional cost. Select practice sessions and certain races throughout the season are also made available for free within the Apple TV app, without requiring a full subscription.
Key european Formula 1 broadcasters
Across Europe, Formula 1 broadcasting rights are held by various national and regional television networks, often requiring a paid subscription. Sky Sports F1 maintains its position as the primary broadcaster in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy, with long-term deals extending until 2034 and 2032 respectively.
In Germany, Sky Deutschland provides extensive coverage, while Canal+ is the exclusive broadcaster for Formula 1 in France. Viaplay holds rights in several European territories, including the Netherlands.
| Country | Main Broadcaster(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1, NOW TV | Channel 4 shows British Grand Prix live and highlights of all races. |
| Germany | Sky Deutschland | RTL broadcasts four selected races for free. |
| France | Canal+ | |
| Italy | Sky Italia, TV8 | TV8 offers some coverage. |
| Netherlands | Viaplay | |
| Canada | TSN, RDS | F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Access also available. |
| Brazil | Bandeirantes (Band) | Band shows every race free on broadcast TV; F1 TV Pro also available. |
| Mexico | Fox Sports Mexico, F1 TV Pro |
Free-to-air Formula 1 coverage
Several public broadcasters in Europe offer legitimate free-to-air coverage of Formula 1, though availability can be geo-restricted. These channels often provide the official FOM feed, ensuring high-definition quality and standard graphics.
RTBF in Belgium and RTL Luxembourg broadcast all Formula 1 races live without charge. In Austria, ServusTV and ORF share the rights, with each channel broadcasting approximately half of the races live for free.
Swiss broadcasters SRF, RSI, and RTS also provide free coverage of many qualifying sessions and races. Channel 4 in the United Kingdom offers live coverage of the British Grand Prix and highlights packages for every other race on the calendar.
| Country | Free-to-Air Channel(s) | Coverage Details |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | RTBF | Live broadcast of all races. |
| Luxembourg | RTL Luxembourg | Live coverage of all practices, qualifiers, and races. |
| Austria | ServusTV, ORF | Each broadcasts half of the races live. |
| Switzerland | SRF, RSI, RTS | Broadcasts many races and qualifying sessions. |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4 | Live British Grand Prix, highlights of all other races. |
| Brazil | Bandeirantes (Band) | Shows every race live on broadcast TV. |
| Germany | RTL | Broadcasts four selected races for free. |
Accessing Formula 1 streams with vpns
For viewers outside of regions with free-to-air broadcasts, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can be used to access geo-restricted streams. A VPN allows users to connect to servers in different countries, making it appear as though they are browsing from that location.
This method can enable access to free streams from broadcasters like RTBF or ServusTV, provided the user has a legitimate subscription to the VPN service. It is important to note that using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may be subject to the terms and conditions of the streaming service.
