How to Watch F1 From Germany (or Anywhere) in 2023

After RTL lost its broadcasting rights for F1, finding a way to watch the Grand Prix felt impossible. But I was determined not to miss it this year, so I considered my options. You can watch F1 in Germany on Sky Deutschland, but like many others, I found Sky’s subscription too expensive — so I found a cheaper solution. ServusTV and ORF are free platforms that stream F1, but they're only available in Austria.

Luckily, a VPN can unblock these platforms from Germany. It masks your real location and IP address and assigns you a new one from the country you connect to. So, when you connect to a server in Austria, ServusTV and ORF will allow you to access and watch their content.

After testing over 30+ VPNs, my top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It is the fastest VPN I tested and can easily unblock almost every popular platform, including ServusTV and ORF. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like how it works.

Watch F1 With ExpressVPN >>

Why You Need a VPN to Watch F1 From Germany

Due to broadcasting restrictions, streaming platforms are required to geoblock their content. This recently happened with RTL, and now it’s no longer accessible in Germany. The same stands for ServusTV and ORF, which are only available in Austria. So, to watch the F1 on a free platform, you need a VPN to go past the geo-restrictions.

VPNs mask your actual IP address and assign you one from a licensed country. It’s an easy way to deal with geoblocks regardless of where you are. When you connect to Austria, ServusTV and ORF allow you to access their content.

With a VPN, you can bypass ServusTV and ORF’s geoblocks and watch F1 from Germany. All you need to do is connect to an Austrian server and press play.

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Best VPNs to Watch F1 From Germany in 2023

1. ExpressVPN — Best Speeds for Watching F1 in HD Without Lag

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested July 2023

Can access:

Sky ESPN+ Dazn FIFA+

Netflix Disney+ APV More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching F1 from Germany, thanks to its reliable unblocking abilities and incredibly fast speeds. Its Austrian server unblocked ServusTV on the first attempt, and my connection remained stable while I streamed F1 in full HD.

I could watch Miami Grand Prix without buffering using ExpressVPN’s Austrian server

During my tests, I only experienced a 5% speed loss (from 467Mbps to 443Mbps) on nearby German servers, which wasn’t noticeable in my streams. When connected to the Austrian server, my speeds never dropped below 440Mbps, so I could watch the F1 Miami Grand Prix in the best quality without any lag or buffering.

ExpressVPN has dedicated apps for a huge range of platforms and devices. The VPN is also compatible with a wide selection of routers. So if your device doesn’t have native VPN support, setting up the VPN on your router will allow you to watch F1 on any device on your home network.

While it is more expensive than some VPNs, ExpressVPN offers money-saving discounts with its long-term plans. You can also try it risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. To test it, I canceled my subscription via its 24/7 live chat feature. The agent only asked why I wanted to cancel, then proceeded with the request. I got a full refund 3 days later.

Useful Features

• App and website shortcuts. You can add shortcuts to your favorite apps and websites right on ExpressVPN’s home screen. A ServusTV shortcut with a set Austrian server allowed me to access the platform quickly and easily.
• MediaStreamer. It lets you watch F1 on devices that don’t support VPNs like your gaming console. MediaStreamer doesn’t work for ServusTV, but it supports a few subscription-based services where you can watch F1, like SlingTV and DirecTV.
• Large server network. With a huge global server network, ExpressVPN lets you access all the major streaming platforms, including any F1-streaming platform you prefer.
• Lightway Protocol. This is ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol that’s built for speed. I recommend enabling this for fast and smooth streaming.

Watch F1 With ExpressVPN >>

2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers For Easy Access to F1 from Germany

Can access:

Sky ESPN+ Dazn FIFA+

Netflix Disney+ APV More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has dedicated streaming servers for various platforms, including ServusTV. These are continuously maintained to ensure they provide fast speeds and reliable unblocking. Using its ServusTV streaming-optimized server, I had no issue unblocking the platform and watching live F1 races.

CyberGhost’s Viena server gave me access to ServusTV on the first attempt

It’s one of the most user-friendly VPNs I’ve tested, with simple and intuitive apps for every platform. Using Smart Rules, I was able to configure the VPN to connect to the optimized ServusTV server automatically upon launching. This way, I could access ServusTV and watch F1 with one click.

A smart DNS feature lets you watch F1 on devices that don’t natively support VPNs. This is different than setting it up on a router since smart DNS removes the encryption. But if you don’t need the security, it can help optimize your streaming speeds.

That said, when testing the speeds of its VPN connections, CyberGhost didn’t perform as well as ExpressVPN and I experienced slowdowns of up to 57% on some long-distance servers. But I only had a 6% speed drop when connected to a nearby Austrian server, which wasn’t even noticeable when watching live F1 races.

You can try the VPN risk-free for 45 days with its long-term plan (short-term subscriptions give you 14 days).

