Free Abu Dhabi F1 live stream: Where to watch this week's Formula One GP
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It's McLaren vs. Ferrari in the last race of 2024 as the constructors' championship goes down to the wire in one of the most competitive Formula One seasons we've had in years. Given the points difference and 1-2 start, Norris and Piastri will be favorites. But will they hold their nerve against Leclerc and Sainz? Let us show you everything you need to know about where to watch a free Abu Dhabi F1 live stream wherever you are in the world.
As also detailed in our season-long free F1 live stream guide, we can help you watch every race this season via similar options to today's. And if the free live streams aren't for you, we thoroughly recommend the super-extended highlights show from the UK, which replays almost the entire race - we've dedicated a section to this later in the article.
The Abu Dhabi GP is streaming for free in some countries, and that's where we come in, as we can show you how to get around geo-restrictions that block viewers from watching outside the channel's base country. We'll dive into greater detail below, but essentially, if you want to join in from overseas, you'll need a VPN to spoof your viewing device's location to match the broadcast. It's super simple to get going, and you'll be able to use this same method to watch every race this season, along with even more streaming opportunities like the below events:
Where to watch a free F1 live stream
This weekend's simplest option for a free Abu Dhabi GP live stream is using a VPN to tune into one of the free streams mentioned above. If you miss the live race, the extended highlights show from the UK we mentioned is a great alternative and comes with full English commentary.
Our preferred option among the best VPN providers is ExpressVPN, with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're unsatisfied. Better yet, you can get an extra three months for free and save 49% on a subscription. Check out our ExpressVPN review for more information on the security app.
We've used these free F1 live streams all season (and last season) and have double-checked VPN compatibility with each channel's programming schedule today to ensure the race is on. These channels feature every race, except the Austrian option, as races alternate each weekend between ORF1 and Servus TV - ORF1 has the Abu Dhabi F1 live stream.
How to watch free Abu Dhabi F1 live streams with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
- Install it on the device you're using to watch the race.
- Turn it on and set it to a country with a free live stream.
- Head over to ORF1 (Austria) | RTBF (Belgium). | RTL (Luxembourg)
- Watch on the live sections of the sites.
- Race start: 8 a.m. ET / 1 p.m. GMT (Sun) / 2 p.m. CET / 9 p.m. AWST (Mon).
Are there extended Abu Dhabi F1 highlights later?
In the UK, Channel 4 has extended highlights a few hours after the race at 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT / 6:30 p.m. CET / 1:30 a.m. AWST (Mon).
While this highlights show usually includes plenty of discussion and interviews before and after the race, an excellent proportion of the runtime is usually dedicated to the race itself. For example, the first week's live race lasted about 92 minutes, and I timed the actual race highlights section of the show at 72 minutes.
Overall, it's still my preferred viewing option right now compared to forking out for a subscription service or watching it without English commentary.
You can also watch these highlights on-demand the day after. That said, we sometimes notice that this version is a bit shorter than the usual highlights program.
You can tune in on the Channel 4 website online and use a VPN as outlined above to watch from outside the UK.
How to watch Abu Dhabi F1 live stream in the US
ESPN and ESPN+ are both covering the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. If you don't already have any of these channels, ESPN+ runs on a one-month rolling contract and starts at just $11.99 a month.
For ESPN proper, consider a couple of cord-cutting options. Sling TV's Orange tier is usually $40 a month, but there's a special offer right now that knocks your first month down to $20. FuboTV is another option and comes with a 7-day free trial and a $35 discount this week. DirecTV Stream is an even more comprehensive cord-cutting option regarding channel choice, but prices start at $86.98 a month after the free trial.
How to watch Abu Dhabi F1 live stream in the UK
Want a free option? Channel 4 runs an excellent extended highlights show (see above) a few hours after each race, which is a solid alternative given the length of the show. They even do qualifying highlights a few hours after that wraps up the day before, too.
If you really want to see everything live, a Sky Sports deal is your best bet, and this is a great way to get it in glorious 4K, too. Sky covers every race weekend, so you won't need to switch between it and networks like TNT, as you do for the Premier League.
If you don't want a traditional TV contract and prefer a monthly option you can drop whenever you want, Sky's Now TV offshoot has a Sky Sports tier that costs £11.99 for a day pass, or £34.99 a month.
The main appeal of Now TV is it runs on a rolling one-month contract, but if you need it every week, it's arguably a better deal to get a proper Sky Sports package as you'll get way more bang for your buck. Also, Now TV is still operating in the dark ages and has the gall to charge extra for HD in 2024.
Note: Using VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.