- Formula 1 returns to the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal on Sunday, June 18, 2023.
- The 2023 Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM local time/2:00 PM (EST) and 7:00 PM (BST).
- There is currently minimal risk of the race being cancelled due to Canadian wildfires.
Whether you want to tune in for Free Practice on Friday, Qualifying on Saturday, or the Grand Prix on Sunday, you can watch Formula 1 for free from anywhere in the world.
Here’s how:
Keep reading to get more details about VPNs and the best F1 streams. We’ll also get you caught up on the latest F1 news later on!
We’re heading back to North America for Round 9 of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship. The stunning Gilles Villeneuve circuit awaits 20 of the best drivers in the world as they gear up for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. We’re in for a thrilling race as the grid tightens up following the slew of upgrades that teams have installed on their cars.
The Montreal GP is always a captivating spectacle — Formula 1 cars roar through the narrow streets just inches away from the barriers. The Wall of Champions is waiting to punish any driver that pushes their car past the limit. On top of that, there’s the ever-present threat of rain in the air that keeps the drivers on edge throughout the entire Grand Prix.
The F1 Canadian Grand Prix is set to start at 2:00 PM local time on Sunday, June 18, 2023. Fans on the east coast of the U.S. will have the same start as the five red lights go out at 2:00 PM (EST), while U.K. fans will get an early evening start at 7:00 PM (BST).
Want to tune into the race for free? We’ll show you how!
How to Watch the 2023 F1 Canadian Grand Prix Free
Our team has spent the first half of the F1 season testing out different ways to watch the action for free. We discovered that the best high-quality free F1 streams can be found in one place — Luxembourg’s RTL Player. That’s right, F1 fans in Luxembourg can enjoy every session live without paying a cent.
But the RTL streaming platform is only available to users that are inside Luxembourg’s borders — if you’re not in the correct region, you’ll run into geo-blocking restrictions. That presents a bit of a problem for the rest of us who want to tune into these live streams. Luckily though, we’ve been able to access the RTL player from various regions around the world, including South Africa, India, and the United States using a VPN (virtual private network).
By using a VPN, you can change your IP address to one in a different country. This allows you to bypass geo-blocking restrictions that prevent you from accessing the free RTL Player streams. All you need to do is connect your VPN to a server in Luxembourg to change your device’s virtual location, then find your stream to watch the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix for free.
Step-by-step guide: Stream the 2023 Formula 1 Canadian GP free with a VPN
- Download Surfshark VPN. Our team has spent some time testing different VPNs. In our experience, Surfshark’s Luxembourg servers offer excellent connection speeds and stability, making them the ideal solution for free F1 streams from anywhere in the world.
- Install the VPN on your preferred streaming device. The beauty of Surfshark is that it’s available on a wide range of operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. So, whether you’re tuning in from home or on the go, you can catch a free F1 live stream on any device.
- Create an account and log in. Once you have the app installed on your favorite device, you’ll be prompted to create an account. It’s simple and easy — just follow all the instructions on-screen.
- Connect to a VPN server in Luxembourg.
- Navigate to the RTL Zwee channel in your browser using your new Luxembourg IP address.
- Tune into the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix and enjoy all the breathtaking thrills from Montreal!
F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2023: Free Streams
We’ve spent the Formula 1 season testing our different free streams. The RTL stream might be our recommendation, but it’s not your only option. There are a couple of other ways that you can tune into the F1 action for free, from anywhere in the world — we’ve got them listed for you below.
You need to make sure that your VPN is connected to a server in the same country as the stream’s broadcaster, or else you’ll run into those frustrating geo-blocking restrictions. As long as your VPN remains connected, you’ll be good to go!
