Formula 1 is one of the most watched competitions in the world, and every race weekend many people look for a way to watch the race on their cell phones for free. The honest answer is that you can follow a good part of the season for free and legally, but not everything is free: the complete live broadcast, on demand and independent of the TV schedule, is paid content.
In this article, we list the apps that actually deliver something for free to those in Brazil, explaining what you get for free and what's not included in each one. Finally, we explain why it's not worth installing those "hundreds of live channels" apps that circulate outside the Play Store—they're the quickest way to get into trouble.
Where to watch Formula 1 for free in Brazil
Formula 1 broadcasting rights change from season to season and from country to country. Therefore, before each race, it's worth checking the broadcaster's schedule and time: many races take place in the early hours of the morning, Brasília time. The list below starts with what is free and ends with what is paid, with the cost stated.
1. Globoplay: o sinal da TV aberta no celular
The simplest and truly free way to watch a race in Brazil remains free-to-air TV. Since the 2026 season, Formula 1 has been broadcast by... Globe, which brings part of the calendar to free-to-air TV — 15 out of 24 stages — and makes the same live signal available on Globoplay, without charging a subscription fee when the race is being broadcast on free-to-air television.
Not every race is broadcast on free-to-air TV: races in North America and those that clash with the Brazilian Championship are left out of the schedule. Therefore, it's worth checking the programming before each race weekend—and remembering that many races take place in the early hours of the morning, Brasília time.
The stages that won't be broadcast on free-to-air TV, the free practice sessions, qualifying, and sprint races, will be on... SporTV and on Globoplay with a channel package, which is paid.
2. Canal oficial da Fórmula 1 no YouTube
Formula 1 itself maintains a YouTube channel that publishes race highlights, interviews, radio excerpts between drivers and teams, and onboard camera footage. All of this is free and requires no registration. It's the best option for those who missed the race and want to see a summary of what happened in just a few minutes.
What the channel doesn't do is broadcast the entire race live — the videos appear later, already edited. It's also worth remembering that not all videos are available in all countries, so some content may not play in Brazil.
3. Red Bull TV
O Red Bull TV It's free and includes documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and live broadcasts of extreme sports. For motorsports fans, it offers material about the team, the drivers, and the behind-the-scenes aspects of race weekends.
One point that often gets misrepresented in other lists: Red Bull TV. does not broadcast Formula 1 races. It serves as a complement, not a replacement for the transmission. If you install it expecting to see the start signal there, you'll be disappointed.
4. Aplicativo oficial da Fórmula 1
The official app for the category can be downloaded for free and, even without paying anything, delivers quite a lot: season calendar, practice and race results, drivers' and constructors' standings, news, and session start alerts. It's the perfect companion for those who will be watching the race on TV and want the data at their fingertips.
The live video features within the app, however, depend on an F1 TV subscription. The free part is informational: you follow the race progress in text and numbers, not in images.
The paid option: F1 TV
O F1 TV It's Formula 1's own streaming service and it operates in Brazil. It is... paid, It is offered through a monthly or annual subscription and broadcasts all sessions live, independent of broadcast television schedules, including free practice sessions, qualifying, and features such as onboard cameras and team radio.
The plans and what each one unlocks change over time, so check the prices and conditions on the service's official page before subscribing. There is no permanent free version: when a promotional period appears, it is temporary and billing begins afterward.
Why avoid "live channel" apps outside of app stores?
In searches for free Formula 1, it's common to find lists indicating aggregator apps that promise hundreds of TV channels and ask you to install a file downloaded from a website outside the Play Store. The most well-known case, Mobdro, ended with those responsible being prosecuted and the service's infrastructure being shut down in a police operation in Europe. This is no small detail: these apps retransmit TV signals without authorization, which is piracy.
Beyond the legal issue, there's the practical risk. A file downloaded outside of the official app store doesn't undergo any security checks, and that's exactly how apps with invasive advertising, hidden charges, or data theft from your phone get in. Add to that the fact that these services disappear without warning. The simple rule that avoids all these problems: install apps only from your device's official app store.
What can you do on your phone while running?
Even without subscribing, your cell phone is a great help during a Grand Prix weekend. The official app shows the finishing order, pit stops, and the time difference between drivers as the race unfolds, which works well as a second screen for those watching on TV. After the checkered flag, video summaries are available for free on official channels.
It's important to remember data consumption: watching a live stream in high definition on your mobile phone uses a significant amount of your data plan. If possible, use a Wi-Fi network. Following only the times and standings, on the other hand, consumes very little data and works well even on unstable connections.
FAQ
1. Is it safe to install live streaming apps downloaded from outside of app stores?
No. Files downloaded from websites do not undergo security checks and often contain intrusive advertising or malicious programs, as well as retransmitting signals without authorization. Install applications only from your phone's official app store.
2. Is it possible to watch the entire race for free?
When the race is on free-to-air TV, yes: either on television or through the broadcaster's free app. Outside of that situation, the complete live broadcast is paid, via F1 TV.
3. Does Red Bull TV broadcast Formula 1 races?
No. The app is free and features behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, documentaries, and live extreme sports, but it does not broadcast Formula 1 races.
4. Is the official Formula 1 app free?
The app itself is free and provides access to news, calendar, results, and standings. Live video access requires a paid F1 TV subscription.
5. Do I need a fast connection?
For high-definition live video, yes, and preferably Wi-Fi, because of data consumption. To follow times, positions, and results in text, a simple connection is sufficient.
Conclusion
You can follow Formula 1 on your mobile phone for free: the race on free-to-air TV via the broadcaster's app when it's on, the highlights on the category's official channel, behind-the-scenes footage on Red Bull TV, and all the results on the official app. What doesn't exist is a free, permanent version to watch everything live—that's F1 TV, which is paid. Knowing this difference before installing anything saves time and prevents you from falling for apps from outside the store promising what they can't deliver.
