What channel is Formula 1 on today? TV schedule, start time for 2021 French Grand Prix

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This weekend is about the race, more than a race.

While Circuit Paul Ricard isn't the most attractive or exciting track, the most exciting race will be the one for the top of the table in the driver's championship this year.

Currently, Max Verstappen (107 points) leads Lewis Hamilton (104 points) as the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers duel for racer supremacy entering Round 7 of the 2021 F1 season.

MORE: Watch Formula 1 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

An incredibly entertaining Azerbaijan GP resulted in Verstappen crashing out (thanks to poor tires), leaving the door wide open for Hamilton to take charge. Hamilton, though, would lock up due to driver error on the restart of the race — on the last lap — leading to Sergio Perez taking control of the race and Red Bull taking hold of the constructor's title.

There's lots on the line entering the first race of a triple-header.

Here's what you need to know about this week's F1 race:

What channel is the F1 race on today?

  • Race: French Grand Prix
  • Date: Sunday, June 20
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: WatchESPN, fuboTV

The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2021 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' feed, with a few races heading to ABC later in the season.

In addition, ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2021 F1 races in the U.S.

What time does the F1 race start today?

  • Date: Sunday, June 20
  • Start time: 9 a.m. ET

The 9 a.m. ET start time for Sunday's race means the 2021 French Grand Prix will start at 3:00 p.m. local time. The on-the-hour start time means lights out will likely take place just after 9 a.m. ESPN's pre-race show usually airs in the hour prior to the start of the race.

Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the French Grand Prix. All times are Eastern.

Date Event Time TV channel
Friday, June 18 Practice 1 5:30 a.m. ESPN2
Friday, June 18 Practice 2 9:00 a.m. ESPNU
Saturday, June 19 Practice 3 6:00 a.m. ESPN2
Saturday, June 19 Qualifying 9:00 a.m. ESPN2
Sunday, June 20 Race 9:00 a.m. ESPNee

Formula 1 live stream for Monaco Grand Prix

For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are four major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the four, Hulu and YouTubeTV offer free trial options.

Below are links to each.

For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.

Formula 1 schedule 2021

In all, there are 23 scheduled races in the 2021 F1 season, with the Portuguese Grand Prix the last race added, sliding onto the docket the first week in March. The originally scheduled Vietnam Grand Prix was removed after the arrest of  Nguyen Duc Chung, while the Chinese Grand Prix is currently up in the air. It was originally scheduled for April 11, but will likely not take place this season.

All races will be broadcast on the U.S. side on the ESPN family of networks, with the United States Grand Prix and Mexico City Grand Prix both airing on ABC. The Singapore Grand Prix was also removed from the schedule, but FIA plans to replace it.

Please note: The on-the-hour start times do not include the broadcast start time, which is typically five minutes before the start of the race. Times do not include ESPN's customary pre-race shows.

MORE: Live stream F1 races all season on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Here's the latest schedule:

Date Race Course Start time TV channel Winner
March 28 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit 11 a.m. ESPN2 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
April 18 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari 9 a.m. TBD Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
May 2 Portuguese Grand Prix Algarve International Circuit 10 a.m. ESPN Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
May 9 Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 9 a.m. ESPN Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
May 23 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco 9 a.m. ESPN2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
June 6 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Baku City Circuit 8 a.m. ESPN Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
June 20 French Grand Prix Circuit Paul Ricard 9 a.m. ESPN TBD
June 27 Styrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring 9 a.m. ESPN TBD
July 4 Austrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring 9 a.m. ESPN TBD
July 18 British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit 10 a.m. ESPN TBD
Aug. 1 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring 9 a.m. ESPN TBD
Aug. 29 Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 9 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Sept. 5 Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort 9 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Sept. 12 Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 9 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Sept. 26 Russian Grand Prix Sochi Autodrom 8 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Oct. 10 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka International Racing Course 1 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
Oct. 24 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas 3 p.m. ABC TBD
Oct. 31 Mexico City Grand Prix Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez 3 p.m. ABC TBD
Nov. 7 Brazilian Grand Prix Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Noon ESPN2 TBD
Nov. 21 Australian Grand Prix Albert Park Circuit 1 a.m. ESPN News TBD
Dec. 5 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Jeddah Street Circuit 11 p.m. ESPN2 TBD
Dec. 12 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Marina Circuit 8 a.m. ESPN2 TBD
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