Fernando Alonso celebrating his podium at the 2023 Bahrain GP
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A Quick Guide: How to Watch the 2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

We’re heading into the second round of the 2023 Formula 1 season with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix! The tight and twisty circuit will host the race on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 8:00 PM (GMT+3) local time. Fans in the United States can catch the race start at 1:00 PM (EST).

Keen on tuning into the Saudi Arabian GP for free? Follow our quick guide below:

  1. Choose a VPN provider. Our recommendation is Surfshark.
  2. Download the VPN on your device.
  3. Create your account and log in.
  4. Connect to a server in Luxembourg.
  5. Launch the RTL Zwee player to watch the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for free.
  6. Enjoy the exhillerating Saudi Arabian Grand Prix!

Keep reading to find out more about VPNs and Formula 1 live streams. We’ll also be covering the latest news in the F1 world, as well as the results and key takeaways from the season opener in Bahrain!

That sure was fast. We’ve already been flung straight into Round 2 of the Formula 1 season as the drivers prepare to tackle the hair-raising Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. The world of Formula 1 is still brimming with excitement following a jaw-dropping 2023 season opener in Bahrain.

This electrifying race in Jeddah goes green at 8:00 PM (GMT+3) local time on Sunday, March 19. If you’re tuning in from the United States, you can enjoy a lunchtime start at 1:00 PM (EST).

As always, there will be plenty of on-track action this weekend, with three Free Practice sessions and Qualifying to get through before the main event on Sunday. We’ve got the full Saudi Arabian GP schedule for you later on.

Want to watch the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for free? Keep reading to find out how!

How to Watch the 2023 F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Free

Believe it or not, there are loads of places where you can watch the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for free. Unfortunately, the problem is that you will be blocked from accessing them unless you’re in the correct region. If you want to bypass geo-blocking restrictions, you’re going to need to change your IP address to access these free streams.

For example, FOX Sports will block you from tuning into their stream if you’re trying to access it from Australia. Likewise, only people residing in Luxembourg can access their free RTL live stream.

However, if you change your IP address by using a VPN, you will trick the website into thinking that you’re in the correct region and give you access to the stream.

It’s incredibly easy! We’ll show you exactly how to stream the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for free below.

Step-by-step guide: How to live stream the 2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian free with a VPN

  1. Choose a VPN provider. We recommend using Surfshark because of its excellent connection speeds and collection of over 3,200 servers in 100 countries.
  2. Create an account and download the VPN on the device you will be streaming from. Surfshark is available on all major platforms, including Smart TVs.

    Screenshot of Surfshark Antivirus, Download options
  3. Log into your account by following the instructions when you launch the app.

    Screenshot of Surfshark VPN, login
  4. Connect to the global server of your choice. If you want to watch F1 for free, we recommend a server in Luxembourg.

    Screenshot of Surfshark interface, connected to Luxembourg server
  5. Find your favorite live stream. Stream from the RTL Zwee once you’re connected to a server in Luxembourg.

    Screenshot of RTL Luxembourg F1 page
  6. Find the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and enjoy a phenomenal race!

2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabia: Free Streams

Once you’ve got a VPN installed on your device, you have the freedom to tune into any live stream in the world. You may as well take advantage of the free streams! You can use your VPN to connect to servers in countries like Luxembourg, Brazil, and Belgium. These are just a few of the countries that offer free, legal, and legitimate F1 streams.

Keep in mind that these streams don’t have English commentary on any of their channels. If you need English commentary, try out SlingTV‘s Orange Package. Connect your VPN to a US server and you can sign up at a discounted rate.

We’ve collected some of the best free live streams for Formula 1 races in 2023 below. Just make sure to connect your VPN to the relevant countries before heading to these websites!

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
AustriaServus TVLimited live streams and replaysNone
SwitzerlandPlay SRFLimited live streams and replaysNone
AlbaniaRTSHLimited live streamsNone
ItalyTV8ReplaysNone
United KingdomChannel 4Watch HighlightsEmail, name, and UK address
United StatesSlingTV
YouTube TV
DIRECTV STREAM
FuboTV
Live coverage of all 23 racesSubscription (Free Trials)

Can I Watch the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a Free VPN?