If you’re looking for a stream with English commentary, you’re going to need a paid stream. We recommend using SlingTV’s Orange Package or Sky Sports in the U.K.
| COUNTRY | ONLINE BROADCASTER | STREAMS | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg (Recommended) | RTL ZWEE | Live coverage of all 23 races | None |
| Belgium | RTBF | Live coverage of all 23 races | Email, name, birthday, Belgian postcode |
| Brazil | Band | Live coverage of all 23 races | Email, name, birthday |
| Austria | Servus TV | Limited live streams and replays | None |
| Switzerland | Play SRF | Limited live streams and replays | None |
| Albania | RTSH | Limited live streams | None |
| Italy | TV8 | Replays | None |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4 | Watch Highlights | Email, name, and UK address Subscription |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports (via NOW TV) | Live coverage of all 23 races (Sky Sports F1) | Subscription |
| United States | Sling TV YouTube TV DIRECTV STREAM FuboTV | Live coverage of all 23 races | Subscription (Some with free trials) |
Formula 1 Canada 2023: Full Schedule
The F1 Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM local time (GMT-4) on Sunday, June 18, 2023. If you’re in the U.K., that’s a 7:00 PM (BST) race start! Qualifying is also an exciting spectacle at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, make sure to tune in on Saturday!
Here’s the full schedule for the F1 Montreal Grand Prix 2023.
| Event | Date | Local time (GMT-4) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, June 16, 2023 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday, June 16, 2023 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Qualifying | Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Race | Sunday, June 18, 2023 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
What to Expect at the 2023 F1 Canadian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen dominated the Spanish Grand Prix to take his 40th career victory at the same venue where he scored his first win in 2016. Verstappen was unstoppable in Spain, pulling off his third career Grand Slam (pole position, victory, leading every lap, and fastest lap).
Lewis Hamilton charged his way into second place, and George Russell finished in third to complete the podium. Meanwhile, Max’s main title rival Sergio Perez finished in fourth place.
Qualifying was another thrilling event, with Charles Leclerc slumping to a disappointing 19th place! Lando Norris made a surprise appearance in third, but the race ended in disaster for the Brit as he picked up damage at turn 1 and got sent right to the back of the pack following a pit stop.
Perez and Russell also put in some shockers as they qualified in 11th and 12th for the Grand Prix. There was even a sketchy moment where the two Mercedes cars made contact on the main straight during Q2!
Checo and Russell managed to fight their way back through the pack on Sunday, but here’s what’s interesting about it: Russell managed to finish in third place despite starting behind Perez.
Thus, the Spanish Grand Prix proved that there is a serious threat looming…
Lewis Hamilton masterclass incoming?
The race in Barcelona proved one thing — Mercedes has made real progress with its upgrade package. Despite their disastrous Qualifying session in Spain, they were able to push through the pack to finish in second and third.
Now we’re heading to Montreal, the scene of Lewis Hamilton’s very first victory in Formula 1. It’s also proven to be one of his most successful tracks — having won at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve seven times before, the circuit is a firm favorite for him. He’s currently tied with Michael Schumacher for the record of most wins in Canada.
Hamilton is always a mighty force in Montreal, and this year should be no different. With the Mercedes upgrades giving him a new level of confidence in his car, he’s a strong contender for victory on Sunday!
With some rain on the horizon in Montreal, could we see Mercedes break Red Bull’s winning streak?
Checo needs to step up
With Sergio Perez putting in another lackluster performance in the fastest car on the grid, he’s quickly falling behind his teammate in the championship standings.
Following the Spanish Grand Prix, the Mexican is now trailing the championship leader by a massive 53 points. That means Max can retire from two races and he’ll still be leading the championship by 3 points if Checo wins those races.
Perez was comfortably finishing on the podium in the first couple of races, even getting a couple of wins under his belt. It seemed as though he was on course to challenge his teammate. However, Monaco and Spain have put a big dent in his championship hopes.
In comparison, Verstappen hasn’t finished lower than second place so far this season — only being beaten by his teammate in two races.
Will the rain lead to a surprise winner in Montreal? Can Mercedes put up a fight against the dominant Red Bulls? We’ll find out on Sunday!
F1 2023 Driver Standings
Here’s where the drivers stand ahead of the 2023 F1 Canadian Grand Prix.
| Position | Driver (team) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | 170 |
| 2 | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) | 117 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) | 99 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | 87 |
| 5 | George Russell (Mercedes) | 65 |
