Finding a way to watch Formula 1 without nuking your monthly budget has become a bit of a sport itself. You've probably noticed that every time a new season rolls around, the rights move, prices go up, and the "free" options seem to vanish into a cloud of tire smoke. If you're asking where can I watch F1 for free, you're actually in luck for the 2026 season, but it depends heavily on your willingness to navigate some digital hurdles.
Honestly, the days of just turning on a local antenna and catching every race in 4K are mostly over in the US and UK. But "mostly" isn't "completely."
The Reality of Free F1 in 2026
The landscape shifted significantly this year. In the United States, the long-standing era of ESPN has ended, and Apple TV has stepped in as the exclusive broadcast partner. While most of the heavy lifting is done behind their paywall, Apple actually offers a olive branch to casual fans. They’ve committed to showing select races and all practice sessions for free within the Apple TV app. You don't necessarily need a paid subscription for those specific sessions, which is a massive change from the old cable-only days.
Europe’s Gold Mine of Free Streams
If you happen to be in Europe—or know how to make your computer think you are—the situation is way better. There are a handful of countries that still view F1 as a public good rather than just a premium product.
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- Belgium (RTBF Auvio): This is arguably the "Holy Grail" for free viewers. RTBF broadcasts every single Grand Prix, qualifying session, and practice for free. It’s in French, but the high-definition stream is incredibly stable.
- Austria (ServusTV & ORF): These two broadcasters split the 2026 season. ServusTV (owned by Red Bull) takes about half the races, and ORF takes the other half. The exception is the Austrian Grand Prix, which they both show because, well, it’s home turf.
- Luxembourg (RTL Zwee): They still hold rights for the full season for free-to-air viewers.
Where Can I Watch F1 for Free if I'm in the UK or Australia?
The UK has a very specific "highlights" culture. You aren't going to get every race live for free—Sky Sports is too protective of their investment for that. However, Channel 4 still holds the rights to show the British Grand Prix live. For every other race on the 2026 calendar, they air comprehensive 90-minute highlight shows a few hours after the checkered flag. If you can avoid spoilers on social media for half a day, it’s a high-quality, free way to keep up with the championship.
Down in Australia, 10Play follows a similar vibe. They’ll give you the Australian GP live for free, plus highlights of the rest of the season.
Brazil's Big Return to Free TV
One of the biggest stories for 2026 is F1’s return to Globo in Brazil. After a few years away, they’ve struck a deal to bring 15 Grands Prix to free-to-air television. Considering Brazil is one of the largest F1 markets on the planet, this is a huge win for fans who were tired of paying for premium sports packages.
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Using a VPN: The Legal Gray Area
Let’s be real for a second. If you aren't sitting in a cafe in Brussels or a living room in Vienna, you can’t just go to the RTBF or ServusTV websites and hit play. They use "geo-blocking." This is where a VPN (Virtual Private Network) comes in.
People use services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN to swap their IP address to Belgium or Austria. While this is a common tactic, you should know that it often technically violates the "Terms of Service" of the broadcaster, even if the broadcaster is free. Some services have even started cracking down on VPN users by blocking known server ranges. If you go this route, you’ll likely need a paid VPN; the free ones are usually too slow to stream live sports without it looking like a slideshow.
The "Free Trial" Carousel
If you only care about one or two specific races—maybe Monaco or the season finale in Abu Dhabi—you can play the trial game.
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- FuboTV: They often offer a 7-day free trial in the US that includes the channels carrying the Apple TV feed or local simulcasts.
- Apple TV+: They usually offer a one-week trial for new users. If you time it right, you can catch a race weekend and then cancel.
- F1 TV Pro: In certain regions (though not the US anymore due to the Apple deal), they offer a 7-day trial at the start of the season.
Why You Might Actually Want the Highlights
I know, I know. You want the live drama. But the free highlights on Channel 4 (UK) are produced by Whisper, and they are genuinely excellent. They cut out the boring laps where everyone is just managing tires and keep the wheel-to-wheel action. Plus, you get Steve Jones and David Coulthard, who are arguably more entertaining than some of the standard world-feed commentators.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
To get the most out of the 2026 season without spending a dime, follow this checklist:
- Download the Apple TV App: Even without a subscription, check the "Sports" tab on race weekends. You’ll get the practice sessions and a few live races (likely the US-based ones like Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas) for free.
- Set up an RTBF Auvio Account: If you have a way to access Belgian content, register your account early. It requires a Belgian zip code (like 1000 or 1410), but they don't usually verify your actual address.
- Mark the British GP: If you’re in the UK, make sure your antenna is working for the Silverstone weekend. It’s the one time you get the full live experience on Channel 4.
- Use BBC Radio 5 Live: If you’re watching a free foreign stream (like the French RTBF or German ServusTV) and don't speak the language, mute the TV and pull up the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary. It’s free globally and usually syncs up pretty well with the video.