Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 online from anywhere: Race day!

Verstappen starts from 15th as Checo and Alonso lock out the first row

Max Verstappen on a Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream
(Image: © Michael Potts/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream

The 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix is available to watch for free on ORF in Austria and on RTBF in Belgium. A complete breakdown of free Saudi Arabia GP live streams is listed below.

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Saudi Arabia GP start time: Sunday, March 19, 5pm GMT / 1pm ET / 4am AEDT / 6am NZDT
Free live stream: ORF (AUT) | RTBF (BEL)
Use ExpressVPN to watch any stream

Saudi Arabia GP: race preview

Hot on the heels of his first opening-race win, Max Verstappen already looks set for another barnstorming F1 season in 2023. With even teammate Sergio Perez well off the Dutchman's pace, the reigning champion is already milking every drop out of the class-leading RB-19 machine. Stopping him will be a tall order.

Someone with Verstappen well and truly in their crosshairs is two-time champion Alonso, who's found fresh pace in his new Aston Martin. After an impressive third place in Bahrain, the hype train is gathering steam and it looks like the Spaniard has finally made a good career decision.

Qualifying proved that it's not all plain sailing for Verstappen. With a driveshaft failure in Q2, the Dutchman is starting from 15th on the grid. Teammate Perez takes his second pole, and Alonso starting beside him. It'll be well worth seeing if the old hand's famously strong off-the-line performance can snatch him first into turn 1.

Read on for how to watch a Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream from start to finish and from anywhere in the world, including ways to watch an F1 live stream for FREE. 

2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix schedule

The 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY

Practice 1: 1.30pm GMT / 2.30pm CET / 9.30am ET / 12.30am AEDT / 2.30am NZDT

Practice 2: 5pm GMT / 6pm CET / 1pm ET / 4am AEDT / 6am NZDT

SATURDAY

Practice 3: 1.30pm GMT / 2.30pm CET / 9.30am ET / 12.30am AEDT / 2.30am NZDT

Qualifying: 5pm GMT / 6pm CET / 1pm ET / 4am AEDT / 6am NZDT

SUNDAY

Saudi Arabia GP: 5pm GMT / 6pm CET / 1pm ET / 4am AEDT / 6am NZDT

Watch a free Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream

There are a number of ways to watch the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix for free this weekend.

In Austria for example, all the races are shared between free-to-air broadcasters Servus TV (opens in new tab) and ORF (opens in new tab) (this weekend it's ORF). Take a look and find out what's available where you are:

  • Albania: every race on RTSH (opens in new tab)
  • Austria: every race on ORF Eins (opens in new tab) or Servus TV (opens in new tab)
  • Brazil: every race on Band (opens in new tab)
  • Belgium: every race on RBTF
  • China: every race on Great Sports, CCTV (opens in new tab) or Guangdong Sports
  • France: Bahrain GP on C8 (opens in new tab)
  • Iran: every race on MBC Persia (opens in new tab) or IRIB Varzesh (opens in new tab)
  • Luxembourg: every race on RTL Zwee (opens in new tab)
  • Middle East and North Africa: select races on MBC Action (opens in new tab)
  • Pakistan: every race on A Sports (opens in new tab)
  • Tajikistan: every race on Varzish TV (opens in new tab)

If you're out of the country you'll need to use a VPN to access your preferred Saudi Arabia Grand Prix free live stream, as explained below. We rate ExpressVPN as the best provider out there, as it has a great track record for unblocking geo-restricted streams.


How to watch the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream from outside your country

If you're abroad for this weekend's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, you'll likely find you're unable to access your usual Formula 1 coverage like you would at home. This isn't necessarily cause for alarm, but rather the result of geo-blocking – best understood as digital borders that restrict certain services and content to certain parts of the world.

Fortunately, there's a convenient way around this in the form of a VPN. This is a nifty bit of software that lets you whizz around these digital borders, thereby allowing you to globe trot and still access your preferred F1 live stream. It's a completely legal workaround, very affordable, and super easy to use – allow us to explain more.

Use a VPN to watch a Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream from anywhere:

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- Head to the ExpressVPN website to sign up risk free (opens in new tab)

How to watch a Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream on F1 TV

F1 TV (opens in new tab)

If you're an F1 devotee, then you likely already know about F1 TV – it's the streaming service to subscribe to for all the best live action, highlights, replays of classics races and a whole lot more besides – you can sign up on its website (opens in new tab).

Most people will want to go for F1 TV Pro, which is the way to live stream every F1 Grand Prix in full – along with F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup as well. Prices differ from country to country – it's $79.99 in the US, for example – and in some places you can try before you buy with a FREE 7-day trial (opens in new tab)!

Just note that F1 TV doesn't provide live Grand Prix coverage everywhere, the UK and Australia being two notable examples. But it's a good option for people in the US, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Brazil and plenty more places.

UK flag

How to watch Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: live stream F1 in the UK

watch the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on Sky Sports (opens in new tab)

Sky has the rights to Formula 1 in the UK, meaning you can watch the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on Sky Sports (opens in new tab) – in 4K HDR, no less!

