Sky Sports F1: Subscription, prices and options
Dan Howdle • August 29th, 2024
For fans of high end motor racing, there is nothing better on TV than Sky Sports F1. The channel is only accessible as part of Sky Sports, a pack of 11 channels showing the best of both UK and international sport.
Covering every race of the Formula 1 season, Sky Sports F1 also offers practice and qualifying races, race highlights and interviews with the stars of the track. This guide looks at the best ways to get Sky Sports F1, including the cheapest options, and what else the channel has to offer.
What is Sky Sports F1?
Sky Sports Formula 1 is part of the Sky Sports package, a subscription TV add-on comprised of 11 sports channels that can only be watched on BT, Sky, Virgin Media or NOW TV.
As well as watching it on a big screen, the Sky Sports app means customers can also enjoy all the thrills of the Grand Prix races on a smartphone, games console or tablet. Customers wanting to watch on a desktop PC or Apple computer will need to download the Sky Sports desktop player and log in.
As well as meaning you can watch F1 when you are out and about, the Sky Sports app also comes with the Race Control feature, specially designed for F1 fans. With the main race showing on your TV, you can have the Race Control app as a second screen and choose to enjoy the driver’s view with the onboard camera, the pit lane channel or just keep an eye on the times with a live stream of the race data.
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What to watch on Sky Sports F1
Sky Sports F1 is the only place on TV to watch every race live from around the world, from Azerbaijan to Abu Dhabi, during the March to November season. Prior to each race, fans can also watch every practice race and qualifier, giving plenty of opportunity to build excitement in anticipation of the Grand Prix itself.
However, with Formula 1 being an annual sporting event that occurs only every two weeks even during the season, you may be wondering what else there is to watch apart from the races themselves, and what else you will get for your money.
Indycar Series
Fans of motor-racing will appreciate the live coverage of the annual Indycar series that is also shown on Sky Sports F1. Running from February to September, the largely US-based race series is shown exclusively on Sky Sports F1. Watch live races as well as highlights of the 17 races held in locations across the USA and Canada. At the time of writing, Sky Sports has the rights to show Indycar up to 2024.
The Home of Formula One
Remind yourself of the best stories and features from the previous year’s races in this annual retrospective, presented by Sky F1 team, including Martin Brundle, Damon Hill and Natalie Pinkham.
Interviews and specials
Special features on some of the biggest names, such as Kimi Raikkonen, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamiton, offer fascinating insights into their previous achievements, revealing their thoughts and attitudes towards certain memorable races alongside a look ahead at the future. Other shows are devoted to F1 newcomers such as George Russell, the new Mercedes driver, and to the rivalries between the biggest teams.
There are also occasional shows dedicated to NASCAR, such as Daniel Ricciardo’s NASCAR run around the Circuit of the Americas, as well as lighthearted shows such as Lando’s Insta, and Golf with Carlos and Lando, where big names chat about F1 in a different sporting setting.
Legends of F1
This series is dedicated to the huge names of F1, past and present, with episodes dedicated to the lives and achievements of F1 legends, including Murray Walker, Sir Stirling Moss, Nigel Mansell and Sir Jackie Stewart, amongst others.
Ferrari Challenge Series
Established in 1993 for Ferrari owners who want to race their cars, the Ferrari Challenge series offers motor racing with a twist across three continents. The Ferrari Challenge UK takes place at five top UK tracks: Oulton Park, Snetterton, Donington, Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
How to get Sky Sports F1
Sky Sports F1 is not only available to Sky TV customers; you can also get Sky Sports with other major TV providers and via most streaming services.
Sky TV
If you are an existing Sky TV customer, you can choose to bolt on the Sky Sports pack, (complete with Sky Sports F1) to your existing bundle. If you are not yet with Sky, it does work out cheaper to take Sky Sports in a bundle with Sky TV from the word go, rather than adding it as a bolt-on. The contract lasts for 18 months.
If you sign up to Sky Sports F1 with Sky, you will also automatically be able to use both the Sky Sports app and the Sky Go app, so you need never miss a race, even when you’re away from home.
BT TV
BT TV customers can choose to add Sky Sport as a bolt-on in the form of NOW TV Sports, on a rolling monthly contract, which, if you only want to watch Sky Sports F1 during the season, is handy, as you can watch all the Grand Prix races and then cancel for the winter. A cheaper option is to sign up for BT’s Big Sport package, which comes with BT Sport as well as Sky Sports.
Virgin Media TV
Virgin Media offers ready-made bundles on an 18-month contract, such as the Bigger Bundle + Sports, which comes with both Sky Sports and BT Sports. Alternatively you can bolt Sky Sports onto a bundle separately. Unlike BT, however, you cannot get Sky Sports with Virgin Media on a rolling monthly contract; you have to commit for 18 months. If you want to watch F1 in glorious HD, you will have to pay an extra £7 per month for the pleasure.
NOW TV
NOW TV offers some very flexible solutions when it comes to watching Sky Sports F1. Customers can choose to buy the Sky Sports membership as a monthly rolling package or as a day package, so if you only want to watch a handful of Grand Prix races, you can just sign up for the day. Note that if you want to watch in HD, it will cost you extra; you need to sign up for the NOW TV Boost.
There are a number of ways to watch Sky Sports on NOW TV. If you have a smart TV or a streaming stick such as a Roku, you can just download the app and sign up online. You can also watch on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
What’s the cheapest way to get Sky Sports F1?
The Sky Sports pack isn’t cheap, but you do get a lot for your money. However, if you’re not really interested in any other sports than Formula 1, your best option is probably to sign up for specific races via a NOW TV Sports day membership, which costs £14.99.
However, if you think you’re likely to want to watch every race and qualifier and also enjoy all the other shows on Sky Sports F1 throughout the season, then it will undoubtedly work out cheaper to sign up to a longer contract. The cheapest way to do this is with Sky TV on an 18-month contract.
