Live coverage of Formula 1 pre-season testing will return in 2020, broadcaster Sky Sports has confirmed after a successful outing earlier this year.
Although Formula 1 themselves have yet to officially confirm the news, both Simon Lazenby and Ted Kravitz announced details to viewers watching Sky’s coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The two confirmed that in-depth testing coverage will air live on Sky Sports F1, with Kravitz also referring to the post-session wrap-up show.
Earlier this year, testing aired live across F1 TV’s premium tier service and Sky Sports, to positive reviews, which has influenced the decision making process for 2020.
If 2019 is anything to go by, live coverage of the first Barcelona test from Wednesday 19th February to Friday 21st February is a certainty.
The question mark hangs over the second test a week later, which F1 opted not to cover live this year, and it remains unclear if F1 will extend their offering in 2020, or stick with the tried and tested 2019 approach.
Coverage performed solidly on Sky Sports back in February, peaking with 96,000 viewers according to overnight viewing figures in a slot that would have otherwise got zero on a normal weekday.
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Just watched Ted’s Notebook and he confirmed he’ll be back next year. I suppose he’ll be popping up at around half of the races again. Unless that idiot Aussie has been given the boot.
Which “idiot Aussie” are you referring to? (as someone who hasn’t seen the full season of Sky’s coverage and only done races where Ted has been present.
The idiot Aussie was Scott Young, who took over control of Sky’s F1 broadcasting. Ted Kravitz disappeared and was believed to have been sacked to be replaced by the boring Karun Chandhok, who came from Ch4. A social media campaign got Ted back at the races, but not all races. “Ted’s Notebook” was changed into “The Race Notebook”.
Ted is doing more freelance work for other broadcasters during F1 weekends and he’s also the leading reporter at the W Series races. Scott Young is an arse, there are other poor commentators at Sky who could/should be replaced, which would not have led to the kind of complaints Sky received when Ted disappeared.
Totally agree. Ted Kravitz is brilliant. Chandok is a pain in the backside He never knows
when to shut up and just likes the sound of his own voice
Can’t agree more. Also keep Nico Rosberg off our screens.