Channel 4 F1

On 21 December 2015, the BBC announced that it would end its deal with Formula One three years early due to budget cuts[1] and would transfer the remaining three years to Channel 4. Channel 4 would be showing ten selected races live without advertisements and every race (even live) were to be shown as highlights. Channel 4 was the first free-to-air station that ran without commercial breaks during its ten live races.[2]

Channel 4 broadcast from 2016 to the end of the 2018 seasons after purchasing the rights shared with Sky Sports from BBC. Channel 4 also showed the race and associated events of the British Grand Prix and final race weekend.[3] Extended highlights were shown of all remaining races a few hours after they finish, early evening for European and Asian which are shown live races, afternoon for Asian races or late night for live races and ones in the Americas. Qualifying highlights for live races were only shown if they were live races in Asia. Live race coverage was produced by Whisper Films, with North One Television to produce accompanying programmes.[4] Channel 4's full presenting team was announced on 8 March 2016.

Channel 4 also announced that "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac would be their title music, the song previously used by the BBC's coverage.[5]

Frequent references to social media were made in the programme's break bumpers, usually in the form of hashtags in response to events as they unfold, driver/fan tweets, or simply the appearance of the #C4F1 hashtag.

For the first two years of Channel 4's coverage, the sponsor was travel site Kayak.com. They were replaced for the 2018 season by audio company Bose.

For Practice Two of the 2016 European Grand Prix and 2016 Mexican Grand Prix, More4 had the coverage due to Channel 4 covering the Royal Ascot horse race.

For Practice One and Two of the 2017 United States Grand Prix and 2018 United States Grand Prix, More4 also had the coverage.

Beginning 2019, Sky Sports hold exclusive rights to all races excluding the British Grand Prix. In September 2018, it was announced that Channel 4 had agreed to a sub-licensing agreement with Sky, under which it broadcasts free-to-air highlights of all races, and live coverage of the British Grand Prix. As part of the arrangement, Sky will have rights to carry full series of Channel 4 dramas on-demand, while Channel 4 also acquired free-to-air rights to the Sky drama Tin Star.[6][7][8]

They continue to be sponsored by Bose.

On 13 March 2019, three days before the first Grand Prix of the season, it was revealed that Channel 4 will not be permitted (under their agreement with Sky) to interview drivers in the "pen", hold interviews in the pit lane or hold a grid walk. Furthermore, Channel 4 must adhere to these and other restrictions in order for Sky to consider agreeing to the same arrangements in 2020.[9]