Ignacy Giżyński
Motorsport fans have received a long-awaited gift – Formula 1 streaming in 4K and HDR resolution. The F1 TV Premium service, which has just debuted, offers the highest picture quality in history; however, enthusiasm may wane after familiarising oneself with the technical restrictions.
What's new in the F1 app?
The key new feature is Multiview, which allows you to follow multiple cameras (e.g. main view, selected car or track map) simultaneously in one window. Unfortunately, the option is not available on Android devices. Subscribers can also stream events on up to six devices at the same time, enjoying additional benefits like onboard cameras, archived materials, or monitoring radio communications from the teams. However, it is worth noting that VOD (video on demand) content is usually not rendered in 4K.
The new subscription package allows you to watch all Grand Prix sessions – from practice to races – in 4K resolution (3840x2160 pixels) with dynamic HDR and a smooth 50 frames per second. The broadcast without HDR achieves a bitrate of 14 Mbps, while the version with extended colour range and brightness reaches 17 Mbps. The annual cost of access to F1 TV PREMIUM is 89.99 EURO OR 11.99 EURO per month.
F1 in 4K is not for everyone
What's the catch? Hardware requirements. Currently, 4K HDR is only supported by applications on Apple TV 4K (tvOS) and Roku TV. The former is the only viable option for Europeans – Roku is virtually non-existent on the Old Continent. Additionally, older Apple TV models (1st generation) limit HDR to 30 fps, forcing users to purchase newer versions (2nd or 3rd gen). The rest of the platforms lag behind. The F1 TV app on Google TV, Chromecast, browsers, or Android only offers HD in SDR. Users of iPhones and iPads can indeed count on HDR, but the maximum resolution is 1080p.
Although F1 TV Premium is a clear step forward, there is a noticeable gap between ambition and reality. For many fans – particularly in Europe – this means the necessity of investing in Apple hardware or waiting for an expansion of support. Will updates follow the debut of the service? We will probably have to wait for an answer until the next season.
