How to watch F1 without Sky
Unfortunately, Sky has the most rights and is the only provider which broadcasts every single race in full and live. You can get Sky here. The alternative is Channel 4. Here, around half of the races are shown after they have finished and even then it’s only the highlights. However, the other half are broadcast live and in full with ad breaks during the race. You can get Channel 4 on Freeview and Freesat on, er, channel 4. If you prefer to watch in HD – assuming you have a suitable receiver box or TV – on channel 104 on Freeview and 126 on Freesat. (It’s also on Virgin Channel 142.) If you are outside of the UK and want to watch Channel 4’s coverage of F1, you can do so using a VPN such as NordVPN. Do this at your own risk, though, as it is against Channel 4 rights agreements. You’ll find more VPN options in our VPN chart here. Again, only Sky broadcasts F1 in the best quality, which is 4K. For that, you’d need the appropriate Sky subscription, Sky Q box and a 4K TV. Incidentally, Sky also offers extra features such as a choice of camera angles and stats, and you can view these via the Sky Go app too.
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
The Abu Dhabi F1 race takes place at Yas Marina on 24 to 26 November 2017, and the full race will be shown live on UK TV (Channel 4) at 7.35pm on Sunday 26 November.
If you can’t get to a TV, but you do have an internet connection you can watch using the All4 app for Android and iOS, or via the Channel4 website. If you’re keen, you can also watch the practice sessions and qualifying on Channel4 at these times:
24 November
12.55pm – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 2
25 November
9.55am – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 3 11.55am – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
26 November
12.00pm – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Live Build-up 12.35pm – F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Live
Which F1 races are live on Channel 4 in 2017?
You can tune in and watch the following races in full, live and for free this year.
16 April: Bahrain30 April: Russia28 May: Monaco25 June: Azerbaijan16 July: Great Britain27 August: Belgium17 September: Singapore1 October: Malaysia22 October: USA26 November: Abu Dhabi
Follow the Grand Prix on Snapchat
A deal has been inked with Snapchat to offer exclusive content from the Grand Prix via Snapchat’s Our Stories in the UK and US. The BBC says it will feature compilations of videos and pictures submitted by users at F1 events and locations around the world, providing a different angle on the event to what is broadcast. Snapchat’s coverage began with the British Grand Prix, but will also cover other F1 races in Singapore, Japan, US, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. F1’s head of digital, Frank Arthofer, said: “This is the first step towards expanding our social media strategy. We need to continue to bring new fans to the sport – by reaching out to them on social media platforms with behind the scenes, fun and engaging content. Snap’s platform is one of the most popular among ‘millennials,’ a sector we are particularly keen on attracting, as it represents the future of our sport.” Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
