The 2022 Japanese Grand Prix is back after three long years of waiting! The Japan F1 Grand Prix is scheduled to start on Sunday, October 9 at 2:00 PM (GMT+9) or 1 AM (EST).
We’ve scoured the web for some of the best free F1 live streams below, but you’ll run into some geo-blocking restrictions when trying to access them. Luckily a VPN can help you unblock websites, and you can live stream the Japanese Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world!
Here’s how:
- Choose a VPN provider. We recommend using Surfshark as it has excellent connection speeds and stability.
- Create your account.
- Download the VPN on your device from any major app store or from their website.
- Log into your account.
- Connect to the server of your choice. Connect to Luxembourg if you want our recommendation.
- Head to the RTL player to watch the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix for free.
- Enjoy an action-packed race on Sunday!
The last time we had a Grand Prix at this amazing circuit was in 2019, but we’re finally back! Keep reading to get a rundown of the latest F1 news, and along the way, we’ll tell you about our favorite free F1 live streams and VPNs.
Formula 1 shifts back into high gear with the 2022 F1 Japanese Grand Prix this weekend. We’re still recovering from that exciting Singapore race, and we’re already being thrown into what’s expected to be another nail-biter! Just like Marina Bay last weekend, it’s the first time that Suzuka has been on the calendar since 2019 due to Covid-19. This classic track is fast, tight, and a real challenge!
The F1 Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM (GMT+9) local time on Sunday, October 9. For all the American race fans, strap yourselves in for a start at Sunday at 1:00 AM (EST). The F1 Japan Grand Prix qualifying will also provide some exhilarating action, check out the full schedule later!
If you’re trying to catch a live stream — or delayed showing — of this weekend’s race, you will run into some geo-blocking restrictions. These digital obstacles will keep you from watching all the action live from Suzuka.
But, luckily you can bypass these restrictions by changing your virtual location using a virtual private network (VPN). It’s much easier than you might expect. All you need to do is follow our quick guide below, and you’ll be streaming the F1 Japanese GP for free this weekend in no time!
How to Watch the 2022 F1 Japanese Grand Prix Free
There are plenty of free live streams of the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, but not everyone can get to them. Websites use your IP address to determine your location, which is, in turn, used to decide if you’re eligible to view.
For example, if you head over to Luxembourg’s free RTL stream for the Japanese Grand Prix, you’ll be blocked if you’re outside the country — even if you’re a citizen traveling abroad. Using a VPN, you can change your IP address to Luxembourg, where the IP address gets the green light.
The best VPNs will have several different secure servers spread out across countries around the world. Once connected to a country of your choice, your real IP address will be masked, and your device will adopt the IP address of the server you have connected to. This allows you to tune into the best F1 free live streams in the world, even those hidden behind geo-blocking restrictions!
Want to live stream the 2022 F1 Japanese Grand Prix for free? We’ll get you set up with a proper VPN in the short guide below:
Step-by-step guide: How to live stream the 2022 F1 Japanese Grand Prix free with a VPN
- Choose a VPN provider. Our top recommendation is Surfshark, thanks to its connection speeds and 3,200+ servers in 99 countries, making it an excellent choice for F1 live streams.
- Download the VPN on the device you’ll be streaming from. Surfshark is supported across multiple devices, including Smart TVs, so you can live stream the GP however you want!
- Create your account and log in by following the easy on-screen instructions.
- Connect to the global server of your choice. We recommend connecting to a server in Luxembourg to stream the race for free using RTL.
- Launch your favorite streaming service. You can find a free live stream (or replays) on the RTL website.
- Find the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix and enjoy the rollercoaster ride that is Suzuka!
Formula 1 Japanese: Free Streams
Once you’ve got a VPN installed on your device, you’ve got the freedom to tune into any F1 live stream in the world! It even includes some of the best free F1 live streams that are only available within specific regions such as Austria, France, and Germany.
The majority of these free live streams won’t have English commentary, though. If you need English, you can stream the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix using SlingTV. Make sure to connect to a US server, and you can sign up at a discounted price.
