After a four-week summer time break, F1 is again. The drivers and groups return to Spa for what may very well be the final time, with the Belgian Grand Prix’s place on the 2023 calendar in critical peril.
In actual fact, there’s most likely much less doubt over the vacation spot of the motive force’s title. Max Verstappen holds a seemingly unassailable lead over his rivals, with the Dutchman on target to safe his second consecutive crown.
However regardless of the obvious lack of a title combat, F1’s recognition is on a transparent upward curve. Official figures counsel 1.55bn folks tuned in world wide in 2021 – a 4% enhance on the 12 months earlier than – alongside tens of millions extra watching from the grandstands.
Liberty Media has overseen spectacular development since taking up 5 years in the past, with a lot of this success attributed to Drive to Survive. The Netflix docudrama has confirmed to be an actual hit, with the fourth collection charting one of the vital dramatic seasons in F1 historical past. It’s at the very least partly chargeable for 58% year-on-year beneficial properties in US TV viewership of the stay occasions, with the UK additionally reporting a 39% rise.
But when watching the present has tempted folks to present F1 a attempt, Sky Sports activities’ in depth broadcasting will certainly make them extra more likely to return. Its protection is proven within the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and it’s had a devoted channel within the UK since 2012.
Gone are the times of free-to-air F1 races, however regardless of being a paid service Sky Sports activities has put the funding within the sport to good use. There are a number of key methods during which the broadcaster has helped make the game such compelling viewing.
24/7 protection
When Sky obtained the rights to F1 in 2012, it grew to become clear the corporate was taking protection very severely. Committing to a devoted channel for a single sport was a giant deal on the time, though we now have equal Sky Sports activities channels for the Premier League, soccer (extra usually), cricket, golf, horse racing, and the NFL.
Since 2016, Sky Sports activities has been the one place to look at most F1 races stay within the UK. It has develop into the official English-language broadcaster world wide, that means you’ll hear David Croft within the commentary field and the identical line-up of presenters wherever you’re.
After all, most individuals solely watch Sky Sports activities F1 on race weekends. However having the ability to entry top quality content material at any time of the day means there’ll all the time be one thing for F1 followers to look at. Given the funding wanted to make that occur, it’s no shock {that a} subscription is required.
Sky
For many individuals, discussing F1 on social media has develop into simply as essential as watching the races. Alongside the official accounts, Sky Sports activities has helped guarantee there’s extra official protection on-line than ever earlier than.
Even through the summer time break, not a day glided by and not using a put up to its F1 Fb web page (with 2m+ likes) and Twitter account (1.6m followers). Movies are additionally uploaded to the Sky Sports activities F1 YouTube channel (574k subscribers) regularly.
With race highlights uploaded to the official F1 channel simply minutes after it ends, it’s simple to meet up with any motion you’ve missed.
Viral moments
Lately, F1 has had its justifiable share of memorable moments. From Lewis Hamilton equalling Michael Schumacher’s document of seven world titles to the large title-deciding controversy in Abu Dhabi final 12 months, historical past has been made in additional methods than one.
Sky has been in a position to make use of that to its benefit, significantly by way of the social platforms talked about above. A outstanding latest instance is the three-way battle between Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc, and Hamilton at this 12 months’s British Grand Prix.
Because the latter accomplished an unlikely double overtake, Croft’s commentary “by means of goes Hamilton!” rapidly gained consideration on-line and shortly grew to become an iconic line.
Nonetheless, it’s co-commentator Martin Brundle’s pre-race grid stroll that the majority constantly will get folks speaking. This peaked throughout final 12 months’s US Grand Prix, when a quick chat with rapper Megan Thee Stallion made waves world wide.
This potential for viral moments makes folks extra more likely to watch Sky Sports activities F1 earlier than the race even begins – you by no means know when the following one may arrive.
In-depth evaluation
Crucially, this doesn’t come at the price of real evaluation and enter from individuals who know all about Components 1. Brundle is way from the one ex-driver on the Sky Sports activities crew, and he’s joined by skilled journalists and broadcasters with an in depth information of the game.
On a typical race weekend, you’ll be able to watch full protection of each apply and qualifying session. In relation to race day, anticipate a protracted stay preview and hours of response after the chequered flag. Even through the race, the commentary crew frequently encourage analysts and crew principals so as to add their enter.
The protection isn’t excellent, but it surely supplies stability between catering to the plenty and going in-depth on the problems that matter.
Wish to know how one can entry Sky Sports activities F1 from the UK or anyplace else on the planet? See our separate information on find out how to watch F1 races in 2022.