Subscribers also get to watch on the move using the Sky Go app, which is available on nearly all modern phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles.

If you want to sign up to Sky Sports, you can check out our guide to Sky TV deals and packages for today's best prices.

Don't fancy being locked in to a long, expensive contract? Consider the more flexible streaming option, Now, (formerly Now TV). Now sports passes start at £11.99.

Coverage of the Saudi Arabia GP begins on Sky Sports F1 at 1pm GMT on Friday for Practice 1, then 4.45pm for Practice 2. Saturday kicks off at 1.15pm for Practice 3, and Qualifying coverage starts at 4pm. On Sunday, the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix coverage starts at 4.55pm, ahead of lights out at 5pm.

Not in the UK but still want to catch the action? Use a VPN (opens in new tab) to live stream the F1 as if you were at home.

US flag

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 in the US without cable

Sling TV (opens in new tab)

In the US, the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix is being shown on ESPN, while Qualifying and the Practice sessions are on ESPN 2. 

The race itself starts at 10am ET / 7am PT on Sunday morning, and the full weekend schedule is listed higher up the page.

Watch 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix without cable

If you don't have access to those channels on cable, Sling TV is an OTT service that's perfect for F1 fans.

The Sling Orange package includes ESPN and ESPN 2, with a subscription usually costing $40 per month. However, if you're new to the service you can get 50% off your first month (opens in new tab).

Alternatively, FuboTV (opens in new tab) is an even more complete end-to-end cable replacement service, offering ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC and over 140 other channels on plans starting from $74.99 a month after a 7-day FREE trial (opens in new tab).

You can also live stream the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on ESPN Plus, which costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. For the ultimate value, you can get a combined ESPN+, Hulu and Disney Plus bundle for just $13.99 a month, which adds loads of great entertainment and family-friendly content to the mix.

And, as described above, you may prefer to give F1 TV and its free trial (opens in new tab) a go if all you really care about is F1.

Watch a Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream from abroad

New or existing subscribers to US streaming services can still access the platform of their choice from abroad by checking out a quality VPN (opens in new tab) and following the instructions above.

Canada flag

How to watch the 2022 Abu Dhabi GP: live stream F1 in Canada

Image (opens in new tab)

As well as the official F1 TV service (opens in new tab) described above, viewers in Canada can watch the Saudi Arabia GP on English-language TSN or French-language RDS – just bear in mind that they're premium channels that typically come with a pay TV package.

If you get them as part of your cable deal, you'll be able to log in with the details of your provider to get access to a Saudi Arabia Grand Prix live stream. 

If you don't have cable, you can subscribe to TSN or RDS on a streaming-only basis for $19.99 a month or $199.90 per year.

The Saudi Arabia GP starts at 10am ET / 7am PT on Sunday morning, and the full weekend schedule is listed higher up the page.

Remember you can take your favorite sports streaming service with you wherever you go – just try our No. 1 overall rated VPN 100% risk-free for 30 days (opens in new tab) and follow the instructions above.

  • More Canadian sports action: our guide to NHL streaming this season

Australia flag

How to watch Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: live stream in Australia

Foxtel Go (opens in new tab)

F1 fans in Australia can watch the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on Fox Sports, available through Foxtel. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Foxtel Go (opens in new tab) app. 

The race is also being shown on the incredible sports streaming service Kayo Sports (opens in new tab), which is an ideal option for those who don't want the commitment of a lengthy (and pricey) contract.

Kayo lets you stream on one device with its $25 per month One plan, two devices with its $30 per month Basic plan, and three devices with its $35 Premium plan. All of them come with a FREE 7-day trial (opens in new tab).

Kayo also gives you access to over 50 other sports including the NFL, NHL, cricket, NRL, NBA... the list goes on! Handy if you don't want to go all out on Fox.

Just be warned that the Saudi Arabia GP starts at 4am AEDT on Sunday night/Monday morning. The full weekend schedule is listed higher up the page.

Don't forget, you can take your F1 coverage abroad with you, with the help of a good F1 VPN (opens in new tab).

New Zealand flag

How to watch the Saudi Arabia GP: live stream in New Zealand

Sky Sport (opens in new tab)

Sky Sport (opens in new tab) is now the place to watch F1 in New Zealand, and fans can live stream the Saudi Arabia GP via the Sky Sport Now (opens in new tab) platform.

A Sky Sport Now subscription costs $19.99 per week or $39.99 per month. The monthly package comes with a 7-day FREE trial (opens in new tab).

Meanwhile, Sky Sport subscribers can watch the race online using the country's Sky Go service.

The only catch is that the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 6am AEDT in the small hours of Monday morning. The full schedule is listed higher up the page.

Mo Harber-Lamond

Mo Harber-Lamond is VPN Editor at Tom's Guide, and contributor for TechRadar. He focuses on cybersecurity content for Tom's Guide, and creates insightful content across the board to help readers make informed buying choices.