The 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 6, and for the first time ever, the sport will be broadcast across 11 teams with completely new technical regulations. New cars, new engines, new aero rules. It's a massive reset, and millions of fans will be looking for a way to watch it all without paying for a Sky Sports subscription or cable TV package.

The good news: several countries broadcast F1 completely free-to-air on public television. Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Hungary, and Australia (for its home race) all show live Formula 1 at zero cost. The catch is that these streams are geo-blocked, meaning you can only access them if you're physically in that country.

That's where a VPN comes in. By connecting to a server in Belgium, Austria, or Switzerland, you can access these free legal streams from anywhere in the world. This guide covers every free F1 streaming option for the 2026 season, with step-by-step instructions for each platform and device.

The 2026 F1 Calendar at a Glance

The 2026 season features 24 races across five continents, running from March through early December. Here are the key dates to mark in your calendar:

• Round 1: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne. March 6-8.
• Round 2: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai. March 13-15.
• Round 3: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka. March 27-29.
• Round 6: Miami Grand Prix. May 1-3.
• Round 8: Monaco Grand Prix. June 5-7.
• Round 11: British Grand Prix, Silverstone. July 3-5.
• Round 12: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps. July 17-19.
• Round 16: Spanish Grand Prix, Madrid (debut). September 11-13.
• Round 19: United States Grand Prix, Austin. October 23-25.
• Round 22: Las Vegas Grand Prix. November 19-21.
• Round 24: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (season finale). December 4-6.

The full 24-race calendar is published on formula1.com. Sprint weekends are scheduled at China (Round 2), Great Britain (Round 11), Netherlands (Round 14), Austin (Round 19), São Paulo (Round 21), and Qatar (Round 23).

Every Free F1 Streaming Platform for 2026

We tested each of these platforms in February 2026 to confirm they're still active, still free, and still streaming F1 content. All of them are legitimate public broadcasters or officially licensed services. None are pirate streams. VPN Super covers all the countries you need, with VPN server locations in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and Australia among 80+ global options.

RTBF Auvio (Belgium): Best Overall Free Option

• What it covers: All 24 races, all qualifying sessions, all practice sessions, plus F2 and F3.
• Streaming quality: Full HD (1080p)
• Commentary language: French
• Cost: 100% free. No payment details needed.
• Account required: Yes. Free registration takes about 30 seconds.
• VPN server needed: Belgium
• Website: auvio.rtbf.be
• Device support: Web browser (desktop and mobile), Android TV, Apple TV (via AirPlay). No native Fire TV app.

RTBF Auvio is the clear winner for free F1 streaming. It's the digital platform of Belgium's French-language public broadcaster, and it carries complete coverage of every single Formula 1 session throughout the season. The stream quality is consistently full HD, the interface is clean and easy to navigate, and you don't need to enter any credit card details. It's genuinely, completely free.

The only downside is French commentary. If that bothers you, the workaround is to open BBC Radio 5 Live in a separate tab for English audio and sync it with the RTBF video feed. BBC Radio 5 is available globally without a VPN, so you can use split tunnelling to keep the radio stream on your regular connection while RTBF runs through the VPN.

ServusTV (Austria): Best for Fire TV and German Speakers

• What it covers: Approximately half of all races (shared with ORF). Also broadcasts F2, F3, and Porsche Supercup.
• Streaming quality: Full HD (1080p)
• Commentary language: German
• Cost: 100% free. No registration required.
• VPN server needed: Austria
• Website: servustv.com
• Device support: Web browser, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, mobile.

ServusTV is owned by Red Bull and holds free-to-air F1 rights in Austria through 2026. The Australian Grand Prix is confirmed on their broadcast schedule for the opening weekend. No account registration needed, which makes this the easiest platform to access. Just connect to an Austrian VPN server, open the website, and hit play.

The drawback: ServusTV only broadcasts roughly half of the season's races. The other half goes to ORF (Austria's other public broadcaster). Between the two of them, you get every race covered, but you'll need to check which service has each race weekend. Both require an Austrian IP address.

ORF (Austria): The Other Half of Austrian Coverage

• What it covers: The other half of races not on ServusTV.
• Streaming quality: 720p (lower than ServusTV and RTBF)
• Commentary language: German
• Cost: 100% free. No registration required.
• VPN server needed: Austria
• Website: tvthek.orf.at
• Device support: Web browser, Fire TV, Android TV.

ORF's streaming platform is older and less polished than ServusTV or RTBF. The interface feels dated, and the stream maxes out at 720p rather than full HD. But it works, it's free, and it covers the half of the calendar that ServusTV doesn't. Think of it as the backup you'll need for certain race weekends throughout the year.

SRF (Switzerland): Full Season in German, No Account Needed

• What it covers: All 24 races, plus qualifying.
• Streaming quality: Full HD (1080p)
• Commentary language: German
• Cost: 100% free. No registration required.
• VPN server needed: Switzerland
• Website: srf.ch/play/tv
• Device support: Web browser (desktop and mobile), mobile app.

