F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream — how to watch the race live online

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, here going head to head at the US Grand Prix, will be the stars of the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream
(Image credit: Clive Mason - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton is on pole for the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream — but the question is whether he can stay ahead of his title rival Max Verstappen. 

2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream: How to watch live online

The 2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix starts at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. GMT today (Sunday, November 21).
• U.S. — Watch on ESPN via Sling or Fubo.TV
• U.K. — Watch on Sky Sports
• Watch anywhere — Try ExpressVPN 100% risk free

Hamilton put in a blistering qualifying lap to take pole position for today's race, ahead of Verstappen in second. But while the British driver will have support from his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in third, Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull could only qualify 11th fastest — which is a blow to the team's hopes of scoring a win here.

Perez was one of several drivers who struggled with this new (to F1 at least) circuit, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (13th) and McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo (14th) also failing to make the top 10. But Hamilton seemed to take it all in his stride, finishing a 0.4secs ahead of Verstappen and raising his hopes of closing the 14-point gap in the title race.

Off the track, the tension between Red Bull and Mercedes ramped up another notch, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner effectively claiming that Mercedes had found a way to make their car's rear wing flex illegally on the straights to give them a speed boost. Mercedes — obviously — disagreed. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Verstappen argued over whether you should be able to overtake on the outside or not, a reaction to what happened last time out in Brazil. 

It's all getting very tetchy between the teams and drivers, which means we could well see some exciting action on the track. Find out how you can watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream below. 

How to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream for free

Most countries have an F1 live stream on one channel or another, but many of them require a subscription. However, if you're lucky enough to live in Austria or Luxembourg then you can watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream for free.

That's because the race will be shown on free-to-air television on Red Bull's own ServusTV in Austria and RTL Zwee in Luxembourg.

If you're based in Austria or Luxembourg but aren't at home for the Qatar Grand Prix, don't worry — you can watch it via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.

How to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream from anywhere in the world

It's natural that you might want to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream from your home country, but what if you're not there when the race is on?

Look no further than a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN makes it look as if you're surfing the web from your home country, rather than the one you're in. That means you can access the streaming services you already pay for, from anywhere on Earth. Or anywhere that has an internet connection, at least.

For instance, a Brit who's currently in the U.S. could watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream on Sky Sports, even though they're not in the U.K. 

They're totally legal, inexpensive and easy to use. We've tested lots of the best VPN services and our favorite right now is ExpressVPN. It's fast, works on loads of devices and even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

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Safety, speed and simplicity combine to make ExpressVPN our favorite VPN service. It's also compatible with loads of devices and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try it out.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, ExpressVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to Sky Sports or another website and watch the race.

How to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream in the US

US flag

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As with all F1 races this season, the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream will be shown on ESPN2. There are several ways you can access it — and two of them are among our picks for the best streaming services.

As well as being available through your cable service across the weekend, you can also stream the race via the ESPN app, or on the Watch section of ESPN's website. However, you'll need to authenticate with your satellite, cable or live TV provider credentials to watch any sessions. Also note that Formula 1 is not available on ESPN Plus, ESPN's standalone streaming service; you need access to live ESPN channels.

If you don't want to pay for live ESPN in some fashion or another, your best alternative is F1 TV Pro. This is F1's own official F1 live stream service, and as with ESPN's own coverage, it uses the feed from Sky Sports F1. 

F1 TV Pro costs $10 per month or $80 for the season, which is much better value considering there are set to be 23 races this year. Plus you also get Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Supercup races, and F1's archive of classic Grands Prix.

And remember, if you're usually based in the U.S. but aren't there at the moment, you can still watch the services you already subscribe to via a VPN such as ExpressVPN — meaning you can view an F1 live stream from anywhere in the world. 

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If you're not already a Sling TV subscriber, you'll want Sling Orange in order to watch ESPN. This costs $35/month and includes dozens of other great channels. 

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Love sports? Then check out Fubo.TV. It's got a 7-day free trial so you don't need to pay up front. The channel lineup includes ESPN2, plus other top networks including Bravo, FX and MTV.

