WaveF1 Streaming UK 2026: Where to Watch on Sky, NOW & Channel 4
Formula 1 is one of the most-watched sports in the UK, but working out where to watch it isn't always simple. Live coverage, free highlights, day passes and F1's own app all work differently. This guide explains every legal way to watch F1 in the UK in 2026: what Sky and NOW cost, what's free on Channel 4, why F1 TV Pro isn't sold here, and the cheapest way to watch the rest of the season.
Quick answer: how to watch F1 in the UK
- Every session live: Sky Sports F1, through Sky TV or NOW with no contract.
- Cheapest live option: a NOW Sports Day Membership at £14.99 for 24 hours.
- Free: Channel 4 highlights of every qualifying, sprint and race in 2026, plus the British Grand Prix live.
- F1 TV Pro isn't available in the UK; F1 TV Access offers live timing and replays only.
Who shows F1 in the UK?
Sky Sports has exclusive live rights to F1 in the UK, and in May 2026 it extended that deal to the end of the 2034 season. Channel 4 shows free highlights under an arrangement with Sky that runs until the end of 2026. The extension announcement says free-to-air highlights and the live British Grand Prix will continue to be available, but it hasn't confirmed which channel will show them from 2027.
| Service | What you get | Live races? | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports F1 (Sky TV) | Every practice, qualifying, sprint and race; F2, F3, F1 Academy, Porsche Supercup | Yes, all | Usually 24 months |
| NOW (Sky Sports membership) | The same Sky Sports F1 channel in an app | Yes, all | Day pass, monthly or Saver |
| Channel 4 | Highlights of every qualifying, sprint and race (2026); British GP live | British GP only | Free (TV licence) |
| F1 TV Access | Live timing, replays, archive | No | Monthly or annual |
| F1 TV Pro | Live races in other countries | Not sold in the UK | – |
What it costs to watch F1 live
Live F1 in the UK costs from £14.99 for a single race day on NOW to around £20–35 a month for the full season.
| Option | Price | Commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Sports Day Membership | £14.99 for 24 hours | None | Watching a few races |
| NOW Sports Saver | around £27.99/month, then £34.99 | Minimum term (6 months in recent offers) | The whole season, no Sky box |
| NOW Sports Flexible | £34.99/month | Rolling monthly | A few months only |
| Sky Sports add-on | around £20/month | 24 months, for existing Sky TV customers | Sky customers watching every year |
| Channel 4 | Free | TV licence | Highlights and the British GP |
NOW streams in HD with a Boost add-on; without it, picture quality is lower and on-demand has adverts. Prices and offers change often, so check NOW and Sky before you subscribe. All prices above are from October 2026.
Not sure which option is cheapest for you?
Tell us how many races you want to watch and whether you already have Sky, and we'll work out the cheapest legal way.
Cheapest way to watch the rest of the 2026 season
Six grands prix are left after mid-October, from Austin on 25 October to Abu Dhabi on 6 December. Here's how the main options compare for watching all six live:
| Grand prix | Weekend | UK race time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| United States (Austin) | 23–25 October | Sunday evening |
| Mexico City | 30 October – 1 November | Sunday evening |
| São Paulo | 6–8 November | Sunday afternoon/evening |
| Las Vegas | 19–21 November | Early Sunday morning |
| Qatar | 27–29 November | Sunday afternoon/evening |
| Abu Dhabi | 4–6 December | Sunday afternoon |
Exact session times are on Sky Sports and the official F1 website. UK clocks go back on 25 October, so double-check the Austin start time.
Free F1 in the UK: Channel 4
Channel 4 is the only free-to-air home of F1 in the UK in 2026: highlights of every qualifying session, sprint and race, plus the British Grand Prix live. Highlights air the same day, usually a few hours after the session, on Channel 4 and in the Channel 4 app on smart TVs, Fire TV, Roku, consoles and phones. You need a TV licence to watch Channel 4 live or on demand.
