Sky has the rights to show all the races live, while Channel 4 is normally limited to a highlights package, though does broadcast the British Grand Prix live. However, as revealed exclusively by The Times yesterday and confirmed by Sky this morning, a deal has been reached in which the satellite broadcaster will share the rights to Sunday's race. The figures bring together those that watched Channel 4's highlights package and those who watched the races live on Sky, excluding pre- and post-race analysis for the latter. If you're happy to pay a subscription fee so you can watch entire races live, then Sky is the only option in the UK. While Liberty operates an online streaming service – F1 TV Pro – you can't watch it in the UK because of Sky's exclusive deal.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are locked on 369.5 points at the top of the drivers' standings heading to Sunday's race at the Yas Marina Circuit. Now their winner-takes-all battle will be shown live on Channel 4, as well as on Sky Sports, who host all F1 races through their subscription services, having reportedly paid over £1bn for a five-year deal back in 2019. Hamilton and title rival Max Verstappen enter the final race of the season tied on points, making it a winner-takes-all finale at the Yas Marina Circuit. The two drivers have enjoyed the closest title fight between rivals teams since 2012, and it marks the first final race decider since 2016. The other way to watch for free - especially if you want to watch races live - is to use a VPN and stream them from broadcasters in other countries which show races on free-to-air channels .
Channel 4 will broadcast the Formula One season finale live on Sunday after reaching a deal with Sky to share the television rights. Sky's schedules show that the broadcaster will simulcast their race day offering across Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, but not via Sky Showcase, as they did last month for coverage of the US Grand Prix qualifying session. We know that even the most ardent F1 fan is not going to get to travel to more than a handful of Grands Prix each season – that's why we like to make sure you can catch an F1 broadcast from almost anywhere in the world. The table above will help provide the answers, complete with links to your nearest broadcaster. And don't forget, live coverage – along with a long list of exclusive features – is also available in many territories with an F1 TV subscription.
On Saturday, a combined audience of just over 2 million viewers watched Channel 4's and Sky's Sprint programming, including build-up and post-session analysis. Airing live in an early evening time slot, an average of 1.94 million viewers watched the opener across Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, peaking with over 2 million viewers. A straight shootout between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will decide the destination of the 2021 drivers' championship.
You used to be able watch races live on RTL Germany but Sky Germany now has exclusive rights to show live races in Germany as well. "We are excited that Sky will make the grand prix on Sunday available to Channel 4 viewers so everyone can tune in live for the thrilling finale to this epic season," he said. Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit has undergone a series of changes in a bid to make the Formula One season finale even more exciting for drivers and fans. Channel 4 has coverage of 10 live races including Monaco, the British Grand Prix and the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. The Silverstone weekend was Channel 4's only live action of the season, the broadcaster sharing live coverage with Sky Sports.
In 2018, an average of around 3 million viewers watched across a mix of Channel 4's highlights and 'race only' segments from Channel 4's and Sky's live programming. This scenario is a concern for Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff who, having watched Hamilton crash into the back of Verstappen last time out, said he thought the quicker car with the quicker driver should win the championship. You'll get comprehensive IndyCar Series coverage as well when the next season starts in February 2022. Sky also recently aired the Race of Champions, a fun off-season tournament uniting racing drivers from different series in identical vehicles, on its sports service. Lewis also congratulated Max in his post-race interview, and he and his dad Anthony were also seen hugging and chatting to the new world champion moments after the chequered flag.
In the end it was Max who won his first title, passing Lewis on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi grand prix following a controversial interpretation of the existing safety car rules in the FIA Sporting Regulations. Mercedes unsuccessfully attempted to protest the decision and later decided to withdraw an appeal. And in the aftermath, there were calls from some fans for Formula 1 race director Michael Masi to step down or for the FIA to dismiss him from the role.
