The F1 is finally back and firing on all cylinders, the Dutch GP featured another Verstappen win (surprise, surprise) and now, all eyes are set on Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian GP. Fans will know the Temple of Speed has some serious history behind it, last year marked the prestigious 100-year anniversary since the track’s debut. Ferrari is pretty comfortable with their 20 Monza wins with only McLaren in the rear-view mirror boasting a hardly threatening 11 victories.
There is cause for excitement though, especially if you’re a UK fan. Lewis Hamilton has the opportunity to take the top spot for the most Italian GP wins at Monza. Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumaker at five victories, and with Schumaker comfortably in retirement, Lewis has a real opening. Of course, this would mark Hamilton’s first win for the 2023 season, and it wouldn’t be a bad one to make it.
Speaking of UK viewers, there’s a way you can enjoy the Italian GP totally free of charge, and you can do this from anywhere in the world.
How to watch the Italian GP for free
You just can’t pass up on the chance to experience the rush of your favourite sports totally cost-free. A VPN is the key to unlocking this free sports experience.
It’s short for Virtual Private Network, and it’s an online privacy tool. It has a neat feature though where you can change your IP address to that of a different country. This means you can access region-specific content. For you F1 fans, this means you can tune into the Italian GP on a foreign broadcaster that doesn’t charge a dime.
Recommended: Express
If you want to catch the Monza race this year and use a VPN to stream it, ExpressVPN is your best shout. ExpressVPN is super-fast, secure, and it’s as reliable as Mercedes. You’ll have access to over 3000 global servers with renowned connectivity.
There’s a generous choice of payment plans with Express, and there’s even a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Excellent geo-blocking capabilities
• Fast speeds
• Reliable, stable connections
• Free trial
• Money back guarantee
The best VPN for streaming
go.expressvpn.com
Where to watch the Italian GP for free
With your new VPN primed and ready, you’ll need to know exactly where to watch the race. We’ve found two streaming sites which will broadcast the Italian GP (and every other F1 race), free of charge. One of these services is based in Austria, the other is based in the US.
Once you’ve set your VPN to Austria in order to access ORF, all you have to do is sign up for a free account and you’re set. When the race starts, you may have to pull up English commentary on the side.
When using DIRECTTV, you’ll need to set your VPN to a US-based server. On the site, you’ll need to pick a package and then sign up or a five-day free trial. Just don’t forget to cancel it once the Italian GP is over and done with.
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ORF (Austria)
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DIRECTTV (US)
The best VPNs for watching Italian GP for free
There are few providers that can match ExpressVPN when it comes to accessing regionally blocked content and streaming so proficiently. We do understand though, that some viewers might have different Virtual Private Network preferences. This is why we’ve found some other premium providers that still have a good chance of unblocking these sites.
• NordVPN from £3.69 p/m: View offer on NordVPN
• Surfshark from £1.97 p/m: View offer on Surfshark
• CyberGhost from £1.92 p/m: View offer on CyberGhost
• Private Internet Access from £1.67 p/m: View offer on PIA
Paying to watch the Italian GP
If you’d prefer to watch the race through a UK media source, we’ve got you sorted too. The best way of doing this is via Sky Sports which you can get the best package through NOW TV. The popular streaming service offers a 24-hour subscription deal for just £11.98. Just like a pay-per-view event, you’ll be able to tune into the F1 in Italy with a daily subscription, no strings attached.
A UK source for streaming the Monaco GP
www.nowtv.com
What is a VPN?
VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool that encrypts your internet connection between device and network. It’s primarily a security safeguard, but it also allows users to change the location of their IP address to access regional content.
Can I use any VPN to watch the Italian GP for free?
Put ExpressVPN up against any of the competition, and it takes the victory every time. Not all VPNs will be able unblock these sites either. If you choose a different provider, there’s no real way of knowing if it will unblock the streaming sites until you give it a go. ExpressVPN is your best chance of avoiding the inconvenience of any trial-and-error process.
Is watching the Italian GP with a VPN legal?
Yes, using a VPN to access geo-blocked content like the F1 is completely legal. You aren’t breaking any laws by changing your IP address. The only time you’d be committing a crime is if you were using your VPN to get onto illegal websites and access banned content.
Jack Barrell is the Commercial Content Writer for VPNs. He's hands-on when it comes to producing best-of articles, how-to guides, and product reviews for Virtual Private Networks. On his off-days, Jack can be found in the gym, at the movies, or flicking through a car mag.