Sky Sports F1

[10] Sky Sports F1 launched with a two-hour special of The F1 Show, presented by Simon Lazenby, Martin Brundle and Damon Hill, previewing the 2012 Formula One season.

[11] Existing subscribers to all of the Sky Sports channels without the HD pack received a standard definition version.

[12] Virgin Media and Smallworld Cable offer the standard definition version of the channel to Sky Sports subscribers, it is not available separately.

Beginning at the 2016 Formula One season, Canadian F1 rights holder TSN began to simulcast Sky's coverage, including the pre- and post-race programmes and in-race commentary.

[19] The light-hand Sky simulcast on ESPN and ABC has been credited with an increase of ratings and acclaim for the series in the United States, along with the sign-on of domestic sponsors for pre and post-race programming and within virtual advertising on the course during racing and qualification.

On 7 March 2012, Sky Sports F1 revealed its theme tune for the 2012 season, "Just Drive" by Alistair Griffin, which has been re-recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Rodolfus Choir.

From the 2019 season onwards "Just Drive" was replaced by Outlands by Daft Punk, which had previously been featured in the film Tron: Legacy (2010).

[23][24] During the 2012 season, Santander UK was the official sponsor of Formula One coverage on Sky Sports F1 in a deal that was estimated to be worth £3 million.

[22] The season opening Australian Grand Prix, the first to be broadcast exclusively by Sky, had an average audience of 526,000 viewers between 4.30 am and 9 am on 18 March, with a five-minute peak of 1.02 million as Jenson Button won the race.

In September 2018, it was announced that Channel 4 had agreed to a sub-licensing agreement with Sky, under which it will broadcast free-to-air highlights of all races, and live coverage of the British Grand Prix.

[28][29][30] In December 2021, with the season-long title contenders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton tied on points after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sky Sports announced a partnership with Channel 4 to show live race day coverage from the title-deciding round in Abu Dhabi free-to-air.

[31] The presentation team currently (as of June 2024) consists of:[citation needed] In February 2012, it was announced that Sky Sports F1 would also broadcast the GP2 and GP3 series live.

Since 2021, it has followed most qualifying, sprint and race programmes, and is sometimes referred to as Ted's Notebook on the EPG and when uploaded onto YouTube in the evening after being aired.

[42] During the Formula One season, Sky Sports News has two pit-lane reporters; Rachel Brookes and Craig Slater.

[44] It was alleged that the move came after Sky Sports F1 executive producer Martin Turner complained that it had upset seven of the twelve Formula One teams ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

Jeremy Darroch said that "the issue was about process" and that Sky's sports team at the grand prix were not "properly briefed" ahead of publication.

[46] At the 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix, it was reported that Max Verstappen and Red Bull would boycott interviews from Sky Sports F1, following comments made by presenter Ted Kravitz, claiming Lewis Hamilton was "robbed" of the 2021 Formula One World Drivers' Championship after mistakenly proclaiming him an "eight-time World Champion".

[48] Red Bull ended their boycott of Sky Sports F1 ahead of the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix.

Sky Sports F1 presenters at the 2018 British Grand Prix