"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." But a deal has been reached to show the Abu Dhabi decider on terrestrial television, which will include each channels showing their own pre and post-race coverage with Sky's race commentary used by both. The race was originally due to be shown on Sky Sports, who hold exclusive rights to live F1 races with Channel 4 broadcasting only the British GP live alongside a highlights show for each weekend. However, a new deal between Sky and Channel 4 means that F1 highlights will remain free to air on Channel 4 in 2019.
Lewis Hamilton's silence in the aftermath of the 2021 Formula 1 season finale really spoke volumes about those controversial events. But away from the spotlight he has remained active in his efforts to create lasting change in society. "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." An average of 1.69 million viewers have watched Channel 4's race day programming so far this year, a decrease of 10.5% on last year's halfway figure of 1.88 million viewers.
With 11 of the 23 races completed, the data so far allows us to gauge how well F1 is performing in the UK, and whether the championship fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is having any impact on audience figures. Live coverage of the W Series airs across More4 and Channel 4, the Saturday race airing on More4 with the season finale airing on Channel 4. Sky have seemingly reacted to Channel 4's qualifying conundrum by opting to simulcast their live coverage on their new Sky Showcase channel, enabling more viewers to watch qualifying across Sky, Virgin Media and BT TV.
In 2016, the season finale aired live across Channel 4 and Sky Sports as part of the UK F1 TV rights agreement that was in place at that time. The 2021 Formula 1 season was one of the most exciting in years, with title contenders Hamilton and Verstappen going into the season finale level on points. Sky has exclusively held rights to live, uninterrupted coverage of every grand prix since 2013 in the UK, and runs a dedicated channel, Sky Sports F1, for the purpose. Commentary comes from David Croft and Martin Brundle (who also call the action on F1 TV's English-language world feed), with Simon Lazenby, Natalie Pinkham and Rachel Brooks sharing hosting duties.
Thanks to the deal struck between the two broadcasters, the British public will be able to savour every twist and turn as Lewis Hamilton sets his sights on taking a record-breaking eighth World Championship title in the winner-takes-all finale. As first reported by The Times, the two companies have reached an agreement to allow Channel 4 to show the race live as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen duel for the drivers' championship. Since 2019 Sky Sports F1 has had exclusive live rights, with only one event – the British Grand Prix – available free to air on Channel 4. The latter does show delayed highlight programmes of qualifying and the race from the other events on the calendar throughout the year. The audience figures demonstrate how W Series benefited from being on the same card as Formula 1, whereas Formula E's events are largely standalone with no wrap-around support. Using the available data, it is likely that Friday's qualifying session peaked with 2 million viewers, Saturday's Sprint session with 3 million viewers, and Sunday's race with 4.5 million viewers.
F1's new look format, trialled over the British Grand Prix weekend, helped audience figures improve in the UK, consolidated data released by BARB suggests. It seems likely therefore that, a fan watching Drive to Survive is more likely to jump either to highlights on YouTube or live coverage on Sky, bypassing Channel 4's extended highlights package altogether. Formula 1's audience figures in the UK have risen to their highest level in at least four years at the half way stage of the 2021 season, analysis from Motorsport Broadcasting suggests. With a 52-point advantage, Fabio Quartararo is odds on favourite to win his first MotoGP World Championship.
As always, live coverage of every session airs on BT Sport 2, with highlights airing on ITV4. If Verstappen does not clinch the championship at the next round in Saudi Arabia, it will be the first time since 2016 that the championship has gone to the final race of the season. For the first time since 1974, the title contenders go into the final race level on points. Seven-time world champion Hamilton, having been 19 points behind Verstappen four races ago, has drawn level after a trio of dominant performances in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Sky still has the exclusive rights to show live races in the UK , meaning the only coverage on free-to-air TV in the UK will be available on Channel 4. One key regulation change this year means that every regular driver has to sit out at least one FP1 session during the season, to encourage teams to evaluate up-and-coming talent or give their test and reserve drivers some on-track experience. An internal inquiry into what happened is now in progress and is due to report just before the new season starts. 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.