You might find some free VPNs online and try to combine them with a free live stream. Sounds like a great plan, right? But in practice, it never works well. Here’s why:

  • Putting your device at risk: Free VPNs don’t have a dedicated team of developers working to build the best end product. If you don’t choose a solid free VPN service, they often have poor encryption technology and other weak cybersecurity and privacy protocols. This could leave your device and personal data at risk while you’re streaming.
  • Limited free streams: The whole point of using a VPN is to connect to a server in another country. However, free VPNs have fewer global servers to choose from, which means you might be missing out on free live streams in specific regions. Just try connecting to countries like Luxembourg or Belgium with a bare-bones free provider. You might get three or five server locations at max.
  • Annoying ads: Unfortunately, many free VPNs come with intrusive ads that will hinder your race day experience. Not only are they intrusive and annoying, but they can also make your device run much slower than usual.

If you’re still on the fence about paying for a VPN, try out Surfshark’s 30-day free trial.

You can watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the Australia Grand Prix before canceling your subscription. If you still insist on using a free VPN, make sure to take a look at our top free VPNs.

Watch the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with F1 TV Pro

F1 TV Pro is an excellent option for Formula 1 fanatics who don’t want to miss any of the high-speed action. As the official F1 streaming service, it is packed full of nifty features. It’s priced at $9.99 per month (or $79.99 per year).

With F1 TV Pro, you can switch between different drivers’ onboard cameras and tune into their live, unfiltered team radio during any session, including the main race. Keep an eye on all the drivers with the live driver tracker and circuit map, as well as the sector times and tire history of each driver. You can also enjoy some incredible classic races from the archives, catch up on highlights, or even tune into some Formula 2 and Formula 3 action this weekend.

F1 TV Pro is available in 89 countries — with an expansion coming soon! You can use a VPN to change your IP address to a different country if the streaming service is not available in your region.

Before you sign up, here’s a quick tip. Use your VPN to connect to a server in India and you’ll see the subscription price drop to just $29.99 per year (2449 INR). There are plenty of other ways you can save money on subscriptions using a VPN too.

2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabia Full Schedule

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will start at 8:00 PM local time (GMT+3) on Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023, at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The action has been thrilling so far, so it’s worth tuning into Free Practice and Qualifying!

Check out the full F1 Saudi Arabia schedule below:

EventDateTime (GMT+3)
Free Practice 1Friday, March 17, 20234:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Free Practice 2Friday, March 17, 20238:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Free Practice 3Saturday, March 18, 20234:30 PM – 5:30 PM
QualifyingSaturday, March 18, 20238:00 PM – 9:00 PM
RaceSunday, March 19, 20238:00 PM – 10:00 PM

2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: What to Expect

We’re heading to Saudi Arabia for the next Grand Prix! It’s only the second round of the 2023 World Championship, but there is a lot to look out for during this race weekend!

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a speedy and narrow track, making it one of the most exhilarating and unique circuits on the calendar. The have been a few changes to the track layout since last year for safety reasons. However, this is still one of the most spectacular circuits to watch a Formula 1 car.

The Saudia Arabian Grand Prix will be an action-packed one, make sure you don’t miss out!

Maxed Out: Verstappen’s Unstoppable Winning Streak

Max Verstappen took victory in the opening round of the season. The Dutchman dominated the race with his Red Bull teammate close behind. While it might seem like Red Bull has this season in the bag, there is still a long way to go this season and there are several teams that could be challenging for the win.

To put Verstappen’s dominating streak into perspective, let’s take a look at his current run of form (Ferrari fans, look away now). Verstappen has had 26 wins in the last two seasons. On the other hand, Ferrari has had 23 wins in the past 10 seasons!

Ferrari and Mercedes in Trouble

Both Mercedes and Ferrari have been much slower than they had expected coming into the 2023 season. Lewis Hamilton managed to finish in fifth place. Still, he had to fight with Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin, who had also overtaken his Mercedes teammate George Russell earlier in the race. It’s clear that Mercedes has a lot of work to do if they want to catch up!

Ferrari has been faster than Mercedes, but they are also struggling. They had no answer for the pace of the Red Bulls during the Grand Prix as Alonso blasted past Carlos Sainz for third place late in the race. Charles Leclerc had to change a control electronics system after Qualifying. The problem is that drivers are only allowed to use two of these systems for the entire season.

Late in the race, Leclerc retired with a suspected engine issue. It was later revealed that the control electronics system was giving issues once again, causing the Monegasque’s engine to implode. Leclerc had to replace the unit for the third time which means that he takes a 10-place grid penalty for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix — that must be a record for the earliest grid penalty in F1!

Ferrari has also been undergoing a massive team overhaul. Not only has Frederic Vasseur taken over as the team principal, but earlier this week it was announced that the head of aerodynamics was also leaving the team. Is a complete purge the solution to the problems in the Prancing Horse camp?