SRF is Switzerland's German-language public broadcaster and it carries the full F1 season. No account, no registration, no credit card. Connect to a Swiss server, go to SRF Play, find the live sport section, and you're in. The quality is strong and the stream is reliable. If you speak German or don't mind German commentary, SRF is arguably easier to use than RTBF since it requires zero sign-up.

10Play (Australia): Free for the Home Race

• What it covers: The Australian Grand Prix only (March 6-8, 2026). All three race days live and free.
• Commentary language: English
• Cost: 100% free. Account registration required.
• VPN server needed: Australia
• Website: 10play.com.au/formula-1
• Device support: Web browser, mobile app, smart TV apps.

Network Ten holds the free-to-air rights for the Australian Grand Prix in Australia. That means 10Play, their streaming platform, will broadcast all three race days at Albert Park live and free. This is the only free option with English commentary, which makes it the best choice for the opening round if you want coverage in English.

The limitation: 10Play only covers the Australian Grand Prix for free. The rest of the international season requires a paid subscription through another provider. So for the March 6-8 weekend specifically, 10Play is perfect. For the remaining 23 races, you'll want RTBF Auvio or SRF as your go-to.

Other Free Options Worth Knowing About

• RTL Zwee (Luxembourg): Full season coverage in Luxembourgish. Free, no registration. Requires a Luxembourg VPN server.
• M4 Sport (Hungary): Full season in Hungarian. Free, no registration. Requires a Hungarian VPN server. The website is cluttered and hard to navigate, but it works.

How to Watch the 2026 Australian Grand Prix for Free: Step by Step

The Australian Grand Prix runs from March 6 to 8, 2026 at Albert Park in Melbourne. It's the first race of the new regulation era, and here's exactly how to watch it without paying a cent.

Method 1: RTBF Auvio (All Sessions, French Commentary)

1. Download VPN Super from the website or your device's app store. The free plan includes servers in Belgium.
2. Open the app and connect to a Belgium server. Wait for the connection to confirm.
3. Open your browser and go to auvio.rtbf.be.
4. Click "Se connecter" (Log in) in the top right corner. Create a free account with your email. When it asks for a postcode, enter any Belgian one (1000 for Brussels works). This isn't verified.
5. Click "Sport" in the top menu. Look under the "En direct" (Live) heading during the race weekend.
6. Click the F1 stream and enjoy. Coverage typically starts 30 minutes before each session.

For English audio: Open a second browser tab (or a different browser) and go to BBC Radio 5 Live. Use VPN Super's split tunnelling feature to keep BBC on your regular connection while RTBF runs through Belgium. Sync the audio by pausing and unpausing.

Method 2: 10Play (Race Days Only, English Commentary)

1. Download VPN Super and connect to an Australian server.
2. Go to 10play.com.au/formula-1.
3. Create a free 10Play account if you don't already have one.
4. Find the Australian Grand Prix live stream on the F1 page.
5. Watch live in English with Network Ten's commentary team.

This is the simplest option for the opening race specifically, and the only one that gives you English commentary for free. Just remember that 10Play won't cover the rest of the season's races.

Method 3: ServusTV (No Account Required, German Commentary)

1. Download VPN Super and connect to an Austrian server.
2. Go to servustv.com.
3. Find the live F1 broadcast on the homepage or under the Sport section.
4. Click play. No registration. No account. No payment. Just works.

How to Watch F1 for Free by Country

How to Watch F1 in the USA for Free

F1 broadcasting in the US is shifting for 2026. Apple TV has taken over as the primary home for Formula 1 in America, replacing the ESPN deal that ran through 2025. If you have an Apple TV subscription, you get full F1TV Premium content baked in, including live 4K coverage, multi-feed views, and onboard cameras.

Apple is also making select sessions available for free to anyone with an Apple account (no subscription needed), including some Friday and Saturday practice sessions and a handful of races throughout the season.

But if you want every race for free, your best bet is still RTBF Auvio with a Belgian VPN server. The same method works from any US location. Connect to Belgium through VPN Super, open RTBF, and you're watching the same HD stream as everyone else. The commentary is in French, but the racing is the same.

How to Watch F1 in the UK for Free

Sky Sports holds exclusive live F1 rights in the UK for 2026. A NOW TV pass or Sky subscription is the only official way to watch live races in English from the UK. Channel 4 shows delayed highlights of some races, but not live coverage.

For free live coverage: connect to Belgium (RTBF Auvio) or Switzerland (SRF) through VPN Super. French or German commentary, but full HD and completely free. Add BBC Radio 5 in a second tab for English audio.

How to Watch F1 in Australia for Free

Network 10 broadcasts the Australian Grand Prix (March 6-8) live and free on Channel 10 and 10Play. If you're in Australia, no VPN needed for this race.

