Channel 4 has once again stepped in to secure one-off free-to-air special sports coverage this weekend, as Lewis Hamilton stands on the brink of claiming his 8th F1 world title.
Sky will be sharing its coverage of the F1 race from Abu Dhabi with Channel 4 for the occasion, which will be broadcast live on Sunday afternoon. Sky says its decision ” will ensure the maximum possible audience across the UK and Ireland for a once in a lifetime moment for the sport”. There had been intense media speculation that Sky would open up the race to free-to-air viewers. Sky and Channel 4 already have a content sharing partnership.
A victory in Abu Dhabi would move Lewis Hamilton above Michael Schumacher’s seven titles and into unprecedented territory. However, should Max Verstappen win the race, it would be a first title for the exciting 24-year-old Red Bull driver.
Channel 4 is gaining a reputation for securing last minute free-to-air rights deals. Channel 4 stepped in to provide last minute live coverage of the US Open women’s final in September, enabling viewers to watch Emma Raducanu’s victory on free-to-air television. In 2019, a last minute deal with Sky Sports brought viewers live terrestrial TV coverage of England’s win in the 2019 Ashes series.
Sky Sports coverage through Sky or NOW
- Every Sky TV customer will be able to watch everything from qualifying on Saturday to the race on Sunday, with the broadcast shared across Sky Sports and Sky Showcase.
- Sky Sports F1 will show every aspect of the build up, including practice and qualifying.
- All the action from this iconic head-to head will also be available to NOW members with either a NOW Entertainment or NOW Sports membership.
Channel 4 free-to-air coverage
- Coverage starts at midday on Sunday 12th December 2021.
- Channel 4 will broadcast Sky’s production of the live race coverage with its presenting team of Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Martin Brundle, Nat Pinkham, David Croft, Karun Chandhok, Simon Lazenby and Ted Kravitz.
- Channel 4’s team of Steve Jones, David Coulthard, Mark Webber and Lee McKenzie will provide build up to the race for 15 minutes from midday before handing over to Sky for their pre-race coverage and Sky’s live coverage of the race itself.
- Highlights will follow at 5:30pm.
Stephen van Rooyen, EVP & CEO UK & Europe Sky said:
“Sunday’s Grand Prix is one of the biggest sporting events in the last decade, and could be an historic moment for British sport. We’ve chosen to gift the race to the whole country at Christmas through our partnership with Channel 4, so everyone can be part of a huge national moment as Lewis Hamilton goes for a historic eighth World Championship title.
The brilliant Sky Sports Formula 1 team will give viewers on Channel 4 and Sky Sports the best insight, commentary and analysis of every twist and turn of this most eagerly anticipated final race of the season. Additionally all Sky TV customers will have live coverage of the important qualifying session on Saturday, and the race on Sunday – which we will also show live on Sky Showcase.”