Useful Features

• Specialty servers for streaming. CyberGhost has servers optimized for several other major streaming platforms, so I could easily catch up on my favorite shows and sporting events while in Germany.
• Compatible with routers. Although CyberGhost isn’t compatible with as many routers as ExpressVPN, there are some that work with it. This way, you can watch the F1 Grand Prix on more devices, such as gaming consoles and smart TVs.
• Dedicated IP addresses. For a small extra fee, you can get a dedicated IP address. This will reduce the chances that your VPN IP address is detected and blocked by your F1-streaming platform.
• Lots of servers. This gives you flexibility in which platform you use for watching F1.

Watch F1 With CyberGhost >>

3. Private Internet Access — Unlimited Connections to Watch F1 on All Your Devices

Can access:

Sky ESPN+ FIFA+ Netflix

Disney+ APV More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

Private Internet Access (PIA) offers unlimited device connections, making it ideal for large households. If anyone wants to stream, browse, or torrent while you enjoy the Grand Prix, you can avoid getting booted off the VPN connection. I tested PIA by streaming different races and games on multiple devices at the same time and didn’t notice any slowdowns.

PIA’s Austrian servers allowed me to watch F1 highlights in Full HD

PIA has one of the largest servers networks of any VPN, with 29,650 servers spread across 84 countries, including Austria. Connecting to its Austrian server gave me instant access to ServusTV, where I could watch F1 live streams, re-lives, and highlights in HD.

It also comes with a range of customization options. I especially liked being able to lower my encryption level from 256-bit to 128-bit, as it gave me fast speeds for streaming.

Due to the large number of customizations available, the VPN isn’t as user-friendly as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. The good news is that it comes ready to use “out of the box”, so there’s no need to tweak settings before you start streaming. Simply connect to your preferred server and start watching F1 right away.

It's very affordable and you can try PIA risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Useful Features

• Streaming-optimized servers. PIA offers streaming-optimized servers in multiple locations, including the US, Canada, UK, and Japan, so it’s easy to access most major streaming platforms, including some that feature the F1 races.
• MACE ad blocker. If your F1-streaming platform displays ads, MACE lets you easily block them with PIA’s powerful ad blocker called MACE.
• Favorite servers. You can mark different servers as “favorite”, so you always have quick and easy access to the F1 platforms they unblock.

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Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching F1

Although there's a plethora of VPNs available, not all are capable of bypassing ServusTV's stringent geographical restrictions for watching F1. Throughout my evaluations, I employed various metrics to identify the most effective VPN for streaming F1 from Germany:

• Fast Speeds: Even in a VPN can successfully unblock ServusTV, its speeds may not be good enough for streaming live F1 races. This is why I prioritized VPNs that offer fast speeds for smooth HD streaming.
• Large Server Network: Streaming sites like ServusTV and ORF can identify and block VPN IP addresses. Having a large number of servers that can bypass geo-blocking means you can still access the platform with a different VPN server even if one server gets blocked.
• Apps for popular devices: All VPNs included on this list have dedicated apps for most major platforms and streaming devices, so you can watch live F1 races on any device you prefer.
• Responsive customer support: When looking for the best VPN for watching F1, I prioritized those that offer 24/7 support through live chat. This way, you can get help in case you have trouble accessing a platform. If it doesn’t offer this, it should at least have email support or a contact form to help you get answers to your questions.
• Money-back guarantee: A money-back guarantee means you can try the VPN risk-free. You can get a full refund if you’re unsatisfied with how it works.

Watch F1 With ExpressVPN >>

Where Can I Watch F1 Online?

F1 races are broadcast live on various TV channels and streaming services worldwide, some of which are free to access. However, the only one available in Germany is Sky Deutschland, which is a paid platform. The rest (free and paid) are all geo-blocked.

This is why you need a VPN to watch F1 in Germany on any platform besides Sky Deutschland. For that, I recommend ExpressVPN since it reliably unblocks streaming platforms across the globe, and has fast speeds for HD streaming.

I’ve compiled a list of platforms streaming F1 below:

Free Platforms

• ServusTV and ORF — these are Austrian TV channels that cover all F1 races (split between the two) for free with German commentary.
• SRF TV — this free Hungarian platform is another great option for German viewers since it airs F1 races with German commentary.
• 10 Play — an Australian platform that’s free, but it doesn’t broadcast all F1 races, only the Australian Grand Prix. It offers English commentary
• Channel 4 — a free-to-air British TV channel that offers live coverage of the British Grand Prix and extended highlights of every Grand Prix with English commentary.
• RTBF — a Belgian TV channel that offers live broadcasts of every F1 race with French commentary.

Subscription-Based Streaming Services

• F1 TV Pro — F1’s official streaming service that offers live streams of all F1 races. It is available in various countries, including the US, Canada, and the Netherlands. Commentary languages include English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and others, and its price varies depending on location.
• Sky Deutschland — Germany’s official broadcaster of F1 Grand Prix races. The platform offers commentary from top F1 experts in German only but is slightly more expensive than F1 TV Pro.
• Sling TV — a US-based streaming service that offers access to channels like ESPN, ESPN 2, and ABC, allowing you to watch live F1 races online with English commentary.
• Hulu+Live TV — this is another US streaming platform where you can access ESPN+ and watch the 2023 F1 Grand Prix. Commentary languages include English and Spanish.
• YouTube TV — you can watch F1 with English commentary through ESPN.
• DirecTV — another streaming platform with access to ESPN and ESPN2. The F1 Grand Prix is available with English or Spanish commentary.