How to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream in the UK

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As usual, Sky Sports F1 will show all of the Qatar Grand Prix action, and in up to 4K resolution. The race starts at 2 p.m. GMT on Sunday.

You'll need to be a Sky Sports subscriber to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream: the Sky Sports F1 channel is available for £18 per month, and there are packages available that give you lots more channels for only a bit extra. 

To follow it in ultra high-definition 4K, you'll need to pay a little more: you'll need a Sky Q set-top box and a package that includes both Ultra HD and Sky Sports F1. In total, that'd come to £45 a month, plus a £20 one-off payment if you're not an existing subscriber.

A far cheaper option is to buy a Now Sports Pass. This will give you all 11 of the Sky Sports channels for a limited time, with pricing starting at £9.99 for a Day Pass and £33.99 for one month. There's no 4K available here though.

Again, if you're usually based in the U.K. but are elsewhere at the moment, you can still watch the services you subscribe to by using one of the best VPN services.

How to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream in Canada

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)

TSN airs all Formula 1 races in Canada in English, while RDS has coverage in French. F1 TV Pro also remains an option for fans looking for an F1 live stream. 

All sessions are broadcast on TSN, and if you receive the network through your cable or satellite provider, you can use TSN Go by signing in with your TV service credentials. Cord-cutters will want to check out TSN Direct, which comes in day- and month-long passes for $8 or $20 CAD, respectively. The TSN app will allow you to live stream the race from your phone, streaming box or supported device.

Not actually in Canada at the moment? ExpressVPN and other VPN services can help you access the services you already subscribe to.

How to watch the F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream in Australia

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Fox Sports has the rights to the F1 live streams in Australia, which means you can watch the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix online via Foxtel

Kayo Sports is another option. This service offers new subscribers a 14-day free trial, while one-month subscriptions start at $25. 

You can also use one of the best VPN services to follow the action from your home country even when you're elsewhere.

F1 Qatar Grand Prix live stream: Practice, qualifying and race weekend schedule

Max Verstappen of Red Bull

(Image credit: Red Bull / Getty)

The Qatar Grand Prix weekend started on Friday (Nov. 19) with practice 1 and 2. Third practice and qualifying were on Saturday, and the race is today (Sunday, Nov. 21).

Friday, November 19

  • Practice 1: 5.30 a.m. – 6.30 a.m. ET (2.30 a.m. – 3.30 a.m PT / 10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. GMT)
  • Practice 2: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET (6 a.m. – 7 a.m PT / 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. GMT)

Saturday, November 20

  • Practice 3: 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. ET (3 a.m. – 4 a.m PT / 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. GMT)
  • Qualifying: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET (6 a.m. – 7 a.m PT / 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. GMT)

Sunday, November 14

Race: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET (6 a.m. – 8 a.m PT / 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. GMT)

F1 Qatar Grand Prix — starting grid

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Rank

Driver

Team

1

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

2

Max Verstappen

Red Bull

3

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

4

Pierre Gasly

AlphaTauri

5

Fernando Alonso

Alpine

6

Lando Norris

McLaren

7

Carlos Sainz

Ferrari

8

Yuki Tsunoda

AlphaTauri

9

Esteban Ocon

Alpine

10

Sebastian Vettel

Aston Martin

11

Sergio Perez

Red Bull

12

Lance Stroll

Aston Martin

13

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

14

Daniel Ricciardo

McLaren

15

George Russell

Williams

16

Kimi Raikkonen

Alfa Romeo

17

Nicholas Latifi

Williams

18

Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo

19

Mick Schumacher

Haas

20

Nikita Mazepin

Haas

F1 Qatar Grand Prix — current driver standings

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POS

DRIVER

NATIONALITY

CAR

PTS

1Max VerstappenNEDRED BULL RACING HONDA332.5
2Lewis HamiltonGBRMERCEDES318.5
3Valtteri BottasFINMERCEDES203
4Sergio PerezMEXRED BULL RACING HONDA178
5Lando NorrisGBRMCLAREN MERCEDES151
6Charles LeclercMONFERRARI148
7Carlos SainzESPFERRARI139.5
8Daniel RicciardoAUSMCLAREN MERCEDES105
9Pierre GaslyFRAALPHATAURI HONDA92
10Fernando AlonsoESPALPINE RENAULT62
11Esteban OconFRAALPINE RENAULT50
12Sebastian Vettel

