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November 24, 2021

How to Watch Formula 1 Racing Online

Formula 1 racing combines the blistering speeds of NASCAR with the technical driving of rally car racing. This combination has increased the popularity of the sport worldwide, substantially increasing demand for options to stream Formula 1 races online.

F1 TV

In 2018, F1 launched its own online live streaming subscription service for fans looking for the most in-depth F1 coverage. F1 TV is available in two tiers that range in price from around $30 annually for F1 Access to around $100 annually for F1 Pro. Access offers highlights, replays and documentaries, while Pro gives you personal access into the cockpit of an F1 race car. Pro subscribers can see live video, dashboard footage, unedited team radio conversations and other features that make you feel like you're part of the race team.

ESPN

ESPN holds the TV broadcast rights to F1 racing in the United States, and broadcasts different races on each ESPN network (ESPN2, ESPN3, etc.), so what you're able to view depends on your particular subscription. Unfortunately, mainstream sports services such as CBS, Fox Sports and NBC do not have rights to stream F1 racing live. If you do not currently subscribe to a traditional cable package or other online streaming service such as Hulu or SlingTV, replays can always be seen on ESPN.com or the ESPN app. Users specifically looking for ESPN-only access, including all F1 broadcasts, can download the ESPN+ app, enabling access to all ESPN content via smartphone or tablet for around $50 per year.

Online Streaming Services

Although ESPN carries exclusive broadcast rights for F1 in the United States, there are multiple online streaming services users may subscribe to that include the ESPN and ESPN2 broadcast packages. Hulu is a video-on-demand service that has recently added an option for live TV. Hulu with live TV is around $40 per month, and includes the traditional VOD service, along with dozens of live TV channels (including the ESPN network). Other online TV streaming services (such as Sling TV, YouTube TV and PlayStation Vue) all have subscription packages for around $40 per month that you can fully customize based on what channels you would like to have included.

Watching F1 Outside of the United States?

Despite all the available services that stream F1 racing live, licensing prevents many of them from being broadcast to subscribers outside of the United States. This is determined by the IP address of the device accessing the internet, which gives the geophysical area where the device is located. A virtual private network (abbreviated VPN) can allow the user to "change" their location and make it appear as though they are in the United States.

How to Use a VPN

If you're looking to use your current subscription to stream F1 racing online but are located outside of the United States, a VPN can allow you to access F1 content from your location by changing the IP address of the device you are using. The VPN is installed on the device used for streaming, and, when activated, allows the user to make it appear as though their IP address is inside the United States, even if they are not. Users should choose a premium, paid VPN service, as many free VPNs can pose risks to privacy and security. Once logged in, you chose a location within the United States to route the IP address through, and then your online streaming content through ESPN is available.

With so many different options available, streaming F1 racing online has never been easier. All you need is an internet connection, service subscription and device to view the race. If you're still unsure about what streaming service would be best, the good news is that most of those mentioned all have free trial periods, allowing access for a limited time to try out the service and make sure it has all the F1 streaming features you're looking for.

Noack Fece1948