Streaming Formula 1 races can put a strain on your wallet, especially depending on where you live and what subscription plans are available. But did you know that in countries like Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Brazil, people are tuning in to Formula 1 races for free?
If you’re feeling left out because you’re not in one of these places, don’t worry! There’s a way to virtually be there, and it’s through VPN services.
A VPN, short for virtual private network, acts like a secure tunnel between you and a server deployed in a free-to-stream Formula 1 country. By connecting to one of these servers, not only does your virtual location change, but you also gain access to all the Formula 1 seasons without having to pay for subscriptions.
Solution: By using a VPN service, we can establish a connection in any of these countries above, bypass geo-restriction problems and start watching Formula 1 races for free.
A quick guide to streaming Formula 1 free and legally:
- Visit Surfshark VPN provider – it has servers in all countries where F1 is free to watch.
- Hit the “Get Surfshark” button and claim your discount.
- Enter your e-mail address, and make the payment with a preferred method.
- Surfshark will deliver login credentials to your e-mail address after a successful transaction.
- Login to the Surfshark portal by using the credentials, navigate to “Applications” and download the VPN app compatible with your device.
- Install the app, launch it, and log in with your username/password.
- Navigate to “Locations”, search for “Switzerland” country, and connect to it with a single click-on.
Once the connection is established, you will have an IP address from Switzerland. This virtual location will help you browse the internet as a Swiss local and start streaming Formula 1 races free and legally from srf.ch (SRF Zwei channel)

Feeling a little lost? That is what happens when you are unfamiliar with VPN services. Allow me to properly guide you. This way, we’ll understand why licensing causes geo-restriction issues and how a VPN service may assist us in addressing them.
F1 licensing and geo-restrictions
You’ve probably come across announcements on TV or in the media regarding broadcasting rights for Formula 1 races by various channels. For instance, ESPN holds the rights in the United States, TSN and RDS in Canada, and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, among others.
While these channels predominantly operate in English and typically require a subscription, there’s an exception: Switzerland’s SRF TV channel streams Formula 1 races for free. This exemplifies how different countries have different broadcasters, some requiring payment while others are complimentary.
This arrangement is known as licensing, which dictates where each platform can operate. Formula 1’s licensing agreements restrict broadcasters to specific geographical locations based on IP addresses.
As each country has its own unique range of IP addresses, attempting to access a free streaming platform from a country other than Switzerland will result in the following error:

There are two warnings in the image above.
First warning: “Dieses Video kann leider nicht abgespielt werden. Inhalte mit Geoblocking können nur in der Schweiz abgerufen werden. Mehr Informationen…”
Translates as: “Unfortunately, this video cannot be played. Content with geoblocking can only be accessed in Switzerland. More information…”
Second warning: “Dieser Inhalt ist ausserhalb der Schweiz nicht verfügbar.”
Translates as: “This content is not available outside of Switzerland.”
That is called geo-restriction!
Stream Formula 1 free with a VPN
Now that we understand why we’re facing geo-blocking, let’s tackle it head-on.
We’ll use a VPN to swap our local IP address with one from a country where we can legally watch all Formula 1 races for free.
If we want to encrypt our web traffic with a VPN server deployed to Switzerland datacenters, the VPN will assign us a Swiss IP address. This effectively changes our virtual location and fools the channels into thinking we’re local viewers.
Choosing the right F1 VPN
It is difficult to dodge geo-restriction. First and foremost, a random or free VPN would be useless. Second, even some paid VPN services will be unable to bypass such restrictions.
At this stage, we want a steadfast VPN with a server in Switzerland. Of course, it must also be compatible with the SRF Play and several other free-to-stream F1 channels.
In this article, we will use Surfshark VPN as a comprehensive solution to the abovementioned criteria.
- Visit the official website of Surfshark.
- Select a plan by clicking the “Get Surfshark” button.
- Enter your e-mail address and make the payment with a preferred method.
Surfshark will need a few minutes to authorize your account. Once it is successful, you will get your login credentials by e-mail.
VPN app installation
Are you all set? It is now time to download the Surfshark app on our device. To do this, you must:
- Go to the Surfshark main page.
- Click on the “Login” link in the upper right corner and input your credentials.
- The “Applications” option, which is located on the left side of the screen, is where you can access the downloadable applications.

