Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 free online from anywhere: Lights Out!
Abu Dhabi plays host to the final race of the 2023 season
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream
The 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is available to watch for free on ORF TV in Austria. Use a VPN to watch your local stream from anywhere. A complete breakdown of free Abu Dhabi GP live streams is listed below.
Abu Dhabi GP start time: Sunday, November 26, 1pm BST / 8am ET / 5am PT / 12am AEST / 2am NZST |
Free live stream: ORF (AUT) | RTBF (BEL) |
Use ExpressVPN to watch any stream |
Abu Dhabi GP: race preview
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final race of the 2023 F1 season, and what a season it has been.
While we've only seen three different race winners all year, battles for second and third have dominated viewer interest. Max Verstappen was crowned champion several races ago, and Sergio Perez is now guaranteed second place – securing Red Bull's first ever 1-2 – but the fight is anything but over when it comes to the silver and bronze in the constructors' championship.
Third-place Ferrari trail Mercedes by just four points, so expect Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc and Sainz to drive like they mean it. Could we see some upsets at Yas Marina? There's no better day than the final race of the season...
Tied on 200 points apiece, Spaniards Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso will be fighting for fourth place in the drivers' standings. After a very promising start to the season, Aston Martin seems to have tailed off – but a single genius drive from the wily veteran Alonso could quite feasibly knock Sainz down a peg.
After poor running in all practice sessions, Max secured pole in typical fashion – but he only very narrowly outqualified Leclerc who joins him on the front row. After a big mistake in Q3, McLaren's Lando Norris squandered what could've been a front-row start, but Oscar Piastri laid down an excellent time to secure third.
The big surprises lay in both Hamilton and Sainz failing to make it into the last ten, so we should see some good racing as these drivers push hard to make it through the pack.
Expect a no holds barred race, as teams will be willing to sacrifice the longevity of their machines for the very best position in this culminating chapter of 2023. Get ready for lights out for the last time this season...
If there are just two races to watch in the F1 calendar, it's the first and the last. So, to round off an often one-sided but entertaining season, read on for how to watch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live streams from start to finish from anywhere in the world, including all ways to watch an F1 live stream for FREE.
2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix schedule
The 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix schedule is as follows:
FRIDAY
Practice 1: 9.30am GMT / 4.30am ET / 8.30pm AEDT / 11.30pm NZDT
Practice 2: 1pm GMT / 8am ET / 12am AEDT / 2am NZDT
SATURDAY
Practice 3: 10.30am GMT / 5.30am ET / 9.30pm AEDT / 11.30pm NZDT
Qualifying: 2pm GMT / 9am ET / 1am AEDT / 3am NZDT
SUNDAY
Abu Dhabi GP: 1pm GMT / 8am ET / 12am AEDT / 2am NZDT
Watch a free Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream
There are a number of ways to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for free this weekend. Like every other weekend, in Austria all the races are shared between free-to-air broadcasters Servus TV and ORF (this weekend it's ORF). Take a look and find out what's available where you are:
- Albania: every race on RTSH
- Australia: highlights on Network 10
- Austria: every race on ORF or Servus TV
- Brazil: every race on Band
- Belgium: every race on RBTF
- China: every race on Great Sports, CCTV or Guangdong Sports
- France: Bahrain GP on C8
- Iran: every race on MBC Persia or IRIB Varzesh
- Luxembourg: every race on RTL Zwee
- Middle East and North Africa: select races on MBC Action
- Pakistan: every race on A Sports
- Tajikistan: every race on Varzish TV
If you're out of the country you'll need to use a VPN to access your preferred Abu Dhabi 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 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream from outside your country
If you're abroad for this weekend's Abu Dhabi 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 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream from anywhere:
ExpressVPN – get the world's best VPN
We've put all the major VPNs through their paces and we rate ExpressVPN as the best VPN, thanks to its speed, ease of use and strong security features. It's also compatible with just about any streaming device out there, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as Android and iOS devices.
Sign up for an annual plan now and get an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. And if you change your mind within the first 30 days, let them know and they'll give you your money back without a quibble.
Watch a Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream on F1 TV
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.
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!
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.
How to watch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: live stream F1 in the UK
Sky has the rights to Formula 1 in the UK, meaning you can watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sky Sports – 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 Abu Dhabi GP begins on Sky Sports F1 at 9.30am GMT on Friday for FP1, then 1pm for FP2. Saturday kicks off at 10.30am for FP3, and Qualifying coverage starts at 2pm. On Sunday, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix coverage starts at 12.55pm, ahead of lights out at 1pm.
Not in the UK but still want to catch the action? Use a VPN to live stream the F1 as if you were at home.
- Related: how to watch a Premier League live stream
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 in the US without cable
In the US, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is being shown on ABC/ESPN+, Saturday's Sprint action is on ESPN News, and Friday's Qualifying and Practice sessions are due to be on ESPN 2.
The race itself starts at 3pm ET / 12pm PT on Sunday morning, and the full weekend schedule is listed higher up the page.
Watch 2023 Abu Dhabi 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 costing from $40 per month. New users typically get 50% off their first month.
Alternatively, Fubo 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.
You can also live stream the Abu Dhabi 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 $14.99 a month (with ads), 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 a go if all you really care about is F1.
Watch a Abu Dhabi 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 and following the instructions above.
How to watch the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Canada
As well as the official F1 TV service described above, viewers in Canada can watch the 2023 Abu Dhabi 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 Abu Dhabi 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 Abu Dhabi GP starts at 8am ET / 5am PT on Sunday, 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 and follow the instructions above.
- More sports action: our guide to NHL streaming this season
How to watch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: live stream in Australia
F1 fans in Australia can watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Fox Sports, available through Foxtel. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Foxtel Go app.
The race is also being shown on the incredible sports streaming service Kayo Sports, 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.
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.
With the race starting at midnight on Sunday night, it might be a bit of late one on a school night.
Don't forget, you can take your F1 coverage abroad with you, with the help of a good F1 VPN.
How to watch the Abu Dhabi GP: live stream in New Zealand
Sky Sport is now the place to watch F1 in New Zealand, and fans can live stream the Abu Dhabi GP via the Sky Sport Now platform.
A Sky Sport Now subscription costs $24.99 per week or $44.99 per month.
Meanwhile, Sky Sport subscribers can watch the race online using the country's Sky Go service.
The Abu Dhabi GP starts at 2am on Sunday night/Monday morning, so only the most dedicated followers of F1 will be tuning in.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
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.