Our aim is to create the best motorsport coverage that appeals to die-hard fans as well as those who are new to the sport. It will also be the first time F1 visits the new layout of the Abu Dhabi circuit which has traditionally held the season finale in recent years. Sunday's Saudi Arabian GP, which saw multiple incidents between Hamilton and Verstappen on track, attracted a record audience of 2.66 million to Sky's F1 channel - with many more expected this weekend. THERE simply is no bigger finish what is coming - Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are going to engage in an unmissable F1 season finale and you can watch it for FREE.
Season 8 of the all-electric motorsport series will be the biggest yet with 16 races on the calendar and live Channel 4 coverage of every single race. In Formula 1 there's always the hope that a regulatory reset provides chance for a team to vault up the order. But here are eight cases where the grand prix big hitters got it wrong, trading regular wins for dejection. "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.
"We are excited that Sky will make the Grand Prix on Sunday available to Channel 4 viewers so everyone can tune in live for the thrilling finale to this epic season," said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Channel 4 will carry Sky's coverage for the race, including its commentary and analysis team. Now their winner-takes-all battle will be shown live on Channel 4, as well as on Sky Sports, which hosts all F1 races through its subscription services, having reportedly paid over £1bn for a five-year deal back in 2019.
W Series also benefited from added exposure through Channel 4's live F1 coverage, the only weekend of the year that the free-to-air broadcaster covers F1 live. Nevertheless, with a combined audience of 1.6 million viewers, the British Grand Prix marked F1's highest UK audience on a Friday since at least 2003, if not earlier. While the championship battle between Hamilton and Verstappen is bringing additional viewers to Sky's live offering, Channel 4's highlights offering is not seeing any positive impact.
Sky's post-race offering has mirrored the main attraction, increasing its audience by 24.8%, rising from an average of 243,000 viewers last year to 303,000 viewers this year. At the other end of the spectrum, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix brought in 1.24 million viewers. The figure for Emilia Romagna is low in the context of the season so far, yet identical to last year's Emilia Romagna race on Sky, showing how much their audience have jumped. The Abu Dhabi race could be the first F1 race in around 40 years where the Drivers' Championship has gone down to the wire, without live coverage airing on free-to-air television in the UK. The 2021 championship fight is going down to the wire, in one of the most intense Formula 1 seasons in years, as both drivers go into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on 369.5 points. The task for both men is simple – finish ahead of their title rival – but advantage is still with Verstappen.
Should neither finish in the points then the Red Bull driver will be awarded his maiden championship on account of having won more races than Hamilton this season. F1 fans in the UK will also now be able to watch the gripping conclusion for free after Sky Sports announced a deal with Channel 4 to show the final race on terrestrial TV. It's unclear at this stage whether Hamilton will even race in the 2022 season, but with major changes to the cars this year - primarily to allow closer racing - there's sure to be plenty more action in store for fans. A cheaper tier without live coverage, F1 TV Access, is available in a further 33 countries.
This has live timing and audio commentary, exclusive documentaries and shorts, plus over 650 archive grands prix or highlights with a library going back to the 1980s. Channel 4 continues to show extended, free-to-air highlights of qualifying and every race, produced by the award-winning Whisper. Every car will be built to a completely new spec, a number of drivers are moving teams, and we have one new rookie and a returning familiar face on the grid next time out. Under the terms of the deal, 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. An announcement on Thursday confirmed the opportunity for fans across the country to witness Lewis Hamilton's duel with Max Verstappen on terrestrial television, with the race beginning at 1pm.
Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson has warned the pair not to "tarnish their reputations" by causing a dangerous crash on Sunday while the sport's former boss, Bernie Ecclestone, has declared that Verstappen is being "bullied" by his rivals. Sunday's Saudi Arabian GP, which saw multiple incidents between Hamilton and Verstappen on track, attracted a record audience of 2.66 million to Sky's F1 channel. Unday's showdown for the Formula One world title will be broadcast for free in the UK after Channel 4 agreed a deal with Sky Sports to air the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. All 16 races on the 2022 calendar will be shown live on Channel 4 platforms including its main channel, online via All4 and the Channel 4 YouTube channel. Antonio Giovinazzi will join the series from the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team while six British drivers are all gearing up for a bid to win the title. This was set to be the final year that Channel 4 broadcasts the sport, after Sky Sports landed exclusive rights to F1 from 2019.
The Formula One world championship showdown will be broadcast on free-to-air television after Channel 4 announced they will screen the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live. Every team has been talking about the opportunity F1's new rules give them to jump up the grid – but there are also pitfalls for the unwary, such as the recently introduced budget cap and new aero formula. And the challenge will be similar for the drivers in teams that nail the regulation switch as it will be for those that don't. Under the current agreement between the UK's two F1 broadcasters, Channel 4 only shows the British Grand Prix live each year, with a highlights package for every other race.
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication. Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Whether the Sprint figures were higher than a typical Saturday because of the novelty of it remains unknown, and only something we will know when audience data for the Italian Grand Prix comes in next month.
Year-on-year, Sky's race audience increased by 15%, with Channel 4's decreasing by around 8.5%, reflecting the positive trajectory Sky's F1 audience figures continue to take. Race day saw an audience of around 3.6 million viewers watch Channel 4's and Sky's main programming, an average that includes the extended red flag period, but excludes the extended wraparound offering. The figures are higher than what a normal three-part qualifying session would have achieved in its usual Saturday slot.
The consolidated data accounts for viewers who watched within seven days of the original transmission. For now, the championship battle between Hamilton and Verstappen, Mercedes and Red Bull is keeping UK fans engaged as the series returns to action following the summer break in Belgium. It is difficult to compare the 2018 to 2021 figures with 2017, as the structure of Sky's race day programme was different to what it is now. An average of 3.24 million viewers have watched Formula 1 so far in 2021, an increase of 142,000 viewers or 4.6% on last year's half way figure of 3.10 million viewers. Channel 4 have had the rights to F1 for six seasons, yet surprisingly the broadcaster has not presented magazine show Sunday Brunch on location from Silverstone during any of the British Grand Prix weekends.
Live coverage of the British Grand Prix averaged 2.35 million viewers, excluding pre- and post-race analysis. One possibility is that the increase for the race and post-race segments is a result of some 'newer' Sky viewers opting to record the action to watch later in the evening. 7 races this year have outrated the spectacular Turkish Grand Prix from last November, which averaged 1.51 million viewers and was Sky's highest audience of 2020.
What Time Is Formula 1 Qualifying On Channel 4 Today Audience numbers for Sky have accelerated in recent years, with their F1 audience now double what it was in 2018 – the last year where half the races also aired live on free-to-air television. An average of 1.56 million viewers have watched each race on Sky this year, a sizeable increase of 27.8% on last year's average of 1.22 million viewers. Asian races would typically rate lower than average in the UK due to their early morning time slot, with American races rating higher than average in a more lucrative prime time television slot. In addition, Sky will air special programming throughout the weekend, with specials on Friday and Saturday, and an extended race day broadcast on Sunday.
This is up to one-third the length of the Grand Prix itself and last about minutes. The finishing order of this race then sets the grid for Sunday, which means drivers will have to be especially careful not to get caught up in any incidents that could put them out of the full race on Sunday. Unlike BBC iPlayer, you can't join a live broadcast and you may have to wait hours for the race highlights to appear in the app. This doesn't mean all broadcasts will be shown this soon, and if you want to stream those highlights, you might have to wait a lot longer for them to appear on Channel 4's streaming service - All4. If you're unable to get to a TV or record broadcasts, you can watch them later on Sky Go and on All 4 - the app for Channel 4.






























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