Click on the VPN app that is compatible with your device and install it according to the instructions.
When prompted, grant the VPN software all permission. Otherwise, it may not function correctly.
Connecting to the VPN server
If everything goes well, your VPN should be ready to use.
We are expected to connect to a server in Switzerland since we are attempting to access a platform that is only accessible in the region.
Please follow the instructions below to change your IP address to Switzerland:
- Start the Surfshark VPN software.
- Navigate to “Locations” and search for “Switzerland”
- Connect to the prompted server to change your IP address

As we’re connected to the VPN server, let’s check whether our IP address has changed.

Bingo!
Streaming Formula 1 races live and for free
Now that we have a Swiss IP address, we are now virtually Swiss residents and we can watch F1 streams directly.
All you have to do is visit srf.ch and enjoy Formula 1 to the fullest.

You might be wondering why you have to get a Swiss IP address. Well, the SRF Play website only operates in the Switzerland territory and it airs all of the F1 matches for free. You do not even have to create an account with the website.
Are we done yet? Of course not!
We have a long way to go to fully digest the F1 streaming article.
Free to watch F1 channels
As an overall view of the free F1 streaming channels, I have decided to create a list for you. This way, you can learn the alternative channels in different languages.
It would be frustrating not to enjoy the streaming in your native language, but considering F1 is the least commented sports event, you can enjoy the engine sounds, check out the live leader, and support your favorite driver.
Let’s dive into the free-to-stream F1 channels.
RTL LU
RTL is a Luxembourg-based streaming platform offering all F1 races free in the Luxembourgish language.

Official website: | www.rtl.lu/tele/live-2 |
Required VPN location: | Luxembourg |
Broadcasting language: | Luxembourgish |
Races: | Full season |
Subscription: | No need |
Recommended VPN: | Surfshark VPN |
Unlike some other streaming channels, RTL is not a well-known website. As there will be less demand for the platform, you can watch the F1 races with RTL with the finest quality possible.
However, less demand makes the VPN services ignore their server quality in Luxembourg as well. According to my latest streaming experience, Surfshark is the best solution for RTL Play.
RTBF
RTBF is a Belgian streaming network that provides free access to the whole Formula 1 season. If you have a deep bond with the French language and cannot watch the races without it, then RTBF TV is for you. French-speaking F1 fans all around the world can enjoy it.

Official website: | www.rtbf.be/auvio/direct |
Required VPN location: | Belgium |
Broadcasting language: | French |
Races: | Full season |
Subscription: | Required (Free) |
Recommended VPN: | Cyberghost |
RTBF has a habit of blocking VPN services. However, Cyberghost and ExpressVPN are still viable options, and their Belgium servers will allow you to stream RTBF in the highest possible quality.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to create a free account with RTBF to access the free F1 streaming channel “RTBF Tipik.” Without an account, live streams won’t be available.
ServusTV / ORF
Servus TV and ORF are Austrian streaming network that provides the finest possible quality for F1 races. You do not need to register an account to watch the races. Just visit their official website below, and start streaming F1 free.

Servus official website: | www.servustv.com/sport/ |
ORF official website: | tvthek.orf.at |
Required VPN location: | Austria |
Broadcasting language: | German |
Races: | Servus: 12 races – ORF: 12 races |
Subscription: | No need |
Recommended VPN: | Surfshark VPN |
According to the available races, Servus TV only broadcasts half of the season, and the platform is notorious for blocking VPN services. You may now use Surfshark to bypass Servus TV geo-restrictions.
ORF TV, another Austrian streaming provider, fills Servus TV’s missing races. The platform is completely free to stream without registering.
However, we have a major issue. If you ask me which channel blocks the VPN services most, I would say ORF. Till last year, no VPN provider was able to bypass ORF geo-restriction at all. Yet, after intensive hard work by Surfshark, now you can watch the live F1 streamings on the ORF platform without any issues at all.
That will also help you fill the missing 12-race gap from the Servus TV as well. Enjoy all the races! Knowing the German language is a big bonus as well.
SRF TV
SRF works in three distinct languages in Switzerland. There are three of them: German, French, and Italian. SRF TV attracts a larger audience than other networks due to its multicultural population.
Because it is a multilingual platform, you need to visit separate web pages for each language.

