The Formula 1 season 2021 brings with it quite a few changes. It is the same with the transmission. Nevertheless, selected races will also be shown on free TV this year. In this article, you will learn how to watch the season on free-to-air television.
Formula 1: kick-off, changes in the racing calendar
With the race on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakir this Sunday (March 28th) the Formula 1 starts the new season.
The Grand Prix in Australia, which was actually planned for the start, had to be postponed due to the corona. In the Albert Park Circuit (Melbourne) the cars will not be on the road until November.
Other changes in the racing calendar: The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola and the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao replace the canceled races in China and Vietnam. The coronavirus pandemic was also the reason for this.
The season will end with the GP in Abu Dhabi on December 12th. There are a total of 23 dates in the racing calendar.
Formula 1 on free TV: This is how you can see the 2021 season on TV and live stream for free
Last year, RTL said goodbye to Formula 1. After 30 years as a broadcasting station, it was not possible to agree on a continuation of the cooperation with Formula 1.
The exclusive partnership expired. Nevertheless, the German fans can be happy. Also in the 2021 season races will be seen live on TV in Germany – and that too for free!
Formula 1: See the 2021 season on free TV on RTL
Through an agreement with Sky , RTL shows four GPs live and exclusively on free TV. However, RTL does not have the start in Bahrain in its program. The private broadcaster has decided on these four races:
- April 18th: Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna in Imola
- May 9th: Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona
- September 12th: Italian Grand Prix in Monza
- November 7th: Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo
Formula 1: Watch the 2021 season on Pay TV on Sky
As already mentioned, Sky holds the transmission rights for all 23 races this year. The broadcaster even launched its own channel with Sky Sport F1 for this purpose. This is included in the Sky Sport package, which costs 17.50 euros per month.
So you can watch all races live and in full on pay TV. Of course, all other sessions, whether free training or qualifying, can also be seen on the pay TV broadcaster.
As usual, Sk y offers live streams of the broadcasts.
Formula 1: See the 2021 season on free TV on ServusTV and on ORF
Two Austrian broadcasters offer another option for following the broadcast: ORF and ServusTV . German households can receive these via satellite and usually even via a cable connection.
Both channels have reached an equal agreement and will each show twelve races of the Formula 1 season live on free TV. There is an overlap with the Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, where both channels will show live content.
Formula 1: See the 2021 season in the livestream on ServusTV
In addition, both channels also offer a live stream. However, the live stream on ORF is not available for German viewers, as the content is only activated for Austrian IP addresses. You would therefore have to connect to an Austrian VPN via a VPN.
On the other hand, it is possible to access the live stream on ServusTV without any restrictions . You can reach this via the station’s website. This way to the live stream of the live program from ServusTV.
Formula 1: Follow the 2021 season in the live ticker at SPOX
You cannot access any of the different transmission channels, but you still don’t want to miss an important overtaking maneuver, a crucial pit stop or a crash in Formula 1? Then we recommend our live ticker to you.
We are ticking all sessions for the coming season. From the free practice sessions to qualifying and the race, you stay up-to-date with us in real time over the entire race weekend.
You can find the respective live ticker in our live ticker overview.
Formula 1 – Bahrain GP: The starting grid
At today’s season opener in Bahrain, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton form the front row. Behind the reigning world champion is his teammate Valtteri Bottas.
The Germans, on the other hand, start the race from further back. Sebastian Vettel had bad luck in Q1 when he had to stop his fast lap due to yellow flags. In addition, the four-time world champion was too fast, so he started the race from 20th place. Mick Schumacher starts his F1 career from position 18 and thus ahead of Nikita Mazepin.
| Rang | Fahrer | Team |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 3 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 5 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri |
| 6 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren |
| 7 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 8 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine F1 Team |
| 10 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 12 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri |
| 14 | Kimi Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo |
| 15 | George Russell | Williams |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine F1 Team |
| 17 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams |
| 18 | Mick Schumacher | Haas F1 |
| 19 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas F1 |
| 20 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin |
Formula 1 season 2021: the racing calendar at a glance
| date | Time (CET) | Grand Prix | route |
| March 28 | 5 p.m. | Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit (Sakir) |
| 18. April | 15 Uhr | Emilia Romagna | Autodrome Enzo and Dino Ferrari (Imola) |
| 2. May | 16 Uhr | Portugal | Algarve International Autodrome (Portimao) |
| May 9 | 15 o’clock | Spain | Circuit de Bracelona-Catalunya (Barcelona) |
| 23. May | 15 Uhr | monaco | Monaco Circuit (Monte-Carlo) |
| June 6 | 14 o’clock | Azerbaijan | Baku City Circuit (Baku) |
| June 13 | 8 p.m. | Canada | Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve (Montreal) |
| June 27 | 15 o’clock | France | Paul Ricard Circuit (Le Castellet) |
| July 4th | 3pm | Austria | Red Bull Ring (Spielberg) |
| July 18th | 4 p.m. | Great Britain | Silverstone Circuit (Silverstone) |
| August 1st | 3pm | Hungary | Hungaroring (Budapest) |
| August 29 | 15 o’clock | Belgium | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Spa) |
| 5th September | 3pm | Netherlands | Circuit Park Zandvoort (Zandvoort) |
| 12. September | 15 Uhr | Italien | Monza National Circuit (Monza) |
| September 26th | 14 o’clock | Russia | Sochi Autodrome (Sochi) |
| October 3 | 14 o’clock | Singapore | Marina Bay Street Circuit (Singapore) |
| October 10th | 7 o’clock | Japan | Suzuka Inernational Racing Course (Suzuka) |
| October 24th | 21 o’clock | USA | Circuit of The Americans (Austin) |
| October 31 | 8 p.m. | Mexico | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City) |
| November 7th | 6 p.m. | Brazil | Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Sao Paulo) |
| November 21st | 7 p.m. | Australia | Albert Park Circuit (Melbourne) |
| December 5th | 17 o’clock | Saudi Arabia | Jeddah Street Circuit (Jeddah) |
| 12th of December | 14 o’clock | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi) |





