Rev up those engines again, motor racing fans – Formula 1 is back in action this July, having announced details of the first eight Grands Prix that will go ahead as part of the sport’s revised 2020 calendar. You know the story by now. March. Covid-19. Pandemic. Shutdown. That’s all starting to fade into the rear-view mirror now, though, so pump up your tyres (or couch cushions) and get ready to watch Formula 1 from anywhere – find a top-quality F1 live stream with the help of our guide.
F1 2020 cheat sheet
The first race of the new-look 2020 F1 season is the Austrian Grand Prix, taking place July 3-5. As with all Formula 1 races, you can watch it online with a Sky Sports Monthly Pass – now £10 off in the UK or on ESPN in the US, where Sling TV’s Orange package includes the channel and offers a FREE trial.
Yes, F1 is the latest sport to restart action following in the footsteps of football/soccer, golf, and various Australian ball-related competitions. As ever, we encourage people to stay safe and remain vigilant in these unprecedented times, but it’s nice to have to have something to get excited about again as we cautiously inch towards a return to normality.
For star British driver Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team, winning is very much the norm – but can he be bested this season as he looks to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven F1 Drivers’ Championships?
The contender that usually goes head-to-head with the team is Ferrari, but this season the favourite to challenge for the top spot is looking more like Red Bull Racing – specifically Max Verstappen. Verstappen, much like Ferrari’s Charle Leclerc, is on top form as a driver. Will Red Bull offer the car this season that is able to do the Dutchman’s driving justice?
With races being held without spectators for the time being, don’t miss any blood-pumping second of the high-octane action. Read on to find out everything you need to know to find a quality F1 live stream and watch every 2020 Formula 1 race online from anywhere in the world.
How to live stream F1 motor racing from outside your country
If you’re resident in the UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can scroll a bit further down for a guide to who’s showing the Formula 1 in your country. But if you’re abroad for whatever reason, you might encounter a problem accessing your normal coverage in the form of geo-blocking.
You needn’t worry, though – by using one of the best VPN services we recommend, you can whizz around these digital borders and tune in to a trustworthy F1 live stream, just like you would at home. Here’s how to get started.
We’ve taken the time to try out all the best VPN providers and we found ExpressVPN to sit at the front of the grid. It works with lots of devices and offers super fast connections across its many servers. Access ExpressVPN via your laptop, iPhone, tablet, Android phone, PlayStation, Xbox and plenty more. Express is a do-it-all service that also benefits from 24/7 customer support.
ExpressVPN is the best all-round VPN for streaming at (appropriately) excellent speeds – and perhaps best of all, it has a 30-day money back guarantee plus three months FREE when you subscribe for a year.
How to watch an F1 live stream in the UK
This year, there is next-to-no free live coverage of the F1 as Sky has nabbed the rights to Formula 1, meaning you’ll be able to see it all via Sky Sports and its dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel. Subscribers also get to watch on the move using the Sky Go app , which is available on nearly all modern phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles.
For those without Sky, the best option is to nab a NOW TV Sky Sports Monthly Pass, which includes all 11 channels – currently £10 off and down to just £25 a month as part of a special three month deal. Taken out at the right time, this should get you access to all eight confirmed races of the revised 2020 season – as well as live Premier League football, PGA Tour, and lots more.
To access your usual streaming service from outside the UK, you’ll need to download a good VPN as detailed above.
How to get an F1 live stream in the US
For the 2020 F1 season, it’s ESPN that will be providing broadcasts in the US. Cord cutters are in luck, too, as you don’t have to use cable to access ESPN.
Over-the-top streaming services let you watch TV over an internet connection and can typically be had for a fraction of the cost of even the most basic cable package.
When it comes to getting ESPN, three in particular standout.
Sling TV’s Orange package includes ESPN and offers a FREE trial period before billing you at $30 a month. If you just want access to ESPN and the F1 action, this is the cheapest way to go.
For a more complete cable replacement solution, consider Hulu + Live TV, which costs $54.99 but comes with over 65 channels including ESPN as well as Hulu’s full line-up of original and on demand content. It’s got a FREE 1-week trial going at the moment, so check it out.
US residents heading outside of the country can still access the feed they normally use and pay for by using a VPNas per the method described above.
How to watch an F1 live stream in Canada
In Canada, 2020 F1 races are aired a pair of Bell Media-owned sports broadcasters: the English-language TSN and its French-language counterpart RDS. Check your local listings for linear TV details, but those wanting to watch online are well-served by their digital platforms.
The TSN Direct and RDS Direct streaming services cost just CA$4.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month and can be purchased by anyone, regardless of whether you have the channels as part of a pay TV package – though existing subscribers should note they can log in to live streams at no extra charge with details of their provider. They both also offer apps for convenient on-the-go streaming.
Canadians abroad can use a VPN to whizz back to the Great White North and watch the streaming coverage they normally do at home – only from anywhere in the world.
How to get an F1 live stream in Australia
Paid-for service Fox Sports is showing every race of the 2020 Formula 1 season and is available to Foxtel subscribers on linear TV.
But Australians can also live stream F1 action without pay TV via great value Kayo Sports , which will give you access to Fox Sports coverage of Formula 1 without a length contract or eye-watering price.
In fact, it’s available from just $25 a month – and it comes with a FREE 2-week trial period so you can see how it works for yourself. It’s also home to comprehensive NRL and AFL coverage, making it a great all-around choice for Aussies.
For the best value, consider the upgraded Kayo Sports Premium Package, which provides three concurrent streams for $35 per month. We probably don’t need to tell you, but if you’ve got mates or family who also like to watch F1, this can be shared and breaks at just over a tenner a head.
Don’t forget, you can take your coverage abroad with you as well – just grab a VPN and follow our instructions above to take your streaming service of choice with you wherever you go in the world.
How to get an F1 live stream in New Zealand
New Zealand will get the 2020 F1 races broadcast by Spark Sport which costs $19.99 per month. But if you just want to catch one race for free, you’re in luck as there is a 7-day free trial.
Should you go elsewhere in the world and want to still sign-in to watch your subscription you can, then using one of our best VPN recommendations should have you covered.
F1 schedule 2020: First race, new Grand Prix calendar, and latest news
Eight races have now been confirmed for the 2020 F1 restart, with the action getting underway this July in Austria, before heading to Hungary and then to iconic Silverstone in the UK for a two-race special.
Note that the Grand Prix will will take place on the last day listed for each event.
- July 3-5: Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull Ring, Austria
- July 10-12: Steiermark Grand Prix, Red Bull Ring, Austria
- July 17-19: Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring, Hungary
- July 31-Aug 2: British Grand Prix, Silverstone, Great Britain
- Aug 7-9: Formula One 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Silverstone, Great Britain
- Aug 14-16: Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Catalunya, Spain
- Aug 28-30: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- Sept 4-6: Italian Grand Prix, Monza, Italy