Official website: | SRF.CH (German), RTS.CH (French), RSI.CH (Italian) |
Required VPN location: | Switzerland |
Broadcasting language: | German, French, Italian |
Races: | Full season |
Subscription: | No need |
Recommended VPN: | Surfshark VPN |
To watch SRF in the best possible quality, we need a reliable VPN provider with fast servers in Switzerland. Surfshark stands out as an excellent option for streaming SRF, RTS, and RSI live streams based on such requirements.
It’s worth noting that SRF Play may not always offer stable, high-quality streaming. If you are not happy with the results, check out the other options in our list.
Band TV
Band TV is Brazil’s national TV channel offering several sports events for free. Fortunately, you can also watch F1 races till 2025 with a VPN that has dedicated servers in Brazil.

Official website: | band.uol.com.br/ao-vivo |
Required VPN location: | Brazil |
Broadcasting language: | Brazil Portuguese |
Races: | Full season |
Subscription: | Required (Free) |
Recommended VPN: | ExpressVPN |
Currently, Band TV does not block any VPN services. Therefore, any VPN service such as ExpressVPN or Surfshark will work fine to watch Formula 1 races on Band TV.
Still, there is a small drawback and that is the streaming quality. You may not enjoy the quality of the races with 720p. If you are picky about it, then prefer RTL LU or RTBF.
Just as a recap, take a look at the chart below.
Channel | RTL | RTBF | Servus | ORF | SRF | Band TV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPN location | Luxembourg | Belgium | Austria | Austria | Switzerland | Brazil |
Language | Luxembourgish | French | German | German | DE – FR – IT | Portuguese (BR) |
Subscription | No need | Yes (Free) | No need | No need | No need | Yes (Free) |
Races | All races | All races | 12 races | 12 races | All races | All races |
Official website: | rtl.lu | rtbe.be | servustv.com | orf.at | srf.ch | uol.com.br |
Now that we learn all of the free F1 streaming channels, it is very time to dive deep into the VPN services that can unlock the channels above.
Best F1 VPNs for free streaming
When it comes to server coverage, streaming compatibility, and speed performance, not all VPN services are created equal. Let’s break down VPN services into these three subcategories and select the best one for a seamless F1 streaming experience.
Firstly, VPN services differ significantly in the number of countries they cover. While established providers boast extensive coverage, newer VPN services are steadily expanding their server networks.
Secondly, merely having a server in a specific country isn’t sufficient. Streaming companies enforce geo-restrictions rigorously, occasionally blocking VPNs. Therefore, we need a VPN that can adjust its servers to the ongoing changes in streaming and blocking dynamics.
Lastly, server speed is paramount. Without decent speed performance, watching F1 races in good quality becomes challenging.
Taking into account these subcategories, let’s determine which VPN service can fulfill our ultimate expectations.
1. Surfshark
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN providers that can unblock all of the free F1 channels. Since 2022, the company invested highly in unlocking streaming platforms and now it seems that hard work is paying off.

Other than that, Surfshark does not specify whether its VPN server is dedicated to a specific streaming platform or not. It makes it less user-friendly for newbies. However, in most cases, the connected VPN location will unblock the desired F1 channel.
Locations | Surfshark performance (Mbps) |
---|---|
Luxembourg: | 183.11 Mbps |
Belgium: | 173.74 Mbps |
Austria: | 169.12 Mbps |
Switzerland: | 166.79 Mbps |
Brazil: | 157.02 Mbps |
Last but not least, Surfshark stands out as one of the fastest VPN providers in the market. With the given speed performance, it is just out of the question that you will enjoy the best streaming quality possible.
2. CyberGhost
Cyberghost is the second-best VPN service in our article. First of all, it is one of the rare VPN providers having a server in all of the countries where it is free to stream F1 races. Moreover, the company offers streaming servers dedicated to RTL, SRF, Servus, and ORF.
As Band TV just got the F1 streaming license this year, and it does not block VPN services, therefore, Cyberghost also works well with Band TV.

