British Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 online from anywhere: Lights Out
Our guide on catching every second of action at the British GP
British Grand Prix live stream
The 2023 British Grand Prix is available to watch for free in full on Channel 4 in the UK. Use a VPN to watch your local stream from anywhere. A complete breakdown of free British GP live streams is listed below.
British GP start time: Sunday, July 9, 3pm GMT / 10am ET / 12am AEST / 2am NZST |
Free live stream: Channel 4 (UK) |
Use ExpressVPN to watch any stream |
British GP: race preview
While he was never in any true danger, in Austria Max Verstappen had his closest win yet this season, with Charles Leclerc tailing the Dutchman by less than six seconds as the chequered flag waved.
In fact, behind Verstappen's Red Bull, the finishing order was very much a mixed bag. Lando Norris took fourth – his best position yet this season – while Lance Stroll placed ninth, behind Hamilton, Russell, Sainz, and teammate Alonso.
This week's outing at Silverstone could also prove an interesting one, with potential rain on the cards for Qualifying and Race Day. We may well see veterans Alonso and Hamilton show their experience at the iconic British Grand Prix circuit and push the dominant Dutchman to the line.
The FIA's new penalties caused quite a stir last weekend, with a huge 1,200 incidents having to be reviewed. This meant the standings took several hours to finalize – another layer of bureaucracy in this most complex of sports, or a step towards fairer adjudicating? You decide...
The most exciting thing this weekend – for us, at least – is that TechRadar joined McLaren and sponsor Darktrace in the pits and paddock on Friday. While we can't share any juicy scoops, we got an eyeful of the Woking-based outfit's twinkling 'Chrome' livery, specially designed for its home race at Silverstone.
And... was it the livery? Our presence in the pits? Sheer guts and talent? We'd like to think it's a combination of the three – McLaren pulled an incredible performance out the bag in Qualifying yesterday, securing a 2-3, only behind Verstappen. As McLaren's first front-row start in nine years, hopes will be high for home-team success.
With just minutes to go before the lights go out, read on for how to watch a British Grand Prix live stream from start to finish and from anywhere in the world, including ways to watch an F1 live stream for FREE on Channel 4 in the UK and elsewhere around the world.
2023 British Grand Prix schedule
The 2023 British Grand Prix schedule is as follows:
FRIDAY
Practice 1: 12.30pm BST / 7.30am ET / 9.30pm AEDT / 11.30pm NZDT
Practice 2: 4pm BST / 11am ET / 1am AEDT / 3am NZDT
SATURDAY
Practice 3: 11.30am BST / 6.30am ET / 8.30pm AEDT / 10.30pm NZDT
Qualifying: 3pm BST / 10pm ET / 12am AEDT / 2am NZDT
SUNDAY
British GP: 3pm BST / 10am ET / 12am AEDT / 2am NZDT
Watch a free British Grand Prix live stream
There are a number of ways to watch the British Grand Prix for free this weekend, and home fans are in for a treat. In the UK, Channel 4 will be showing full coverage of every session live on terrestrial TV as well on their website.
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 Eins 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
- United Kingdom: British GP on Channel 4
If you're out of the country you'll need to use a VPN to access your preferred British 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 British Grand Prix live stream from outside your country
If you're abroad for this weekend's British 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 an British Grand Prix live stream from anywhere:
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Watch a British 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 British Grand Prix: live stream F1 in the UK
This weekend, free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4 is showing every session of the British Grand Prix live for FREE in the UK.
If you have a TV, simply turn over to Channel 4 at the appropriate times. If you prefer to watch on your Smart TV, laptop, or mobile device, head to the Channel 4 website (or Channel 4 app), and select Live TV.
To sign up, you may need to input a British postcode (eg. SW1A 1AA), and to watch live coverage you should have a TV licence.
If you're currently out of the country, simply use a VPN to virtually relocate yourself back home to catch the action
For coverage of the full season you'll need Sky, which has the rights to Formula 1 in the UK, meaning you can watch the British 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.
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 Champions League live stream
British Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 in the US without cable
In the US, the British Grand Prix is being shown on ESPN/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 British 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.
Alternatively, FuboTV 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 British 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 $12.99 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 British 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 British Grand Prix: live stream F1 in Canada
As well as the official F1 TV service described above, viewers in Canada can watch the 2023 British 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 an UK 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 British GP starts at 10pm ET / 7pm 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 British Grand Prix: live stream in Australia
F1 fans in Australia can watch the British 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. All of them come with a FREE 7-day trial.
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.
However, with the race starting at 12am on Sunday night, only night owls will be likely to tune in.
Don't forget, you can take your F1 coverage abroad with you, with the help of a good F1 VPN.
How to watch the British GP: live stream in New Zealand
Sky Sport is now the place to watch F1 in New Zealand, and fans can live stream the British GP via the Sky Sport Now 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.
Meanwhile, Sky Sport subscribers can watch the race online using the country's Sky Go service.
The British GP starts at 2am on Sunday night / Monday morning, meaning only the most devoted fans will be staying up for the race. The full schedule is listed higher up the page.
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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.