If you're outside Australia and want the English-language 10Play stream, connect to an Australian server through VPN Super. For the rest of the 2026 season, Australian viewers will need either Foxtel, Kayo Sports, or the RTBF/SRF method described above.

How to Watch F1 in India for Free

F1 in India is broadcast on FanCode and Star Sports, both of which require paid subscriptions. There's no free-to-air F1 coverage in India.

The free option: same as everywhere else. Connect to Belgium via VPN Super, open RTBF Auvio, and stream in full HD. VPN Super's free plan includes enough bandwidth for HD streaming, so there's no data cap issue.

Device-by-Device Setup Guide

Desktop or Laptop (Windows and Mac)

This is the easiest setup. Download VPN Super, connect to Belgium, and open RTBF Auvio in your browser. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari all work. If the page loads in French (it will), right-click and select "Translate to English" or just navigate to the Sport section visually. The layout is intuitive enough that language isn't really a barrier once you know where to click.

iPhone and Android

You can access RTBF Auvio from your phone's mobile browser without downloading the RTBF app. Install VPN Super from the App Store or Google Play, connect to Belgium, then open Safari or Chrome and go to auvio.rtbf.be. The mobile site works well and the stream plays directly in the browser. This avoids the hassle of needing a Belgian app store account.

Fire TV Stick

RTBF Auvio doesn't have a Fire TV app, which is a pain. Your best option on Fire TV is ServusTV or ORF, both of which have Fire TV apps. You'll need to create a new Amazon account with an Austrian address to access the Austrian app store, then download ServusTV On or ORF TVthek from there. Connect VPN Super to an Austrian server and you're set.

If that sounds like too much hassle, an alternative is to stream from your phone or laptop and cast to your TV using AirPlay, Chromecast, or an HDMI cable.

Android TV

RTBF Auvio has a native Android TV app, and it's accessible regardless of your app store region. Download VPN Super and the RTBF Auvio app from the Google Play Store on your TV, connect to Belgium, and stream directly. This is the most straightforward TV setup.

Apple TV

The RTBF Auvio tvOS app is only available if your App Store account is registered to Belgium. The workaround: use AirPlay. Stream RTBF from Safari on your iPhone or iPad (with VPN Super connected to Belgium), then AirPlay it to your Apple TV. The Apple TV itself doesn't need the VPN, only the device you're casting from.

What About F1TV Pro?

F1TV Pro is Formula 1's own streaming platform. It's the premium option: all races, all sessions, English commentary (including the Sky F1 feed with David Croft and Martin Brundle), onboard cameras for every car, custom multi-feed views, and live timing. The production quality is excellent.

It costs $10/month in the US and similar prices elsewhere. Not free, but if you value English commentary and the best viewing experience, it's worth mentioning. F1TV occasionally offers a 7-day free trial, though the timing is unpredictable.

F1TV Pro requires a US IP address (it's unavailable in the UK and some other markets). If you're in a blocked region, connecting to a US server through VPN Super can give you access.

Avoid Illegal F1 Streams

Why You Need a VPN to Access Free F1 Streams

Every free F1 broadcaster listed above is geo-restricted. RTBF only works with a Belgian IP address. ServusTV and ORF require Austrian IPs. SRF needs a Swiss IP. 10Play needs an Australian IP. If you try to access any of them from outside the right country, you'll get a "content not available in your region" message.

A VPN changes your IP address to match the country you connect to. Connect to Belgium through VPN Super, and RTBF sees a Belgian IP address and lets you in. Your actual location doesn't matter.

VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy works well for F1 streaming because:

• Free plan with unlimited bandwidth. No data caps. You can stream an entire race weekend without worrying about running out of data.
• Servers in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and Australia. Check the full list of VPN server locations to see all 80+ countries covered.
• 10Gbps server speeds on premium plans. HD streaming requires roughly 5 to 10 Mbps. VPN Super's infrastructure handles this comfortably.
• Works on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Download the VPN app on any device and you're covered.
• No credit card required for the free plan. Download, connect, stream. That's it.

Tips for the Best F1 Streaming Experience

• Test your setup before race day. Don't wait until five minutes before lights out to figure out your VPN connection. Do a test run during a practice session on Friday.
• Use a wired connection if possible. Ethernet gives you more stable bandwidth than Wi-Fi, which matters during a two-hour race.
• Connect to the VPN before opening the streaming site. If you open RTBF first and then connect the VPN, the site may cache your original location and still block you.
• Keep a backup platform ready. If RTBF has issues on race day, switch to SRF or ServusTV. Having two or three options means you're never stuck.
• Check the race start time in your local time zone. The Australian Grand Prix race start is Sunday March 8 at 3:00 PM AEST (Melbourne local time). That's 6:00 AM GMT, 1:00 AM EST, and 3:00 PM JST. Early morning or late night starts are common for races on the other side of the world, so plan accordingly.