Qatar Grand Prix F1 qualifying 2021: Live stream, start time, TV, how to watch

How to watch Saturday's coverage. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

The 2021 F1 season heads to the Middle East this weekend as we get ready for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. After last week’s win in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton has all of Formula 1 wondering just how fast Mercedes can go with a new engine and crazy straight line speed, which powered a dramatic comeback after last week’s qualifying disqualification. The battle between Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a dramatic turn in Sao Paolo last week. Now we’ll see how the two sides fair in conventional qualifying as we hit the final three races of the season. Saturday’s qualifying coverage has been jumping around to different times and channels all year and this week is no different. Fans can watch Saturday’s qualifying coverage on TV via ESPN2 in the United States. Fans who don’t have cable can watch online with streaming services like fuboTV, which has a free seven-day trial.

How to watch Qatar Grand Prix 2021 Qualifying (Formula 1 racing)

How can I watch coverage on TV? When will it air? On what TV channel? - Saturday’s qualifying coverage will start at 8:55 a.m. EST and will air on TV via ESPN2.

Live steam options: WatchESPN | Sling | fuboTV - Viewers who have cable can use login credentials from their TV provider to watch via WatchESPN. Fans who don’t have cable can also watch the game with a la carte streaming options such as Sling or fuboTV, which has a free seven-day trial.

More coverage via the Associated Press

HINWIL, Switzerland (AP) — Zhou Guanyu will become the first Formula One driver from China after signing with Alfa Romeo on Tuesday.

Zhou steps up from Formula Two, where he is second in the standings, and will partner Valtteri Bottas when the 10-time race winner moves from Mercedes for next season. All of the 20 places on the grid for the 2022 season have now been filled.

Zhou has previously been a test driver for the Alpine team and drove for them in a practice session for the Austrian Grand Prix in July.

“To be the first ever Chinese driver in (F1) is a breakthrough for Chinese motorsport history. I know a lot of hopes will be resting on me and, as ever, I will take this as motivation to become better and achieve more,” Zhou said.

Zhou replaces Antonio Giovinazzi, who loses his F1 seat after three years as a full-time driver for Alfa Romeo. The Italian has scored only one point this year.

Zhou’s arrival comes as F1 attempts to boost its growth in China, which has had a grand prix since 2004 but wasn’t able to host in 2020 or 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Zhou will have to wait to make his debut at his home event, though, because there is no Chinese Grand Prix next year, either. It is due to return the following year and F1 this month extended its contract with the Shanghai circuit through 2025.

“The news Zhou Guanyu will be in F1 next season is fantastic for the sport and the millions of passionate Chinese fans that now have a home hero to cheer all year long,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said.

“The pyramid in F2 is working and promoting talent to the top flight of motorsport. Zhou is an incredible talent, who will be a fantastic addition to the amazing grid we have, and he will entertain and keep all our Chinese fans excited in 2022.”

Before Zhou, the only Chinese driver to take part in an F1 race weekend was Ma Qinghua, who was a test driver for the HRT and Caterham teams in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

X

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

If you opt out, we won’t sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.