Formula 1 will soon be streaming on Twitch – or at least this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix. Every session of the event this weekend will be broadcast live and for free, but only in select markets. The broadcasts will only be available in Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, but they will have some local benefits, and indicate Twitch’s increasing relevance for more traditional types of entertainment.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix stream will be co-hosted “by a select group of prominent, in-market personalities,” though the only specific example in the press release is PietSmiet, who’ll be part of the broadcast in Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. There’s also a “gaming element” that’ll let viewers compete in prediction leaderboards.
You can file this as an experiment for now, as F1 says this is a “one-race deal.” The Amazon-owned Twitch platform has already struck deals to regularly broadcast a number of other sports – including every NFL Thursday Night Football game. There’s precedent for the F1 deal to expand, but we’ll have to wait and see on the results.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Formula 1 to bring exciting motor racing content to our community in a way that’s unique, shared, and interactive,” Twitch strategic partnerships manager Farhan Ahmed says. “It’s a pleasure to work with a partner who embraces our community experience, creating something truly exciting, enhanced through co-streaming and extensions.”
Meantime, you can still watch the digital F1 action on Twitch, no matter where you are. Check out the best racing games if you’re looking to expand your options for virtual driving.