The best way to watch the F1 races while visiting Germany is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A reliable VPN will change your virtual location by providing you with an IP address linked with your home country. So you can safely access sites that will broadcast the F1 races like ESPN, Hulu, Sling TV, ORF, and ServusTV while you’re in Germany. Of the 25 VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN is the best VPN to watch F1, as it gave me a lag-free streaming experience. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try using ExpressVPN to watch F1 races with zero risk. Watch F1 from Germany with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: Watch F1 Live Online From Germany in 3 Easy Steps
Watch F1 with ExpressVPN
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Formula 1 in Germany
For 30 years, the German free-to-air television network, RTL, shared the rights to broadcast F1 races in Germany with Sky Sports. So if you traveled to Germany during the F1 season, you could watch the Grands Prix for free on RTL. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, RTL chose not to renew its contract with Formula 1, making subscription-based Sky Sports the only German F1 broadcaster. Platforms like ESPN+, ORF, and Sling TV show the entire event, but due to geo-restrictions, their websites will block you if they detect you’re using an IP address from Germany. However, you can safely bypass geoblocks and watch Formula 1 from Germany by using a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN). A quality VPN can unblock streaming sites by masking your current IP address and making it look like you’re connecting from a country with coverage. This way, you can make the most of streaming subscriptions you already pay for, even if you’re traveling outside of the service area. By connecting to a reliable VPN server in Austria or the US, you can safely access ESPN+, ORF, Hulu, and more sites to watch the F1 races live. Keep in mind that only a few VPNs can reliably access streaming platforms like ESPN+ and Sling TV from abroad. One reason is that most VPNs have a small network of servers, making it easier for platforms to recognize and blacklist them. That is why the best VPN for watching F1 from Germany is ExpressVPN. During my tests, it delivered very fast speeds, meaning you’ll be able to stream F1 races in HD without lag and browse the internet securely. To see for yourself, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Watch F1 with ExpressVPN risk-free
The Best VPNs to Watch F1 in January 2023 From Germany
1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN With Fast Lightway-Enabled Servers to Access F1 Races From Germany
Key Features: ExpressVPN can access Formula 1 races live from Germany without fail. It has over 3000 servers worldwide, and they are all optimized to unblock streaming sites. It also automatically selects fast US and Austrian servers (based on your location) that access restricted sites like ESPN+ and ORF every time. ExpressVPN had consistently fast speeds when I tested it — enough to watch the event live without interruptions. It only took me 4-6 seconds to connect to a server, and I could easily switch between servers. Once I connected to an Austrian server, I could instantly access ServusTV, and other than 2-3 seconds of initial buffering, the entire stream was lag-free. During my tests, I gave ExpressVPN’s already-speedy server network an extra boost using the super-efficient Lightway VPN protocol. Designed in-house for maximum speeds and reliability, Lightway is fast and lightweight, meaning you can enjoy F1 races from Germany in HD without buffering. I never had to worry about getting proxy IP or location errors when streaming F1 races during my tests. Finding the best servers in Austria to unblock ORF or ServusTV was easy with ExpressVPN’s automatic server selection. When you choose Austria in the location menu, it connects you to the fastest option right away. To access Sling TV, you can choose from over 20 ExpressVPN server locations in the US. When I tested the New York and LA servers, I didn’t experience any lag or buffering. ExpressVPN also unblocks lots of other live sports sites, like DAZN and YouTube TV. So no matter what sport you want to watch, you never have to miss an event just because you’re traveling to a country where it’s blocked. ExpressVPN’s advanced obfuscation technology also makes the VPN a reliable choice for unblocking all kinds of location-restricted sites. You can easily access Netflix’s US library to stream TV shows and movies when abroad. You can quickly connect to your frequently used servers by adding them to ExpressVPN’s “favorites” tab that you can access from its interface. To make watching F1 races even easier, add your streaming platform’s web address to “shortcuts” on ExpressVPN’s app, and as soon as you connect to a server, just click the icon to access the site. Although ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive than other VPNs on this list, you can try it without any risk before committing to the purchase. I also found an offer that lets you get 49% off ExpressVPN’s annual plan, which could save you some money. The VPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try watching F1 races with ExpressVPN risk-free. I signed up for the service for a few weeks to confirm this refund policy. Then, 3 weeks in, all I did was reach out to ExpressVPN’s support via live chat and ask for a refund. The support agent processed my request with no questions asked, and I had the money in my PayPal account in 2 days. Watch F1 with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers Provide Fast Connections & HD Quality While Watching F1 Races