From 2027, Sky's new deal says free-to-air highlights and the live British GP will continue, but no broadcaster has been confirmed yet. We'll update this page when it is.
F1 TV in the UK: Access vs Pro
F1 TV Pro, which shows live races in many countries, isn't sold in the UK because Sky holds the exclusive live rights. UK fans can subscribe to F1 TV Access, which includes live timing data, race replays after the event, highlights and the archive. It's a popular second screen: race on Sky or NOW on the TV, live timing and driver data on your phone or laptop. One source lists Access at around £2.29 a month or £19.99 a year, but check the price on the official F1 TV site, as it changes.
F2, F3, F1 Academy and watching in a pub
Sky's F1 deal also covers the support series, so the same Sky Sports or NOW subscription shows Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and the Porsche Supercup. These races run on most grand prix weekends, usually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning before the main event, and they're a good way to follow the next generation of drivers.
If you want to watch races in a pub, club or other business, a home Sky or NOW subscription doesn't cover it: commercial premises need a Sky Business licence. Showing Sky Sports in a pub with a domestic subscription can lead to legal action, so if you're organising a public screening, check that the venue is licensed.
How to start watching: step by step
- Decide how much you want to watch: highlights only (Channel 4, free), a few races (NOW day passes) or the whole season (NOW Saver or Sky).
- Without Sky: sign up to NOW and choose a Sports membership. No dish or engineer needed.
- With Sky TV: add Sky Sports in your Sky account or by phone; check the contract length first.
- Install the app on your smart TV, Fire TV Stick, Roku, Apple TV, console or phone.
- Add F1 TV Access if you want live timing and onboard data on a second screen.
NOW and Sky Go recommend a stable connection of a few Mbps for SD and more for HD. If the stream buffers, connect your TV by Ethernet or move the router closer. More devices and apps are covered in our guides live TV on Roku and where to watch every sport in the UK.
What about cheap "F1 streams" and IPTV boxes? Services that sell Sky Sports F1 alongside thousands of other channels for a few pounds a month don't have the rights to show them. In the UK, selling access to these streams is a criminal offence, and people have been sent to prison for it. Viewers face risks too, from fraud and malware to warning letters after police operations. Read more in Is IPTV legal in the UK?
Want to save on Sky? Our Sky Sports alternatives guide compares every legal option.
Frequently asked questions
How can I watch F1 in the UK?
Live on Sky Sports F1, through Sky TV or NOW (from £14.99 for 24 hours). Free highlights of every session and the live British GP are on Channel 4 in 2026.
Can I watch F1 for free in the UK?
Partly: Channel 4 highlights of every qualifying, sprint and race, and the British Grand Prix live. You need a TV licence.
Is F1 TV Pro available in the UK?
No. UK fans can get F1 TV Access, with live timing and replays but no live video.
What is the cheapest way to watch F1 live in the UK?
A NOW Sports Day Membership (£14.99) for a few races; NOW Sports Saver or the Sky Sports add-on for a full season.
Who has the F1 rights in the UK?
Sky Sports, exclusively live until the end of 2034 after a May 2026 extension. Channel 4's highlights deal runs until the end of 2026.
Can I watch F1 without Sky?
Yes, without a Sky contract or dish through NOW, which streams the same Sky Sports F1 channel. Free options are Channel 4 highlights and the British GP live.
Sources and how we checked
Rights, prices and schedules checked in October 2026 against official announcements, provider websites and specialist media. Where sources disagreed, we used the most recent official information and say so. We don't receive commission from Sky, NOW or Channel 4.
- Sky F1 extension to 2034 and Channel 4 status: Cordbusters
- Sky and Channel 4 highlights deal through 2026: Sportcal; earlier Sky extension to 2029: Motorsport.com
- Viewing guide: Silverstone, MoneySuperMarket
- NOW Sports memberships: NOW
- F1 TV: f1tv.formula1.com
Questions about watching F1?
Message us and we'll help you find the cheapest legal way to watch the rest of the season.
Related guides
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