Red Bull cars on track during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix
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A Quick Guide: How to Watch the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
  • Formula 1 returns to the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar on Sunday, October 8, 2023.
  • The 2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix starts at 8:00 PM local time (GMT+3)/6:00 PM (BST)/1:00 PM (EST).
  • The Sprint race will start at 8:30 PM local time (GMT+3) on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
  • Max Verstappen needs to score 3 points to secure his 2023 World Championship.

Everyone has their go-to streaming platform for F1, making it a walk in the park most race weekends. But, if you’re traveling abroad this weekend, it won’t be so easy. Geo-blocking restrictions will prevent you from accessing your favorite streaming service while you’re overseas or abroad— even if you’re a paying subscriber.

There is some good news though. You can use a VPN to bypass geo-blocking restrictions and stream this weekend’s F1 action from anywhere in the world.

Just follow these steps:

  1. Download Surfshark VPN.
  2. Connect to a server in Luxembourg.
  3. Open the RTL Zwee player and find the 2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix.

Surfshark also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to use the VPN for free.

Verstappen has the opportunity to secure his third World Title this weekend — want to tune in to watch the action for free? Read on to find out how to get your VPN up and running and start streaming!

Formula 1 is back in the Middle East this weekend for the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. The 20 best drivers in the world will tackle the Lusail International Circuit underneath the lights in an exciting battle as the season nears its closing stages.

Verstappen only has to finish in sixth place in Saturday’s Sprint race to mathematically secure his 2023 World Championship. It would be the first time that a driver wins the title on a Saturday — yet another interesting record that the Dutchman would have under his belt.

The five red lights go out for the Qatar Grand Prix at 8:00 PM local time (GMT+3). The stars align perfectly for F1 fans around the world this weekend! Fans in the United States can catch the start of the race at 1:00 PM (EST), and in the U.K. the race will start at 6:00 PM (BST).

You might be struggling with your go-to stream — whether you’re experiencing technical difficulties or running into geo-blocking restrictions while you’re abroad. Luckily, there’s a free stream you can tune into by using a premium VPN like Surfshark.

Want to find out how? We’ll show you below!

Watching the F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023 for Free Online

There are hundreds of broadcasters around the world that carry Formula 1 in 2023 — but not all of them are great. Our team has spent plenty of time testing races during the 2023 season, trying out different streams to find the best ones. We found that Luxembourg’s RTL streaming service has excellent quality and reliability — and best of all, it’s completely free!

There’s just one small catch. It’s only available if you’re in Luxembourg. When you try to access the streaming service from abroad, you’ll run into geo-blocking restrictions that send you straight into the gravel trap.

Not to worry though, you can beat geo-blocking restrictions without having to travel to Luxembourg. All you need is a virtual private network (VPN) that can change your IP address. You can use a VPN to connect to a server in a different country, which will redirect your internet traffic through the server and make it appear as if your device is accessing the internet from the server’s location.

We’ve got a quick-start guide on how to stream the Qatar Grand Prix for free below!

How to Stream the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar GP for Free: Step-by-Step

  1. Subscribe to Surfshark VPN. Even though our team has tested over 80 different VPNs, we always end up coming back to Surfshark for F1 streams. Their fast and reliable servers make streaming this weekend’s racing action a breeze. South Africa, India, and the United States are just a handful of countries where we’ve been able to stream F1 for free using Surfshark.
  2. Create an account. Just follow the instructions on-screen.

    Screenshot of Surfshark, app login page
  3. Install the VPN on your streaming device. Do you prefer to stream on Mac or Windows? Maybe you’re on the go and need to stream on iOS or Android. Whichever platform you love to watch F1 on, Surfshark has a sleek and shiny app ready and waiting!

    Devices supported by Surfshark as shown on their website
  4. Connect to a VPN server in Luxembourg.

    Screenshot of Surfshark interface, connected to Luxembourg server
  5. Head over to RTL Zwee when your VPN connects.

    Screenshot of RTL Luxembourg F1 page
  6. Find the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix stream and enjoy all the action from Lusail!

Free Streams for F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023

While we love RTL for F1 streams, it’s not the only option you have! There are several alternative streams that our team has tested this year and we created a table to display them for you below.

