There could hardly be a better stage for Qatar to make its Formula 1 Grand Prix debut than with a crucial stage of one of the most exciting title races in recent years. You won't want to miss rubber-burning minute, so follow our guide to live stream F1 and watch the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix online wherever you are.
Max Verstappen may have his nose ahead in the drivers' championship, but Lewis Hamilton starts ahead of him on pole position today and will still be buzzing from that incredible performance in Brazil last week.
Date: Sunday, November 21
Race start time: 5pm local / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET / 9am ET / 6am PT / 1am AEDT / 3am NZDT
Venue: Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar
Live streams: Sky Sports (UK) | ESPN/Sling TV (US) | Fox/Kayo Sports (AU)| F1 TV (selected regions)
Watch anywhere: try No. 1 overall VPN 100% risk-free
If we needed a reminder that Sir Lewis is the GOAT, Interlagos's incredible ascension from dead last to topping the podium certainly did the trick. Just how hard will Max Verstappen push to topple the champ as we head to the first ever Qatar Grand Prix?
It's hard to imagine Hamilton not riding this wave to an eighth championship, but it's balanced on a knife edge. Should Hamilton top the podium this week in Qatar, then in Saudi Arabia and in Abu Dhabi, there's nothing the Flying Dutchman can do to win. But cede just one position in one race to Verstappen, and Max can take it home with two second places.
This is all conjecture though. What you really need to do is read on for full details of how to get an F1 live stream and watch the Qatar Grand Prix online as it happens. Catch all the F1 Qatar GP action from start to finish with the help of this guide.
Free F1 live stream: where can you watch Qatar GP for free
Several countries around the world have the rights to show some of the F1 action on free-to-air TV.
A full list of free-to-air streamers can be found on our dedicated guide on how to watch F1. In Austria for example, all the Grand Prix are shared between free-to-air broadcasters Servus TV and Orf.
And if you're travelling abroad outside your country at the moment and wanted to tune in to your familiar Formula 1 coverage, you can use a VPN to do so as explained below - we rate ExpressVPN as the best provider out there, which has a great track record for unblocking geo-restricted streams.
How to live stream F1 from outside your country
If you're abroad for this weekend's Qatar GP, you'll likely find you're unable to access your usual Formula 1 coverage like you would at home. This isn't necessarily cause for alarm, but rather the result of geo-blocking - best understood as digital borders that restrict certain services and content to certain parts of the world.
Fortunately, there's a convenient way around this in the form of a VPN. This is a nifty bit of software that lets you whizz around these digital borders, thereby allowing you to globe trot and still access your preferred F1 live stream. It's a completely legal workaround, very affordable, and super easy to use - allow us to explain more.
Use a VPN to watch a 2021 F1 live stream from anywhere
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Watch on F1 TV
If you're an F1 devotee, then you likely already know about F1 TV - it's the streaming service to subscribe to for all the best live action, highlights, replays of classics races and a whole lot more besides - you can sign up on its website.
Most people will want to go for F1 TV Pro, which is the way to live stream every F1 Grand Prix in full - along with F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup as well. Prices differ from country-to-country - it's $79.99 in the US, for example - and some even let you give it a try with a free 7-day trial!
Just note that not all regions have an F1 TV package with live Grand Prix coverage, with the UK and Australia being notable exceptions. But that still leaves people in the US, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Brazil and loads, loads more all included.
How to watch the Qatar Grand Prix: live stream F1 in the UK
Sky has the rights to Formula 1 in the UK, meaning you'll be able to watch the Qatar Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Subscribers also get to watch on the move using the Sky Go app, which is available on nearly all modern phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles.
For those without Sky, the best option is a Now TV Sky Sports Monthly Pass, which includes all 11 channels.
Coverage of the Qatar GP begins on Sky Sports F1 at 10am GMT on Friday for the practice 1, then 1.45pm for practice 2. Saturday kicks off at 1pm for qualifying. On Sunday, the Qatar Grand Prix itself starts at 1.55pm.
To access your usual streaming service from outside the UK, you'll need to download a good VPN as detailed above.
F1 live stream: how to watch the Qatar Grand Prix in the US
In the US, it's ESPN that's providing comprehensive coverage of the 2021 F1 season, and it's showing the Qatar Grand Prix live - as well as the all-important Qualifying and practice sessions.
If you have it as part of a cable package, you'll be able to stream the action directly through the ESPN website.
Cord-cutters are in luck, too, as you can get ESPN without having an expensive cable package.
Of the many and varied options, the best for Formula 1 fans wanting to watch an F1 live stream is Sling TV, whose Sling Orange package features ESPN channels for just $35 a month - save big with the latest Sling TV deal where you can get your first month for a mere $10!
Alternatively, fuboTV is an even more complete end-to-end cable replacement service, which offers ESPN and over 120 other channels on plans starting from $64.99 a month.
And, as described above, you may prefer to give F1 TV and its free trial a go if all you really care about is the world's premier motor sport.
Watch a Qatar Grand Prix F1 live stream abroad
New or existing subscribers to US streaming services can still access the platform of their choice from abroad by checking out a quality VPN and following the instructions above.
How to watch the 2021 Qatar GP: live stream F1 in Canada
As well as the official F1 TV service (as described above), you can watch the Qatar GP and all other 2021 F1 action on English-language TSN or French-language RDS - but they're premium channels that typically come with a pay TV package.
If you get them as part of your cable deal, then you'll just be able to log in with the details of your provider and get access to an F1 live stream.
If you don't have cable, you'll be well-served by their digital platforms. The TSN Direct and RDS Direct streaming services cost just CA$4.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month.
Remember you can take your favorite sports streaming service with you wherever you go - just try our No. 1 overall rated VPN 100% risk-free for 30 days and follow the instructions above.
How to watch F1 and get a Qatar Grand Prix live stream in Australia
Aussie F1 fans need to strap in for a late one, as the Qatar GP starts at 1am AEDT on Sunday night/Monday morning.
Paid-for TV network Fox Sports is showing every race of the 2021 Formula 1 season Down Under, including all of this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix action.
But if you don't have Fox as part of a pay TV package, your best option may be to sign up for the fast-emerging Kayo Sports streaming service.
It features no lock-in contracts and gives you access to over 50 other sports including the cricket, NRL, football... the list goes on! Handy if you don't want to go all out on Fox.
Better still, Kayo offers a FREE two-week trial!
After that, the Kayo Sports Basic Package costs $25 per month and allows users to stream across two devices simultaneously. The service also offers a Kayo Sports Premium Package, which provides three concurrent streams for $35 per month.
Don't forget, you can take your coverage abroad with you as well. For those wanting to watch home coverage of sports from overseas, a good VPN is the solution.
How to get an F1 Qatar GP live stream in New Zealand
The Qatar GP starts at a tricky time for F1 fans based in New Zealand, with lights-out set for 3am NZST on Monday morning.
Spark Sport is showing all of this season's F1 races. It usually costs $19.99 per month, but if you just want to catch one race for free, you're in luck, as there's a 7-day free trial.
As well as the F1 action, you also get a bevvy of Black Caps and England cricket matches, NBA basketball action from the US, and EPL football.
Spark Sport is available via web browsers on your PC or Mac, plus Apple and Android mobile devices, Chromecast, Apple TV, selected Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and LG TVs, and select Freeview streamers.
If you're abroad and want to sign-in to watch your subscription you can, using one of our best VPN recommendations.
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