How to watch the 2024 F1 preseason test in the US

F1 cars will soon be back on track with pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 21-23.

With just one week before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29th to March 2nd, preparations for the next campaign are progressing steadily.

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of news, including Lewis Hamilton’s surprise move to Ferrari for 2025, and excitement is building for the 2024 season as teams announce next year’s liveries.

This means seven-time world champions have just one season left with Mercedes looking to close the gap on Red Bull.

Red Bull enters 2024 after a truly dominant season, with 21 wins out of 22 Grands Prix in 2023, and triple world champion Max Verstappen scoring a record-breaking 19 wins.

So will pre-season testing reveal that Red Bull and Verstappen are once again a winning team and driver combination, or will there be a surprise package?

Haas F1 Team Nico Hulkenberg during testing

Photo courtesy of Haas F1 Team

When does F1 pre-season testing take place?

• date: February 21st to 23rd
• Starting time: Wednesday, February 21st 2am ET/10am local time

F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain will begin on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 2am ET and 10am local time, kicking off three days of practice.

F1’s pre-season testing begins at the same time each day, with a morning session lasting four hours, followed by lunch in Bahrain at 7am ET and 3pm local time before racing resumes.

How can I watch F1 preseason testing in the US?

U.S. viewers will only be able to watch preseason testing through F1TV, as U.S. television partner ESPN will not be broadcasting the three-day match live.

F1TV will begin coverage on Wednesday morning, but it will not be a continuous live show as there will be a lunch break each day.

F1TV is a live streaming service that can be used simultaneously on up to six separate devices, including the internet, its apps, and smart TVs.

You can also follow the action in Bahrain with live text commentary via motorsport.com.

F1TV Preseason F1 Testing Times

When can I watch F1 pre-season test highlights?

F1 pre-season testing highlights will be available to watch via the official F1 YouTube channel. Last year, approximately 5 minutes of packages were uploaded immediately after the end of each day.

F1TV Pro subscribers can also watch highlights through the streaming service.

Who tests each F1 team?

F1 teams only have one car on track during each session, so during pre-season testing, two drivers typically split the driving time, each spending 1.5 days in the car.

In 2023, for example, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz drove two morning and one afternoon sessions, while teammate Charles Leclerc did the opposite.

Other teams may choose something different. Last year, Red Bull gave Max Verstappen all of the first day and Sergio Perez all of the third, but the two split the duties on the second day.

In 2021, Roy Nissany will drive for Williams on the first day, and in 2023, Felipe Drugovich will compete from Aston Martin due to injuries sustained in Lance Stroll’s cycling accident, so a reserve driver may also participate. Opportunities like this are rare.

Official details of who will drive and when in this year’s F1 pre-season testing have yet to be revealed, so stay tuned to motorsport.com.

Parachutists carrying American flags arrive at US Grand Prix

Photo credit: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

How can I watch F1 races in the US in 2024?

ESPN owns the broadcast rights to F1 in the United States and is under contract to broadcast the series until at least 2025, after first broadcasting the championship in 2018.

ESPN broadcasts its British-produced Sky Sports coverage to American viewers through channels including networks ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, and ESPN Deportes (Spanish).

How can I stream F1 races in America in 2024?

If your cable package doesn’t include ESPN, you’ll need a subscription to watch F1 races on weekends in the United States.

F1 coverage can be streamed live through ESPN, so you can watch the series on your laptop, mobile phone, or tablet device. The exclusive streaming app ESPN+ is available for $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year for new customers.

However, widely used digital platforms such as Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV also offer ESPN coverage.

F1TV also holds the rights to broadcast the series live in the United States and several other countries outside of the United Kingdom, and the platform is available for $80 per year or $9.99 per month.

An F1TV Pro subscription gives fans the opportunity to watch each session of a Grand Prix weekend live, as well as complete race replays, live timing features, historic documentaries and more.