The Future is Green

Aston Martin has shown incredible pace at the Bahrain Grand Prix. It’s a complete turnaround from the 2021 season where they were fighting for the midfield. Fernando Alonso qualified in fifth place and stormed through to take a podium — the first podium for the team since Sebastian Vettel at Baku in 2021. Lance Stroll also put in an impressive display despite his severe wrist injuries, even pulling off a spectacular overtake on the Mercedes driven by Russell.

Whatever Aston Martin did over the winter break, it worked extremely well! They seem to be ahead of Mercedes in terms of pace, and slightly behind Ferrari. However, with the Ferrari team in turmoil, Aston Martin could take advantage and fight against Red Bull for the title!

How Did Our Rookies Fair?

There are three rookies on the grid this season, but Logan Sargeant has been the most impressive! Despite being in a Williams, the American stormed his way through the field to finish in 12th place, just a few seconds down the road from his experienced teammate Alex Albon. Sargeant is definitely one to keep an eye on this season!

Oscar Piastri had an extremely frustrating debut. The 21-year-old Formula 2 champion’s race lasted just 13 laps as his McLaren suffered a mechanical failure. He has shown plenty of promising signs all weekend, but McLaren seems to be having a ton of trouble this season, so we might not see the best results from the Australian this season.

Nyck De Vries seemed to lack that electrifying pace he showed at Monza in 2022. However, it seems to be an Alpha Tauri problem instead. Both of their cars struggled for pace at the season opener in Bahrain, with both De Vries and Tsunoda putting in lackluster performances that went under the radar.

2023 Driver Standings

Here’s what the driver standings look like going into the second race of the season in Saudi Arabia:

PositionDriver (team)Points
1Max Verstappen (Red Bull)25
2Sergio Perez (Red Bull)18
3Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)15
4Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)12
5Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)10

Formula 1 Official Broadcasters

Formula 1 is a massively popular sport all around the world. There are plenty of broadcasters around, and if you find yourself in one of the regions below, you may be able to tune into the race without using a VPN.

You may need a subscription to the streaming platform, or access to a local cable TV. Below is the complete list of broadcasters for the 2023 Formula 1 season:

COUNTRYCHANNEL
AFRICASuperSport
ALBANIARTSH
ARGENTINA FOX Sports
ARMENIASetanta Sports
AUSTRALIAFox Sports Channels
Network Ten
AUSTRIAServus TV
ORF
Sky Sport F1
AZERBAIJANSetanta Sports
BELARUSSetanta Sports
BELGIUMRTBF
Telenet
Play Sport Open
BOSNIASport Klub
BRAZILBandeirantes
BULGARIADiema Sport
CANADARDS
RDS 2
TSN
CHINAGreat Sports
Guangdong Sports
CCTV
CROATIASport Klub
CYPRUSCytavision
CZECH REPUBLICSport 1
DENMARKTV3+
TV3 Sport
ESTONIAViaplay
FINLANDV Sport
FRANCECanal+
Canal+ Sport
C8
GERMANYSky Sport F1
GREECEANT 1
HONG KONGbeIN Sports
HUNGARYM4 Sport
IRELANDSky Sports F1
Channel 4 (UK)
INDIAF1TV Pro
INDONESIAbeIN Sports
ISRAELSport 5
ITALYTV8
Sky Sport F1
JAPANFuji TV Next
KOSOVOArt Sport
LATIN AMERICA (Except Argentina and Mexico)ESPN
LUXEMBOURGRTL
Sky Sport
MALAYSIA AND BRUNEIbeIN Sports
MALTATotal Sports Network
MEXICOFOX Sports
Canal 5
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAMBC Action
Shahid (SSC)
MONTENEGROSportKlub
MYANMARCanal+
NETHERLANDSViaplay
NOS
NEW ZEALANDSky Sport
NORWAYV Sport
PAPUA NEW GUINEA & PACIFIC ISLANDSDigicel
PHILIPPINESbeIN Sports
POLANDViaplay
PORTUGALSport TV
ROMANIAOrange Sport
Digisport
Prima Sport
RUSSIAMatch TV
Contract terminated (Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine)
SERBIASport Klub
SINGAPORESingtel
StarHub
SLOVAKIASport 1
SLOVENIASportKlub
SOUTH KOREACoupang Play
SPAINMediaset
SWEDENV Sport
SWITZERLANDSRG SSR
Canal +
Canal + Sport
Sky Sport F1
THAILANDbeIN Sports
TURKEYS Sport
UKRAINESetanta Ukraine
UNITED KINGDOMChannel 4
Sky Sports F1
USAABC
ESPN
ESPN Deportes
ESPN+
VIETNAMK+
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