Key Features: CyberGhost has streaming-optimized servers that can access live Formula 1 races in HD without buffering. It easily unblocks ORF and ServusTV in Austria, giving you reliable connections for watching races. Also, CyberGhost has US servers optimized for streaming F1 races on ESPN+, Sling TV, and Hulu. It’s easy to find the servers on CyberGhost’s streaming menu, and with one click, I could favorite anyone. This way, you can avoid scrolling through several server options every time and connect instantly for upcoming races. With so many exciting moments as cars hug tight corners and zoom toward the finish line, jerky videos can immediately ruin the fun. CyberGhost’s servers have fast speeds, but unlike ExpressVPN which keeps connections consistent, you may deal with slower speeds when connecting to a distant server. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the F1 races in HD. While it took over 10 seconds for the videos to buffer when I tested the VPN, there was hardly any interruption once the stream started. Still, you should stick to Cyberghost’s streaming-optimized servers — they always deliver faster speeds than the regular servers. You won’t have an issue connecting to the ORF or Sling TV servers, but I wanted to see if CyberGhost’s non-optimized servers could still unblock these streaming sites. I am pleased to see that CyberGhost’s regular servers also let you access F1 races on ORF and SlingTV. That said, I did get a few extra seconds of lag at the start of my stream. Other than that, the location-based servers let me enjoy all the fast-paced action of F1 without issues. But there’s a minor con — CyberGhost’s 1-month plan is pricey and only offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. To spend less, you can sign up for longer-term plans that’ll let you try out CyberGhost VPN to watch F1 races for up to 45 days risk-free. With the refund policy, you’ll have plenty of time to watch a few F1 races on ORF or ESPN+, and you can reach out to CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat to get your money back if you aren’t happy with the VPN. In my case, the live chat agent processed my refund request without any back-and-forth. And the money was back in my bank account that same week. Watch F1 with CyberGhost CyberGhost also unblocks: Netflix, Disney+, Sling TV, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, YouTube TV, ESPN, and more.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Huge Server Network Helps You Avoid Slow F1 Streams From Germany
Key Features: Overcrowded servers cause lag, reduced video quality, and buffering delays, so I love that PIA has a large server network for watching Formula 1 in Germany. With such a massive network, the servers never filled up enough to disturb my streams during testing. Connecting to PIA’s extensive server network will let you catch all the motorsports action from the start of the race all the way to the finish line. With the ability to watch F1 races on up to 10 of your devices at once, PIA gives you more simultaneous connections than most VPNs on this list. I connected to 3 Windows PCs, 2 Android phones, and an iPad and didn’t experience significant slowdowns or other issues. There was some more lag at the very beginning of my streams — but it only lasted for a few seconds, so it wasn’t a big deal. I also like that PIA has a split tunneling feature. This function lets you connect to certain websites or apps through your usual network, which is handy if you want to visit German sites while F1 plays in the background. Also, by setting exceptions in PIA’s split tunneling menu, you don’t have to disconnect from the race to check emails or browse social media. If you are particular about speed, you should know that despite its large server network, PIA isn’t quite as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. You may notice significant drops in speed if you connect to a distant US server from Germany (over 80% in our tests). But if you’re on a tight budget, PIA is a more affordable option, and its speeds are more than enough for HD streaming even when you connect to a faraway server. If you’re unsure about the VPN, you can use PIA to watch F1 races with no commitment using its 30-day money-back guarantee. To ask for a refund, I had to file a support ticket and state a reason (I said I preferred a different VPN). An agent replied and processed my request within an hour, and I had the money later that week. Watch F1 with PIA