Watch F1 With ExpresVPN >>

How to Watch F1 From Germany with a VPN on Different Devices

No matter which device you use, the first step is to sign up for a dependable VPN through its official site. My top recommendation is ExpressVPN — it can easily bypass geo-restrictions on ServusTV, as well as other F1-streaming platforms. Plus, its fast speeds make it ideal for streaming live F1 races in HD in smooth quality.

To watch F1 on your PC, Mac, Android, iOS, or any other device that supports VPN apps:

1. Download the VPN app. Once you’ve subscribed to a VPN, download the app onto your preferred device. I used the Windows installer from ExpressVPN’s official website.

   ExpressVPN has dedicated apps for all major operating systems and devices on its official site

2. Sign in to the VPN. Enter your login credentials and then copy and paste the provided activation code (if there is one) into the app.
3. Launch the app and connect to a server. Choose a server where your streaming platform of choice is available. For example, ServusTV is only available in Austria, so I connected to ExpressVPN’s Austrian server to access the platform from Germany.

   ExpressVPN's search bar makes finding servers very easy

4. Start streaming F1. Once you’ve connected to a server, visit the streaming platform’s app or website, search for Formula 1, and begin streaming. I used ServusTV since the platform is completely free — no login or subscription is required.

   ExpressVPN’s Austrian server easily unblocked ServusTV

On devices without native VPN apps

Some devices like Roku, Apple TV, and gaming consoles don’t have native support for VPNs. So you have to set up a VPN connection manually using the VPN’s router app. This way, you will be able to access geo-blocked platforms (like ServusTV) and watch F1 on devices that don’t typically support VPNs.

1. Install the VPN on your router. ExpressVPN has easy-to-follow instructions for every router it’s compatible with on its site. In most cases, you just need to download the VPN’s firmware for your specific router, then install it. The whole process took me about 5 minutes.
2. Connect your device to the router. Once the VPN is installed on your router, it covers all of the devices on its network. So just make sure your preferred streaming device is also connected to the router.
3. Choose a server location. ServusTV can only be accessed from Austria, so I connected to an Austrian server to watch F1 from Germany.
4. Start streaming F1. Open ServusTV (or whichever F1-streaming app) on your device and enjoy.

Watch F1 With ExpressVPN>>

FAQs on Watching F1 with a VPN

Will a free VPN let me watch F1 from Germany?

Maybe, but I don’t recommend using free VPNs. Instead, you’re much better off using a low-cost premium VPN that offers a money-back guarantee.

Most free VPNs can’t get past the geo-restrictions imposed by ServusTV or any other platform. Even if you manage to unblock it, it’s unlikely that you’d be able to stream F1 smoothly, as most free VPNs come with speed limitations and data caps.

Even worse, most free VPNs bombard you with targeted ads — and some can even be risky to use. They’ve been known to sell user data to third parties or infect devices with malware. It’s simply not worth the trouble when you can test most premium VPNs with a risk-free money-back guarantee.

Can I watch F1 from Germany without cable?

Yes, you can watch the 2023 F1 Grand Prix from Germany on Sky Deutschland, but that is a paid subscription service. You can also watch it on a variety of other platforms (both free and paid), including its official streaming platform F1 TV Pro. Just keep in mind that these are geo-blocked and can only be accessed with a reputable VPN from Germany.

If you're interested in streaming Formula 1 from Germany without relying on cable, I highly recommend ServusTV. This Austrian television channel provides coverage of various sporting events, including the F1 Grand Prix of the current year, and the best part is that it can be accessed completely free of charge.

Why is F1 TV not available in Germany?

Due to broadcasting regulations, F1’s official streaming service is only available in a few countries, including the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Sweden. If you want to access the platform from Germany, you will need a reliable VPN with servers in at least one of these locations, plus, good speeds. However, you will need to subscribe to F1 TV’s premium platform, F1 TV Pro if you want to watch the F1 Grand Prix live.

Watch F1 in Germany Today

The 2023 F1 Grand Prix is available on a variety of different platforms, but I found that the best way to watch it from Germany is with ServusTV and ORF. Both are completely free to watch, so with a reliable VPN, you can stream all of the most exciting F1 races from Germany.

After testing over 30 VPNs, I found that the best one for watching F1 from Germany is ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN has super fast speeds and can easily unblock ServusTV and ORF. The best part is that it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free to see if it fits your needs.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs for watching F1 from Germany

Rank

Provider

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1

9.8 /10

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2

9.8 /10

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3

9.6 /10

Save 83%!

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