Below are some of the best free live streams for Formula 1 races in 2022. For F1 fans not in Asian time zones, you can also catch replays on many of these.
| COUNTRY | ONLINE BROADCASTER | STREAMS | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | RTSH | Live Stream | None |
| Austria | Servus TV | Delayed Stream | None |
| Brazil | Band | Live Stream | None |
| France | Canal+ | Live Stream | Canal Subscription |
| Germany | Servus TV | Delayed Stream | None |
| Italy | TV 8 | Delayed Stream | None |
| Luxembourg (Recommended) | RTL | Live Stream | None |
| Switzerland | SRF INFO | Live Stream | None |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4 | Watch Highlights | Email, Name, and UK address |
| United States | SlingTV (ESPN and ABC) | Live Streams | Subscription (Sign-up promo) |
Can I Watch the Japanese Grand Prix with a Free VPN?
It might be tempting to combine free live streams with a free VPN. While free VPNs can be great for certain online activities, they can compromise sports streaming. Our experts have tested out plenty of free and premium VPNs, and here are some issues that always make us hit the wall.
- No free streams: The reason why you’re using a VPN is to connect to a server in a specific region that offers free live streams. But, with a free VPN, you will have a limited selection of servers. Most likely, they won’t have countries like Luxembourg and Albania in their network.
- Limited streaming time: Free VPNs often come with daily data limits that prevent you from using the VPN for too long. In the majority of cases, this limit is set at around 500 MB per day, which equates to around half an hour of streaming time. Good luck trying to make it to the first round of pit stops during this weekend’s race at Suzuka.
- Security and privacy concerns: Though they should be primary features, free VPNs don’t always specialize in encryption technology and security. Some VPNs have been known to collect user data and sell it to third-party firms. That means that if you’re using a free VPN, there’s a chance that you could be putting your device and your personal data at risk.
If you’re still on the fence about paying, you could always try out Surfshark free for 30 days. You’ll get to watch the Japanese Grand Prix, as well as the upcoming United States Grand Prix, and the Mexican Grand Prix. Cancel before the trial runs out, and you’ll be able to try out some of the best free VPNs and see which is best for you.
F1 Official Broadcasters
Formula 1 has fans and broadcasting partners in several countries around the world. You can always find a way to tune into the racing no matter where you’re at. If you find yourself in one of the countries below, you may not need to use a VPN to gain access to a stream.
But, what you will need is a subscription to the local streaming service or access the local cable TV. Check out the complete list of broadcasters for the 2022 Formula 1 season:
| COUNTRY | CHANNEL |
|---|---|
| AFRICA | SuperSport |
| ALBANIA | RTSH |
| ARMENIA | Vivaro Sports |
| AUSTRALIA | Fox Sports Channels Network Ten |
| AUSTRIA | Servus TV ORF |
| AZERBAIJAN | AzTV Idman Azerbaycan |
| BELGIUM | RTBF Telenet Play Sport Open |
| BOSNIA | Sport Klub |
| BRAZIL | Bandeirantes |
| BULGARIA | Nova Diema Sport |
| CANADA | RDS RDS 2 TSN Noovo |
| CROATIA | Sport Klub |
| CYPRUS | Cytavision |
| CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA | AMC |
| DENMARK | TV3+ TV3 Sport Viaplay |
| ESTONIA | Viaplay |
| EURASIA | Setanta Sports |
| FINLAND | Viaplay |
| FRANCE | Canal+ |
| GERMANY | Sky Deutschland RTL |
| GREECE | ERT Cosmote TV |
| HONG KONG | Now TV Now E |
| HUNGARY | M4 |
| ICELAND | Viaplay |
| INDIA | Star Sports |
| INDONESIA | O Channel Champions TV Vidio |
| ISRAEL | The Sports Channel |
| ITALY | Sky Italia |
| JAPAN | Fuji TV |
| KOSOVO | Sport Klub |
| LATIN AMERICA | Fox Sports Channels ESPN |
| LATVIA | Viaplay |
| LITHUANIA | Viaplay |
| LUXEMBOURG | RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg |
| MACEDONIA | Sport Klub |
| MALAYSIA AND BRUNEI | Astro Sports |
| MALTA | Go Sports |
| MENA | MBC Action |
| MONTENEGRO | SportKlub |
| MYANMAR | Canal+ |
| NETHERLANDS | Viaplay |
| NEW ZEALAND | Spark Sport |
| NORWAY | V sport 1 V sport + Viaplay |
| PAPUA NEW GUINEA & PACIFIC ISLANDS | TV Action |
| PHILIPPINES | Tap DMV |
| POLAND | Eleven Sports |
| PORTUGAL | Sport TV |
| ROMANIA | Digisport Telekom Romania Look Sport |
| RUSSIA | Match TV |
| SERBIA | SportKlub |
| SINGAPORE | Singtel StarHub |
| SLOVENIA | SportKlub |
| SWEDEN | Viaplay V sport motor TV10 |
| SWITZERLAND | SRF RSI RTS |
| THAILAND | True Visions |
| TURKEY | S Sport S Sport Plus |
| UKRAINE | Setanta Ukraine |
| UNITED KINGDOM | C4 Sky Sports |
| USA | ABC ESPN ESPN Deportes |
| VIETNAM | K+ |
Watch the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix with F1 TV Pro
Launching your VPN and finding a live stream before every race can be a hassle. But, if you’re willing to spend some extra cash, F1 TV Pro is where it’s at. You can watch every F1 session live, and you can control the action. For $9.99 per month (or $79.99 per year), you can get access to the official F1 streaming service that gives you live F1 content like no other.