4. PrivateVPN — HQN Servers Deliver Faster Speeds For Streaming Every Grand Prix in Germany Without Interruptions
Key Features: When testing PrivateVPN’s US servers, I recorded fast speeds and low latency even though I was thousands of miles away from the US. PrivateVPN uses High Quality Network (HQN) servers that deliver significantly faster connection speeds than regular servers. These HQN servers are faster because PrivateVPN avoids intermediaries and purchases internet capacity directly from IP transit providers. Because PrivateVPN’s servers maintain high speeds even if you connect to distant servers, it won’t matter much if you connect to a server in nearby Austria or faraway US from Germany. You can stream the races in HD with little buffering. PrivateVPN offers many premium features other top VPNs provide, but at a more affordable price. Despite being one of the cheapest monthly VPNs, PrivateVPN will bypass speed throttling, giving you fast speeds for streaming the F1. That means you won’t have to worry about the local ISP restricting your connection while watching a live race, as PrivateVPN will hide your internet activity. Once connected, you can catch the thrills of every F1 event in crisp and clear HD. The only issue is that PrivateVPN’s server network is smaller than the other options on this list, so occasionally, you may have to deal with slow speeds. However, during my tests, PrivateVPN consistently unblocked ESPN via Sling TV, ServusTV, and ORF. It also unblocks most other popular streaming services. If you want to opt for a VPN with a larger server network to avoid overcrowding, you can try out PIA which has over 35000 servers worldwide. For 30 days, you can use PrivateVPN to watch the F1 risk-free. If you’re not satisfied with the service, contact customer support anytime within the 30-day money-back guarantee period, and you’ll get a full refund. Watch F1 with PrivateVPN
5. IPVanish — Multiple Connections Let You Enjoy the F1 Races From Germany On All Your Devices
Key Features: IPVanish offers unlimited connections per account — meaning you can stream the F1 races during your lunch break, at home, or on the go. You don’t have to miss a second of blood-pumping action; all you need to do is download the IPVanish app on your phone, tablet, or laptop and stream the races via your preferred streaming platform. When testing, I was able to use IPVanish on different devices simultaneously. During my tests, IPVanish delivered high speeds. It achieves this with the WireGuard protocol, optimized for speed. Not only did I get fast speeds, but it was also consistent throughout my streams. So I didn’t have to deal with lags and repeated buffering. Note that WireGuard is not the most secure VPN protocol, so you might want to be cautious when browsing with IPVanish. If you want a VPN service that can deliver both speed and robust security, ExpressVPN is powered by its super-fast native Lightway protocol and runs its own private DNS on every server. IPVanish has an impressive network of 2000+ servers in 75 locations, and over 1,000 of these servers are located in the US. When I connected to its US servers, I always enjoyed fast speeds. Most importantly, even though it doesn’t have streaming-optimized servers, you won’t have trouble accessing ESPN or ORF from the US or Austria. I also like that you can sort and select servers on IPVanish by ping, load, and country to easily avoid overcrowded servers. One downside is that IPVanish, unlike ExpressVPN, doesn’t unblock many streaming services. While IPVanish accesses a few popular sites like Sling TV (which will let you stream F1 from Germany) and ESPN, ExpressVPN unblocks the most sites of all the best VPNs we’ve tested. ExpressVPN’s obfuscated servers reliably bypass firewalls, making it the most reliable option for staying connected to the web and your favorite services no matter where you travel abroad. If you’d like to test it first, you can try out IPVanish for yourself without risk. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and if it doesn’t quite live up to your expectations, you can request a full refund. I did, through live chat, and got my money back in 3 days. Watch F1 with IPVanish
Where to Watch F1 Live in January 2023 From Germany
If you’re traveling outside the US or Austria, you’ll have several options for watching this year’s F1 races. I checked each service I’ve recommended to make sure you can use them to stream the F1 from Germany. Some of these platforms may ask you to provide a US-based address and use a local payment method to register. Watch Formula 1 with ExpressVPN
How to Sign Up With Sling TV and Watch F1 Live
You can sign up for Sling TV using your credit card, Paypal, or a gift card. Remember that you need to sign up before you travel because signing up for Sling TV abroad could breach its terms and conditions even if you use a VPN.