GER

ASTON MARTIN MERCEDES

42
13Lance StrollCANASTON MARTIN MERCEDES26
14Yuki TsunodaJPNALPHATAURI HONDA20
15George RussellGBRWILLIAMS MERCEDES16
16Kimi RaikkonenFINALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI10
17Nicholas LatifiCANWILLIAMS MERCEDES7
18Antonio GiovinazziITAALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI1
19Mick SchumacherGERHAAS FERRARI

0

20Nikita MazepinRAFHAAS FERRARI0
21Robert KubicaPOLALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI0

F1 2021 car and driver line-ups

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Team

Driver 1

Driver 2

Alfa Romeo

Kimi Raikkonen (7)

Antonio Giovinazzi (99)

Alpha Tauri

Pierre Gasly (10)

Yuki Tsunoda (22)

Alpine

Fernando Alonso (14)

Esteban Ocon (31)

Aston Martin

Sebastian Vettel (5)

Lance Stroll (18)

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc (16)

Carlos Sainz (55)

Haas

Nikita Mazepin (9)

Mick Schumacher (47)

McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo (3)

Lando Norris (4)

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton (44)

Valtteri Bottas (77)

Red Bull

Max Verstappen (33)

Sergio Perez (11)

Williams

George Russell (63)

Nicholas Latifi (6)

Full 2021 F1 calendar

Swipe to scroll horizontally

DATE

GRAND PRIX

CIRCUIT

COUNTRY

26-28 March

Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain International Circuit

Bahrain

16-18 April

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Autodromo Imola

Italy

30 April 2 May

Portuguese Grand Prix

Portimão Circuit

Portugal

7-9 May

Spanish Grand Prix

Catalunya Circuit

Spain

20-23 May

Monaco Grand Prix

Monaco Circuit

Monte Carlo

4-6 June

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Baku street circuit

Azerbaijan

18-20 June

French Grand Prix

Circuit Paul Ricard

France

25-27 June

Styrian Grand PrixRed Bull Ring

Austria

2-4 July

Austrian Grand Prix

Red Bull Ring

Austria

16-18 July

British Grand Prix

Silverstone Circuit

Great Britain

30 July - 1 Aug

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungaroring

Hungary

27-29 Aug

Belgian Grand Prix

Spa-Francorchamps Circuit

Belgium

3-5 Sept

Dutch Grand Prix

Circuit Zandvoort

Netherlands

10-12 Sept

Italian Grand Prix

Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Italy

24-26 SeptRussian Grand PrixSochi International Street Circuit

Russia

8-10 OctTurkish Grand PrixIntercity Instanbul ParkTurkey

22-24 Oct

US Grand Prix

Circuit of The Americas

United States

5-7 OctMexico Grand Prix

Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Mexico

12-14 Nov

Brazilian Grand Prix

Autodromo Interlagos

Brazil

19-21 Nov

QatarDohaTBC
3-5 Dec

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Jeddah

Saudi Arabia

10-12 Dec

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Marina Circuit

UAE

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Marc McLaren

Formerly Editor in Chief (U.K.) on Tom’s Guide, Marc oversaw all gaming, streaming, audio, TV, entertainment, how-to and cameras coverage, and was also responsible for the site’s U.K.-focused output. He is now U.K. Editor in Chief on TechRadar. Marc previously edited the tech website Stuff and has tested and written about phones, tablets, wearables, streaming boxes, smart home devices, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, games, TVs, cameras and much more. He also spent years on a music magazine, where his duties mainly involved spoiling other people’s fun, and on a car magazine. An avid photographer, he likes nothing better than taking pictures of very small things (bugs, his daughters) or very big things (distant galaxies). When he gets time, he also enjoys gaming (console and mobile), cycling and attempting to watch as much sport as any human can. He's also fallen in love with Wordle over the past six months and is the author of our today's Wordle answer column, in which he supplies hints and strategy tips for the mega-popular word game. Given he's completed every single Wordle so far and only lost once, and analyzed every Wordle answer in search of patterns, he's well qualified to help you safeguard your streak.