# FastF1

> Unofficial Python library giving free access to Formula 1 lap timing, car telemetry, tyre, weather, schedules and session results as Pandas DataFrames. Most data now needs an F1TV subscription.

Canonical page: https://sportdex.net/providers/fastf1/  
Last checked: 2026-11-03  
SportDex Score: 58/100 (rank 23; popularity 35, community 78, transparency 65, developer experience 65)

## Facts
- Type: Free / open data
- Website: https://docs.fastf1.dev
- Documentation: https://docs.fastf1.dev
- Pricing page: unknown
- Sports: Formula 1, Motorsport
- Data types: Fixtures, Historical data, Results, Team stats, Tracking data
- Protocols: SDK only
- Delivery: SDK only
- Live / in-play: not disclosed
- Free tier: yes
- Cheapest public paid plan: not public
- Authentication: none
- SDKs: python

## Plans
| Plan | Price | Requests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open source | Free | — | Free library; F1TV Access subscription needed for most features |

## Who it is for

Best for: Python users analysing Formula 1 lap timing, telemetry, tyres and weather, such as hobbyist and research notebooks.

Not ideal for: Non-Python projects or hosted-API needs; it is a Python library, not a web service, and most data needs an F1TV subscription.

Use cases: Telemetry analysis; Lap time comparison; Tyre strategy plots; Race result research

Limitations:
- Python library only, no hosted API
- Most features need an F1TV Access subscription
- Formula 1 only
- Licence not stated on saved pages

## Quick answers

**What is FastF1 best for?** Python users analysing Formula 1 lap timing, telemetry, tyres and weather, such as hobbyist and research notebooks. Not ideal for: Non-Python projects or hosted-API needs; it is a Python library, not a web service, and most data needs an F1TV subscription.

**How much does FastF1 cost?** FastF1 does not publish prices on the pages we checked.

**Does FastF1 have a free tier?** Yes. FastF1 lists a free plan called "Open source".

**What does FastF1 cover?** FastF1 is a free / open data. Its sports: Formula 1, Motorsport; data: Fixtures, Historical data, Results, Team stats, Tracking data.

**Does FastF1 have a WebSocket or streaming API?** No streaming is listed. FastF1 delivers data by SDK only, so you poll for updates.

**What do developers say about FastF1?** Popular unofficial Python package giving F1 timing, telemetry and results as DataFrames; the go-to for analysis posts, student projects and dashboards, with a large GitHub following. Other projects borrow its live-timing client. Caveats: most data needs F1TV access, a network-blocking issue was reported, and beginners hit version-related errors. Often paired with Jolpica or OpenF1.

**What are the alternatives to FastF1?** Close alternatives in the SportDex catalog: OpenF1, Jolpica-F1, CollegeFootballData.com, Football Charts, RacingHub.

## What developers say

Popular unofficial Python package giving F1 timing, telemetry and results as DataFrames; the go-to for analysis posts, student projects and dashboards, with a large GitHub following. Other projects borrow its live-timing client. Caveats: most data needs F1TV access, a network-blocking issue was reported, and beginners hit version-related errors. Often paired with Jolpica or OpenF1.

Praised for: Rich telemetry and lap data in Pandas; Covers seasons from 2018; Large community and many analysis projects; Live timing client reference

Complaints: Most data needs F1TV subscription; Version breakages for newcomers; Reported network blocking without a fix

## Method
Facts were read from the provider's own pages on 2026-11-03. Empty fields mean the provider does not say, not that a feature is missing. Method: https://sportdex.net/methodology/