Gift Card Method
Credit Card Method
Watch F1 with ExpressVPN These services are only available in the US and Austria, so you won’t be able to use them abroad without a reliable VPN that bypasses geoblocks. ExpressVPN consistently outdoes the competition with its vast network of 3000+ servers spread across 94 countries.
Can I watch the F1 races for free?
Yes, if you’re in Austria, via ServusTV or ORF. In Germany, you’ll need a paid streaming service + VPN, but you can try a monthly plan from one of our top VPNs for watching F1 in Germany to reduce costs. Of course, you could just use a VPN that can connect you to Austrian servers to access the free channels – ORF and ServusTV. To spend even less, you can take advantage of CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee. Then, cancel the VPN subscription and get a full refund if you’re not satisfied. While 45 days won’t be long enough to watch every race, you can combine CyberGhost’s money-back guarantee with those of other reliable VPNs so you don’t miss a single lap.
Why does my VPN not work with F1 races?
You shouldn’t have any issues watching F1 with the VPNs on this list, but there’s usually a quick fix if you do. Here are a few things you can try:
Update the VPN to the latest version Double-check that you’ve connected to a server in the US or Austria Close the app and try reconnecting again Clear your browser cache and cookies, then go back to your F1 streaming site Contact your VPN’s 24/7 customer service team for help
If you want to avoid disruptions as much as possible, I’d recommend that you try ExpressVPN. Its servers in the US never failed to access Sling TV during my tests, so you can confidently use ExpressVPN to watch F1 races without any interruptions.
What else can I use a VPN for?
Besides helping you watch F1 from Germany, these premium VPNs access region-locked sports sites like DAZN, ESPN, and Sky Sports and let you browse securely. You’ll also be able to bypass proxy errors and access Netflix libraries and other streaming sites like Hulu that use advanced anti-VPN technology. The most reliable and fast VPNs will help you bypass internet restrictions in countries like China and allow you to connect anonymously to P2P networks and torrent files safely. They’ll do all this and more while also keeping you safe from hackers and malware.
Can I Use Free VPNs to Watch F1 races?
It can be tempting to use a free VPN to unblock streaming sites that show F1 races, but I don’t recommend it. In addition to low streaming quality, bandwidth caps, and throttled speeds, free VPNs don’t typically have servers in Austria and the US. And even if they do, most can’t get past the VPN filters on Sling TV and ServusTV. To make money, free VPNs will interrupt your race with ads, and some will collect your data (that you’re trying to keep safe) and sell it to advertisers. The worst free providers may even put malware onto your devices to spy on you or steal your logins. There’s no reason to risk your safety and privacy with a “free” provider. Eventually, most people realize free VPNs aren’t worth it. All the premium VPNs listed here come with great deals that can save you a lot of money. But you’ll still get unlimited bandwidth and speedy servers that even the best free VPNs can’t match, instantly unblocking Sling TV and ServusTV for lag-free F1 streaming. Watch F1 races lag-free with ExpressVPN
Start Watching F1 Online From Anywhere Today!
You can watch this year’s F1 races if you’re in Germany, but you’ll need to use a quality VPN. I had to test dozens of providers before I found solid VPNs with fast speeds for lag-free racing and servers in Austria and the US that unblock ServusTV and Sling TV. With these VPNs on my list, you can connect to a server and start watching the F1 action in no time! Supercharged speeds make ExpressVPN an excellent pick for watching F1 racing from Germany. I didn’t get even a millisecond of buffering, and my races always played in high quality — even when I streamed on multiple devices simultaneously. If you want to see how fast it is for yourself, you can try ExpressVPN to watch the F1 races totally risk-free. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you’re not impressed. Stream F1 with ExpressVPN now!
