The title can be decided in Mexico City this weekend, and you don’t need a paid subscription to see it. Belgium’s RTBF Auvio streams every session for free, and Apple TV gives US viewers practice for nothing, plus a trial for the rest.
Each free channel is geo-blocked outside its home country, so watching from elsewhere requires a VPN connected to a server there. NordVPN has servers in each of those countries, and its 30-day money-back guarantee lets you use it for race weekend and get a refund afterward.
Mexico City GP Start Times and Free Streams
The race starts at noon PT (3 p.m. ET) on Sunday, November 1.
| Session | Day | ET | PT | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri, Oct 30 | 2:30 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. | 12:30 |
| Practice 2 | Fri, Oct 30 | 6 p.m. | 3 p.m. | 16:00 |
| Practice 3 | Sat, Oct 31 | 1:30 p.m. | 10:30 a.m. | 11:30 |
| Qualifying | Sat, Oct 31 | 5 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 15:00 |
| Race | Sun, Nov 1 | 3 p.m. | 12 p.m. | 14:00 |
Four channels show F1 free in their home countries, and a VPN server in the same country works from abroad.
| Channel | Free coverage | VPN server |
|---|---|---|
| RTBF Auvio | Every session, in French | Belgium |
| Apple TV app | Practice, in English | US |
| M4 Sport | Every session, in Hungarian | Hungary |
| Channel 4 | Race highlights, in English | UK |
Watching Free From Anywhere on RTBF Auvio
RTBF Auvio is the simplest free option. It shows every session in full without a subscription, and it works on a laptop, phone, or Fire TV Stick. It only requires a Belgian IP address.
- Subscribe to NordVPN and install the app.
- Connect to a server in Belgium.
- Create a free RTBF Auvio account with an email address or Google account. If asked, provide a Belgian ZIP code (you can generate one online).
- Go to the Formule 1 page and choose the live session.
NordVPN costs under $4 a month on a two-year subscription, and the same account works on up to ten devices, so you can stream on the TV and keep live timing open on your phone.
Watch Mexico City GP With NordVPN
Antonelli’s Title Shot in Mexico City
Antonelli won the US Grand Prix from pole last Sunday, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. It was his ninth win of the season, and it left him 123 points clear of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton one point further back.
After Mexico, four races remain, worth 100 points. That gives Antonelli two ways to clinch it on Sunday:
- Finish in the top nine, whatever his rivals do
- Finish lower, as long as neither Russell nor Hamilton wins
At 20, he’d become F1’s youngest world champion, beating Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record. He’d also be Italy’s first champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Mexico City is an unusual place to settle a title, too.
At over 2,200 meters, the thin air cuts engine power and downforce, and the race falls on the Day of the Dead weekend, with the stadium section around the final corners full.
Watching in the US on Apple TV
Apple TV is F1’s only US broadcaster this season, so no network channel airs the race. Practice is free in the Apple TV app with an Apple Account. For qualifying and the race, start Apple’s seven-day free trial before Saturday afternoon, then cancel it within the week if you don’t want to pay about $15 a month.
The app works on iPhone, Mac, Roku, Fire TV, most smart TVs, and in a browser at tv.apple.com. Apple’s coverage is in English and includes F1 TV Premium, with onboard cameras and live timing. If you’re traveling outside the US this weekend, the app shows a region error, so connect NordVPN to a US server first.
Before Lights Out on Sunday
- Check your clock. US daylight saving ends on Sunday morning, so the race starts at noon PT and 3 p.m. ET. Mexico doesn’t change its clocks, so the local start remains 14:00.
- French commentary is easy to follow. RTBF uses F1’s official world feed, so positions, intervals, and lap times appear on screen in English.
- RTBF Auvio may require a Belgian postcode at sign-up. You can find one online in seconds.
- Connect before you start the stream. If RTBF Auvio or Apple TV loads first, close it, connect NordVPN, and reload it.
- Using a VPN is legal in the US and most of Europe. Some streaming services’ terms prohibit location changes, and the usual consequence is a blocked stream.
