Television audiences in the United States will have access to Sky Sports F1 coverage as ESPN and ABC air all 21 races in the championship under a multi-year linear and digital partnership between ESPN and Formula 1.

Announced in October, the agreement brings Formula 1 back to its original U.S. television home as the first Formula 1 race ever aired in the U.S. was on ABC in 1962.

"We are excited to work with the Sky Sports team," said Kate Jackson, ESPN coordinating producer, motorsports. "Their coverage of F1 is second to none and we look forward to bringing their expertise and authenticity to our audiences."

"We are delighted to be working with ESPN and ABC," added Scott Young, Head of Formula 1 at Sky Sports, "and with this partnership extend Sky Sports F1's award-winning coverage overseas. Each season we look to find new ways to improve the broadcast and entertain our viewers and this year will be no different."

Sky Sports' comprehensive coverage will include commentary and analysis from a line-up of former world champions and current F1 drivers including: Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert, Paul di Resta and Anthony Davidson. The Sky team also includes presenters Simon Lazenby, Ted Kravitz, David Croft, Rachel Brookes and Natalie Pinkham.

The agreement for ESPN to air the Sky Sports coverage was arranged by Formula 1, with the approval of ESPN and Sky. ESPN and Sky Sports production personnel will work together on the U.S. presentation, with Sky Sports producing special segments that will appear on various ESPN platforms to supplement the television coverage.

Beginning with the season-opening Formula 1 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix on March 25, and ending with the Nov. 25 Formula 1 2018 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, all of the races will air live in the United States on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. All in more than 125 hours of Formula 1 programming, including all practice sessions, qualifying and races, will air live and in replay across ESPN platforms in 2018.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by bfairey, 16/02/2018 6:17

"Does anyone in Canada know if we will get F1 on ABC? or will it be blacked out in favour of TSN."

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2. Posted by Trixi, 15/02/2018 23:14

"Great...Hamilton Sky Sports; where there is a love fest for the driver who left the UK so as not to give them money, every time they are broadcasting. I'll have to keep a bucket close by, or just go the the F1 app and listen to the live feed. "

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3. Posted by BillH, 15/02/2018 18:05

"SkyTV NZ has all the SkyF1 coverage and I like it. It starts with the F1 Show, which goes on a couple of times, practise sessions, quali, race, post race "Teds notebook", so it is quite in depth and it has to be because of the speed of information available on the internet.
The commentators are not afraid so say what is wrong with F1 too. Some don't like the the halo for example. The banter has been good too."

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4. Posted by raven49, 15/02/2018 17:47

"That bodes well for US viewers I think. I have turned races off listening to the tired commentary of David Hobbs, Steve Matchett and Leigh Diffey. Matchett was ok with the technical issues he covered and Diffey was not so terrible but David Hobbs who was a good driver when he was young sounded as though he was watching a different race and the three of them together stunk. In fact, I started watching MotoGP and, besides the exciting racing and good camera work, the announcers are very good.
Hobbs, Matchett and Diffey would pretend someone coming from the pits on a late tire change (Ricciardo, Verstappen or such) could close a ten second gap in five laps when Hamilton or another leader was still lapping faster. Or they would talk the same about someone in mid-field where there is usually better racing doing the same thing.
I've seen some negative comments about the Sky folks but surely they can't be as bad as the aforementioned trio. I don't put Will Buxton in the pitiful group above. He, at least, had some energy."

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ESPN to use Sky Sports for F1 coverage

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