If your RTL stream isn’t working, or you just want to try out a different stream, simply choose one from our list below. Just remember to connect your VPN to the corresponding server so you can avoid any geo-blocking restrictions.

If you want a stream with English commentary, you’re going to need a premium streaming service — we recommend Sky Sports in the UK, or Sling TV‘s Orange Package in the US.

Looking for alternative streams? Check out our list below.

COUNTRYONLINE BROADCASTERSTREAMSREQUIREMENTS
Luxembourg (Recommended)RTL ZWEELive coverage of all 23 racesNone
BelgiumRTBFLive coverage of all 23 racesEmail, name, birthday, Belgian postcode
BrazilBandLive coverage of all 23 racesEmail, name, birthday
AustriaORFLive coverage of all 23 racesNone
AustriaServus TVLimited live streams and replaysNone
SwitzerlandPlay SRFLimited live streams and replaysNone
AlbaniaRTSHLimited live streamsNone
United KingdomSky Sports (via NOW TV)Live coverage of all 23 races
(Sky Sports F1)
Paid subscription
United StatesSling TV
FuboTV
Hulu + Live TV
YouTube TV
DIRECTV STREAM
Live coverage of all 23 racesPaid subscription (Some with free trials)

Formula 1 Qatar 2023: Full Schedule

The F1 Qatar Grand Prix will start at 8:00 PM local time (GMT+3) on Sunday, October 8, 2023.

Remember, it’s a Sprint race weekend, and Verstappen could secure his title on Saturday — don’t miss out!

Here’s the full schedule for the F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023.

EventDateLocal time (GMT+3)
Free Practice Friday, October 6, 20234:30 PM – 5:30 AM
QualifyingFriday, October 6, 20238:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sprint ShootoutSaturday, October 7, 20234:00 PM – 4:44 PM
SprintSaturday, October 7, 20238:30 PM – 9:30 PM
RaceSunday, October 8, 20238:00 PM – 10:00 PM

2023 Qatar Grand Prix Preview: Verstappen World Champion 2023?

So, it turns out Singapore was just a performance blip for Red Bull!

Verstappen was back on the pace in Japan, and he was a man on a mission. The Dutchman charged off to victory at Suzuka and helped his team to secure the World Constructors Championship. It’s Red Bull’s second consecutive title, and their sixth overall.

Checo’s day at the office was a nightmare, though. The Mexican driver couldn’t match the pace of his teammate, he collided with other cars twice, got two penalties, and retired from the Grand Prix twice (yes, that’s a first). Red Bull retired the car, but decided to send Perez back out to serve a five-second time penalty in order to avoid a grid drop at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Lando Norris brought his McLaren home in second place, and rookie Oscar Piastri got his first podium of the season. Suzuka proved to be an excellent race for the Papaya team!

Lewis hunting second place

In the championship standings, Lewis Hamilton is now closing in on Sergio Perez for second place.

After dispatching Fernando Alonso for third place at the Singapore Grand Prix, the seven-time World Champion is more determined than ever to salvage his season. The Brit is now just 33 points behind Perez with six races (and two Sprints) to go. It’s very much achievable, especially considering Checo’s recent form.

Here’s how Verstappen could win the title this weekend

Verstappen has been dominating this season. There are still six rounds of racing to go this season, and he can already secure his third World Championship this weekend.

Verstappen could become the first driver in history to win the championship on a Saturday because of the Sprint race, here’s how:

  • Max finishes 6th or higher.
  • Max finishes 7th and Checo doesn’t win.
  • Max finishes 8th and Checo finishes 3rd or lower.

Should Max have issues in the Sprint and not score any points on Saturday, here’s how he can secure his title in the Qatar Grand Prix:

  • Max finishes 8th or higher.
  • Max finishes 9th and Checo doesn’t win.
  • Max finishes 10th and Checo finishes 3rd or lower.

F1 2023 Driver Standings

Here’s how the drivers stand heading into the 2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix.

PositionDriver (team)Points
1Max Verstappen (Red Bull)400
2Sergio Perez (Red Bull)223
3Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)190
4Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)174
5Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)150

Wrapping up: Watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023 for Free

Here’s a quick reminder on how to watch the Qatar Grand Prix for free:

  1. Install Surfshark.
  2. Connect your VPN to a server in Luxembourg.
  3. Go to the RTL Zwee player and stream the F1 Qatar Grand Prix!
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