I use a VPN to access F1TV from the UK and it has worked for years, including this season. But suddenly today it’s started saying I am in a restricted region, even when I try VPN’ing through various countries that have always worked in the past. Is this happening to anyone else?
Edit: I am using HotSpotshield and tried connecting through the US, Algeria and Taiwan.
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Why’s every single comment downvoted here lol
Switch server, refresh the page.
This will likely be unpopular due to its additional cost and complexity, but if F1TV really does go all out to block commercial VPNs, you could try rolling your own on a cloud VPS hosting provider. Assuming you left it running 24/7 you could get away with $3 a month, maybe $5 at worst.
Look up PiVPN as a starting point.
This route is cumbersome for many, I admit, but it’s highly unlikely F1TV is going to be banning commercial cloud providers IPs
I’m in the US and I couldn’t access F1TV while connected to a VPN even though the VPN was set to a US location. When I disconnected the VPN, I had access.
They irregularly update their VPN ASN/IP (linked example for directly known NordVPN list from a public database) detection list.
The most obvious times are, based on the last 1.5 years, since we first got our first large VPN ban wave:
VPN Trial servers / free vpn hosts are blacklisted more often, based on the amount of comments we get here when people don’t have a paid VPN subscription.
Try a different server & if that fails inform your VPN provider that their unique selling point (bypassing geo restrictions) is again detected by F1TV.
change server, use incognito if on computer and check for dns leaks. It is not just the IP address they use to determine the region or if your using a VPN.
Are you using SmartDNS? I just had a similar issue when using NordVPN SmartDNS service.
https://www.reddit.com/r/F1TV/comments/1f09w26/nordvpn_smartdns_and_f1tv/
All else fails, buy a Chromecast/Firestick and purchase an IPTV service which simply has the F1 TV channel.
I tried the VPN route and I had to abandon it, unfortunately.
Which VPN provider are you using? It’s possible that F1TV has started blocking their exit point IP addresses.
What county do you use, I have BT and I use Miami and Paris for F1 tv
What vpn were you using? I’m actually in Florida and it will be the first time I’m not using a VPN to watch it. Would be awful coming back to the UK and not being able to access it anymore 
Just easier to stream if from somewhere else than pay for this crap tbh
Clear cache from the app as well? And restart the app.
Thanks, I was using my phone but will try on my laptop.
Yeah, got a fire stick but typically need to watch on demand rather than live.
I’m using HotSpotshield and have tried using American, Algerian and Taiwanese servers which have always worked before.
Ah okay, understood. If you’re struggling and you need something in the meantime, this might be beneficial:
I use adblocker (e.g. Brave Browser) as there can be pop up ads.
Well, the people that run F1TV have a contractual obligation given to them by the TV stations that air in your country (and others) to ensure that people aren’t accessing F1 content in a way that breaks their agreement.
VPN gets mentioned often as a way to get around the rules that are in place. Once in a while the company will start blocking the exit IP addresses of a particular provider, cutting off those that use that provider from access. It looks like this is what happened to you.
Your options are to change your VPN provider or to watch using your local “legal” TV company.