How to watch F1 2026 from anywhere with this VPN deal

Mercedes driver George Russell in F1 action
(Image credit: Mark Sutton/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

The 2026 season marks the beginning of a divisive new F1 era, one marked by an increased emphasis on energy management. Reigning champion and expected front-runner George Russell seem pretty happy with the technical changes, but Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso – the purest racers on the grid – could hardly sound more disillusioned.

All indications are that Mercedes have produced the best all-around cars, but the Ferraris are the quickest off the line. The McLarens and Red Bulls look promising too, while there's no debate over the backmarkers. Adrian Newey's hotly anticipated Aston Martin tenure has got off to a disastrous start, and there are legitimate fears that the cars could be multiple seconds per lap slower than the team just in front.

All 24 races are free-to-air in Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, and select races are free-to-air in English too. Traveling away from home? A good VPN will let you watch your local free F1 coverage from anywhere – and our favourite NordVPN has a 74% discount running right now.

Can you stream F1 2026 for free?

Every race of the 2026 F1 season will be streamed live and for free in Belgium courtesy of RTBF, in Luxembourg via RTL Zwee, and in Austria between ORF On and Servus TV.

Free English-language coverage is available in Australia via 10Play, which is showing the full Australian GP live, plus highlights of every other race.

In the UK via Channel 4 is showing the British GP in full, plus highlights of every other race.

In the US, Apple TV is showing every Practice session and select races free-of-charge. A subscription, meanwhile, costs $12.99 per month after a 7-day FREE trial.

Traveling abroad during the 2026 season? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options.

Use a VPN to watch any F1 2026 stream

Why is a VPN a good option to watch F1 2026?

Running for nine months from March 6 to December 6, with a four-week summer break and multiple shorter recesses, the F1 season isn't something too many people can plan their lives around. If a trip abroad for work or vacation coincides with a race, you'll find your usual streaming options geoblocked.

That’s where a VPN comes in handy – not only does it let you access your home streaming services from anywhere, but it also protects you from potential online threats. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 74% discount and $50 Amazon Gift Card thrown in on some plans.

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Whether for streaming or privacy, a VPN is a must. NordVPN is our trusted choice – and you can get this EXCLUSIVE DEAL for a limited time (grab it before the season starts!).

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Get NordVPN now and watch F1 2026 when abroad (where terms allow).

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

What devices are supported by NordVPN?

Amazon Fire Stick (Android TV OS 7.0 and up)
Android (Android 7.0 and up)
Chromecast
iOS (iOS 15 and up)
iPadOS (iPadOS 15 and up)
Web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)

Although you can't run NordVPN directly on other devices, such as PlayStation and Xbox consoles, TVs running Apple TV and various other smart TV systems, and VR headsets, an easy workaround is running NordVPN on your smartphone or computer and setting up a hotspot.

What is the F1 2026 schedule?

(All times UK)

Sunday, March 8
4am – Australian Grand Prix

Sunday, March 15
4am – Chinese Grand Prix

Sunday, March 29
4am – Japanese Grand Prix

Sunday, April 12
4am – Bahrain Grand Prix

Sunday, April 19
4am – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Sunday, May 3
4am – Miami Grand Prix

Sunday, May 24
4am – Canadian Grand Prix

Sunday, June 7
4am – Monaco Grand Prix

Sunday, June 14
4am – Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix

Sunday, June 28
4am – Austrian Grand Prix

Sunday, July 5
4am – British Grand Prix

Sunday, July 19
4am – Belgian Grand Prix

Sunday, July 26
4am – Hungarian Grand Prix

– SUMMER BREAK –

Sunday, August 23
4am – Dutch Grand Prix

Sunday, September 6
4am – Italian Grand Prix

Sunday, September 13
4am – Spanish Grand Prix

Saturday, September 26
4am – Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Sunday, October 11
4am – Singapore Grand Prix

Sunday, October 25
4am – United States Grand Prix

Sunday, November 1
4am – Mexican Grand Prix

Sunday, November 8
4am – Brazilian Grand Prix

Saturday, November 21
4am – Las Vegas Grand Prix

Sunday, November 29
4am – Qatar Grand Prix

Sunday, December 6
4am – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

What are the F1 2026 teams and drivers?

Alpine
10 Pierre Gasly
43 Franco Colapinto

Aston Martin
14 Fernando Alonso
18 Lance Stroll

Audi
5 Gabriel Bortoleto
27 Nico Hulkenberg

Cadillac
11 Sergio Perez
77 Valtteri Bottas

Ferrari
16 Charles Leclerc
44 Lewis Hamilton

Haas
31 Esteban Ocon
87 Oliver Bearman

McLaren
1 Lando Norris
81 Oscar Piastri

Mercedes
12 Kimi Antonelli
63 George Russell

Racing Bulls
30 Liam Lawson
41 Arvid Lindblad

Red Bull
3 Max Verstappen
6 Isack Hadjar

Williams
23 Alexander Albon
55 Carlos Sainz

Aatif Sulleyman

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.

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