You can switch between any of the 20 drivers’ onboard cameras with a click and even listen in on their live, unfiltered team radio. Using the F1 TV Pro app, you can also watch the live lap times and driver tracker to see where each driver is and how they’re performing.
But, before you pay the full subscription fee for F1 TV Pro, check out this little tip. If you use your VPN to connect to a South African server, you can get your F1 TV Pro subscription at a massive discount, paying just $44.99 per year. There are all kinds of other ways to save money on subscriptions using a VPN.
2022 Formula 1 Japan Full Schedule
The F1 Japanese Grand Prix will start at 2:00 PM local time (GMT+9) on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at the Suzuka Circuit. It’s a classic race track that has rich F1 history, so make sure to tune in on Sunday! If you’re in the United States, you’ll have an early 1 AM (EST) start time this weekend.
Check out the full F1 Japan schedule below:
| Event | Date and time (local time, GMT+9) |
|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Fri. Oct. 7th (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.) |
| Free Practice 2 | Fri. Oct 7th (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) |
| Free Practice 3 | Sat. Oct 8th (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.) |
| Qualifying | Sat. Oct 8th (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) |
| Race | Sun. Oct 9th (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) |
2022 Japan Grand Prix: What to Expect
The Singapore Grand Prix delivered an incredible race as expected! We had an unexpected result as Sergio Perez claimed victory ahead of Charles Leclerc thanks to his lightning-quick reactions at the start of the race. Leclerc brought his Ferrari home in second place despite gunning hard for the win, and Carlos Sainz cruised home in third behind his teammate.
But what happened to Max Verstappen? The reigning World Champion’s race weekend had already unraveled at the end of qualifying on Saturday. Despite charging towards pole position, Verstappen was told to head into the pits because his car was underfueled during Q3, which meant he had to start in 8th place.
At a track that is notoriously difficult to overtake on, and with heavy rain pouring down, Max slipped down to 12th after the start — one of the very few poor starts we’ve seen from him this year! He fought his way back through the pack but made a mistake, locking his tires when trying to overtake Lando Norris for fourth place. He eventually brought his Red Bull home in one piece, but in 7th place.
Thrilling Suzuka
This weekend we’re in Japan, where the drivers are pumped about returning to the exciting Suzuka circuit. We’ve had several dramatic moments at this circuit over the years, including Ayrton Senna crashing into his teammate, drivers winning world championships, and even torrential rain leading paper boat races being held instead of qualifying.
Suzuka is an incredibly fast and technical circuit. The first sector is especially challenging, as the cars hustle through a fast section before slowing it down for a tight hairpin. They then head into one of the fastest corners on the calendar, the terrifying 130R, which is flat out at over 200 miles per hour (320 kilometers per hour).
Everyone in the Formula 1 community, from the fans to the drivers, have missed having Suzuka on the calendar, and it will definitely be a race to remember this weekend!
Can Max claim his crown?
Verstappen might not have extended his championship lead in Singapore, but he has ticked another race off the calendar. That means that he’s now one step closer to winning his second title. The Dutchman could mathematically seal the deal at Suzuka this weekend with a victory and the fastest lap, no matter where anyone else finishes!
2022 Driver Standings
Here’s what the World Championship standings look like heading into the 2022 F1 Japanese GP:
| Position | Driver (team) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | 341 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | 237 |
| 3 | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) | 235 |
| 4 | George Russell (Mercedes) | 203 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) | 202 |