Considering the supported streaming services, check out how Cyberghost servers perform in those locations.
Locations | Cyberghost performance (Mbps) |
---|---|
Luxembourg: | 180.50 Mbps |
Belgium: | 171.07 Mbps |
Austria: | 179.94 Mbps |
Switzerland: | 67.82 Mbps |
Brazil: | 45.47 Mbps |
Speaking of speed performance, Cyberghost offers outstanding download values in all of the countries above except Brazil. That also means that you will be streaming F1 races without any kind of buffering issues.
3. ExpressVPN
When it comes to streaming, ExpressVPN applies intuitive features to its servers and makes them available when you need them. Considering all of the free Formula 1 channels, ExpressVPN can unblock them without any issues.

Moreover, because of its long history, ExpressVPN is heavily invested in offering servers worldwide and outstanding speed performance.
Locations | ExpressVPN performance (Mbps) |
---|---|
Luxembourg: | 142.98 Mbps |
Belgium: | 198.63 Mbps |
Austria: | 155.23 Mbps |
Switzerland: | 185.85 Mbps |
Brazil: | 69.45 Mbps |
As the list suggests, ExpressVPN will always make sure that you will get the speed performance you need to stream headache-free Formula 1 races. Yet, it is also the most expensive VPN provider on our list.
As a visitor looking for a way to watch Formula 1 for free, it might not make sense to pay 6.67$ per month to ExpressVPN when you could go for the cheaper options.
Streaming platforms | Surfshark | Cyberghost | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|
RTL LU | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
RTBE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Servus TV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
ORF | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
SRF | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Band TV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Official website: | Visit website | Visit website | Visit website |
Note: During live events, the VPN servers where f1 free-to-stream channels are available may get overloaded. If the streaming quality is poor, you may always switch to another country and attempt to watch F1 on alternative platforms.
FAQs about Formula 1 streaming
This section contains the answers to the most frequently asked questions about watching Formula One races for free on a legal platform.
There are several options for free F1 streaming, including RTBF from Belgium, RTL from Luxembourg, ServusTV and ORF from Austria, and Band TV from Brazil. Depending on the language in which you want to watch the races, simply select one of these channels and connect to the VPN server of the relevant country.
If you don’t have a Sky Sports subscription or live outside of the UK or Ireland, you can watch F1 races on the free channels listed in our article. All you need is a reliable VPN service. Let’s say you chose to watch the races on RTBF. Simply connect to the VPN’s Belgium server and navigate to the live channel. That is it!
If you don’t have cable TV, you can watch F1 races via online streaming services such as RTBF, RTL, SRF, ServusTV, ORF, or BandTV. You only need an internet connection and a reliable VPN service. The details are in our article.
Summing up the free F1 streaming
Why pay excessive fees when you can watch all F1 races for free? In this post, I discussed some of the local streaming networks that allow us to watch Formula One live and for free.
First and foremost, we encountered a challenge known as “geo-restriction.” Because of licensing and streaming restrictions, free-to-air F1 broadcasters such as SRF, RTL, RTBF, ServusTV, ORF, and Band TV can only provide services in countries where they have F1 broadcasting rights.
To overcome this limitation, we used reliable VPN services to hide our IP address. We were able to watch F1 races live and for free as locals in a desired country by connecting to a VPN server in the platform’s service region.
Last but not least, we learned that not all VPNs are created equal. We tested each channel individually with various VPN services, created a detailed table indicating which VPN service works best with which channel, and examined the VPN services available. Surfshark, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN were the most popular services in this category.
Well, that is it! Save some bucks and enjoy F1 races!

I’m a part-time traveler on a mission: to explore the world and uncover the intricate demands of VPN usage. Fueled by curiosity, I meticulously navigate the realms of privacy, streaming, and unblocking needs in every destination I visit. With a keen eye, I analyze the local and global VPN demands of each country, translating my findings into informative articles about VPN-related topics.