Watching the Belgian for free: how to stream F1 now

Fans watching the Belgian for free this weekend can use a 7-day Apple TV+ trial through Prime Video Channels, since F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S. New Amazon Prime users can add a 30-day trial first, then cancel Apple TV+ before renewal to avoid charges. Spa-Francorchamps hosts the 10th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and the race itself is set for 9 a.m. ET on July 19. That timing matters for U.S. and UK viewers who want the full weekend without a paid subscription. For more then-and-now sports viewing guides, browse our Nostalgia: Then & Now coverage.

Key Takeaways

• F1 U.S. coverage sits on Apple TV, so a free trial is the main no-cost path this weekend.
• Prime Video Channels offers a 7-day Apple TV+ trial that can include select F1 races.
• New Prime members may stack Amazon’s 30-day trial before activating Apple TV+.
• Apple TV direct, Apple One, and eligible Apple device purchases also unlock free trial windows.
• The Belgian GP race from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps starts at 9 a.m. ET on July 19, 2026.

How can you start watching the Belgian for free today?

According to a Mashable how-to on free F1 streaming, the practical route is a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. Open the Prime Video app, add the Apple TV channel, and start the trial before the Spa sessions you care about.

Formula 1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the United States, so that trial is what unlocks the live Belgian weekend for many fans. After the trial ends, the subscription is listed at £9.99 per month. Cancel the renewal before it bills if you only wanted this Grand Prix.

Already paying for Amazon Prime for shipping or deals? Access to Prime Video is what makes the Channels trial possible. Whether that still counts as “free” is a fair debate, but you are not paying an extra F1 fee for the trial window itself.

New to Amazon? Mashable notes that Prime offers a 30-day free trial for first-time users. Pair that with the Apple TV+ Channels trial and you can reach select 2026 races without an upfront payment, provided you cancel on time.

For the original step-by-step deal write-up, see Mashable’s guide on how to live stream the Belgian GP for free.

When is the Belgian GP weekend, and what should you stream?

The Belgian Grand Prix is the 10th race of the 2026 F1 season at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Mashable’s schedule lists practice windows on July 17 and July 18, qualifying from 10–11 a.m. ET on July 18, and the race at 9 a.m. ET on July 19.

Fans can follow the full race weekend without spending anything if a free trial is still available on their account. That answer-first pitch is the whole point of these seasonal streaming explainers: get you on air before lights out, not after the podium.

On track, 2026 has felt unpredictable under the new regulations. Mashable notes only four race winners from two teams so far this season—exactly the kind of concentration the rules were meant to avoid. Heading into Spa, questions linger about whether Kimi Antonelli can bounce back, whether Ferrari can build on wins at the Barcelona-Catalunya and British Grands Prix, and when Max Verstappen or the McLaren drivers will take maximum points again.

You do not need to solve those storylines before Sunday. You only need a working stream before 9 a.m. ET.

What if you already used the Prime Video Channels trial?

If you burned the Channels hack on an earlier 2026 race, Mashable recommends going direct to Apple TV. The service still advertises a seven-day free trial for new subscribers, which can cover a Spa weekend if you have not used it yet.

Apple One is another door. It bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. That is broader than race weekend alone, but the trial month can include F1 if you are eligible.

The longest free Apple TV window Mashable highlights comes with buying a new Apple device. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV free after purchasing an eligible product. You are still buying hardware, yet if an upgrade was already planned, that offer can stretch across a large chunk of the season.

Deal pricing and availability can change after publication, so confirm the trial terms in the Prime Video or Apple TV checkout flow before you rely on them.

How has watching F1 for free changed from then to now?

Not long ago, catching every Grand Prix often meant a dedicated paid sports package and a living-room schedule built around local broadcast windows. Now the same Spa Sunday can ride on layered free trials: Prime for newcomers, Apple TV+ via Channels, or Apple One for households that want more than racing.

That shift is why “watching the Belgian for free” is the question of the weekend. The Belgian GP ritual feels familiar, but the ticket to the livestream is a cancellation reminder on your phone. The nostalgia is the race weekend habit; the “now” is trial stacking and app switching.

The same free-stream mindset shows up across other global sports events this year, from World Cup explainers to weekly F1 posts. The details differ by rights holder, yet the viewer question stays constant: can I watch without a long subscription?

For Spa 2026, the sourced answer remains Apple TV in the U.S., unlocked most cleanly with a short free trial and a timely cancel. Set the alarm for 9 a.m. ET on July 19, confirm your trial status Saturday night, and you can settle in for the Belgian Grand Prix without adding another permanent line item to your bill.