Scheduling: The 2014 Austrian Grand Prix

After an eleven year break, Formula 1 heads to Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix! What was known as the A1-Ring during Formula 1’s visits between 1997 and 2003 is now known as the Red Bull Ring. As thus, it is also the first visit for the GP2 and GP3 Series’ to the track – GP2 replaced Formula 3000 for 2005, whilst GP3 only began in 2010. It will also be one of the shorter races of the season, with lap times around 1 minutes 10 seconds, the race should be over in under 90 minutes.

For those who want to jump to the schedule, click the links below:

– Thursday 19th June
– Friday 20th June
– Saturday 21st June
– Sunday 22nd June
– Wednesday 25th June
– Classic F1

There are no surprises in Sky’s schedule, however some of BBC’s schedule is worth mentioning. Practice on Friday is not on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra due to cricket. Qualifying highlights on BBC One are on unusually early at 16:45 on the Saturday, which is completely the opposite to Sunday, where highlights of the race are on BBC Two, and on at 19:30! I assume the reason that they’ve decided to schedule the highlights there are so that it doesn’t clash with their own World Cup game on BBC One.

I do wonder though if there should be a clause in the contract that says that the race highlights must be on BBC One. It’s a big issue for the early evening races, and easily knocks a good million or so off the figures by scheduling the highlights on BBC Two instead of BBC One. It’ll be another difficult Summer I feel for the F1: the British Grand Prix again clashes with the Wimbledon final, whilst the Hungarian Grand Prix clashes with the Commonwealth Games, and no doubt the World Cup will deflect attention away from the F1.

Thursday 19th June
14:00 to 14:45 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
20:45 to 21:00 – F1: Gear Up for Austria (Sky Sports F1)

Friday 20th June
08:45 to 11:00 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
11:00 to 11:50 – GP2: Practice (Sky Sports F1)
12:45 to 14:50 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
14:50 to 15:30 – GP2: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
16:00 to 16:45 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)
18:00 to 19:00 – GP Heroes: Ronnie Peterson (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Saturday 21st June
08:45 to 09:20 – GP3: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
09:45 to 11:15 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
12:00 to 14:35 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
13:00 to 14:05 – F1: Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live)
14:35 to 16:05 – GP2: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
16:20 to 17:20 – GP3: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
16:45 to 18:00 – F1: Qualifying Highlights (BBC One)

Sunday 22nd June
08:25 to 09:25 – GP3: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
09:30 to 10:45 – GP2: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
11:30 to 16:15 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
=> 11:30 – Track Parade
=> 12:00 – Race
=> 15:30 – Paddock Live
12:30 to 15:00 – F1: Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)
19:30 to 21:00 – F1: Race Highlights (BBC Two)

Wednesday 25th June
20:30 to 21:00 – Midweek Report (Sky Sports F1)

Classic F1 on Sky Sports F1
In the same way how Canada 1998 was originally listed two weeks ago, but never actually aired, I don’t expect Austria 1999 to air either on June 22nd, but hopefully I’m proven wrong. EDIT on June 19th: The Austria 1999 slot has been extended to a two hour slot, so it will be the full race!

14/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1993 Italian Grand Prix Highlights
15/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1986 Australian Grand Prix Highlights
16/06 – 21:00 to 00:15 – 2012 Singapore Grand Prix (Sky commentary)
17/06 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1994 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
18/06 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1985 Australian Grand Prix Highlights
19/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1982 Austrian Grand Prix Highlights
20/06 – 19:15 to 20:00 – 1984 Austrian Grand Prix Highlights
21/06 – 21:25 to 22:10 – 1987 Austrian Grand Prix Highlights
22/06 – 16:15 to 17:15 – 1979 Season Review
22/06 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 1999 Austrian Grand Prix
23/06 – 21:00 to 23:30 – 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix
24/06 – 21:00 to 23:45 – 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Sky commentary)
25/06 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix
26/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1994 Australian Grand Prix Highlights
27/06 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1991 British Grand Prix Highlights

As always, the timings are subject to slight alterations, so I shall update this blog if and when that happens.

Scheduling: The 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans

The greatest motor race of the year, some say. It is the middle of June which means that it can only be time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans! Expect a battle up front between the Audi’s and Toyota’s as Audi attempt to claw back some ground on Toyota following the first two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Having been in attendance at Silverstone in April, I’m looking forward to see how this battle plays out, and also to see whether the Porsche’s can spoil Audi and Toyota’s fun.

As is the usual tradition, the 24 Hours will be screened in full, live and exclusively on British Eurosport across Saturday and Sunday with build-up taking place across the entire week. Tom Gaymor will be voicing the 24 Minutes shows, whilst the usual team led by Martin Haven and Liz Halliday will be on commentary. The race starts at 14:00 UK time on Saturday 14th June. The full schedule can be found below:

Sunday 8th June
21:00 to 22:00 – Sports Insiders: 24 Hours of Le Mans (Eurosport)

Monday 9th June
21:30 to 22:00 – 24 Minutes (Eurosport)

Tuesday 10th June
20:55 to 21:25 – 24 Minutes (Eurosport)

Wednesday 11th June
14:50 to 19:00 – Live Practice (Eurosport 2)
20:35 to 21:00 – Live 24 Minutes (Eurosport)
21:00 to 23:00 – Live Qualifying (Eurosport)

Thursday 12th June
18:00 to 20:00 – Live Qualifying (Eurosport 2)
20:30 to 21:00 – Live 24 Minutes (Eurosport)
21:00 to 23:00 – Live Qualifying (Eurosport)

Friday 13th June
20:00 to 20:30 – 24 Minutes (Eurosport)

Saturday 14th June
07:45 to 08:45 – Live Warm Up (Eurosport)
08:45 to 09:45 – Live Legends Race (Eurosport)
13:15 to 13:45 – Live 24 Minutes (Eurosport)
23:00 to 23:30 – Live 24 Minutes (Eurosport)
– for details of the race itself, see below

Sunday 15th June
07:45 to 08:15 – Live 24 Minutes (Eurosport)
14:15 to 14:30 – Live 24 Minutes (Eurosport)

The race itself beginning on the Saturday…
13:45 to 22:30 – Eurosport
22:30 to 23:30 – Eurosport 2
23:30 to 07:30 – Eurosport
07:30 to 08:15 – Eurosport 2
08:15 to 14:15 – Eurosport

It doesn’t look like BBC Radio are doing a one hour special this year, however if anything changes, I’ll update the schedule.

Scheduling: The 2014 Canadian Grand Prix

Formula 1 heads for its annual trip across the pond for the Canadian Grand Prix. The good news is that the race is live on both BBC One and Sky Sports F1, in my view it is always good to see a live race airing in primetime on free-to-air television. It’ll be interesting to see how the race coverage rates given that it is going up against Soccer Aid on ITV.

For the second year in a row, Natalie Pinkham will not be in Canada, this year she is presenting Sky’s coverage of the Hockey World Cup throughout the first half of June. I’m guessing both Rachel Brookes and Craig Slater will be out in Canada, Brookes presenting The F1 Show alongside Ted Kravitz. Kravitz will be back with the team after needing to go home from the Monaco Grand Prix weekend early. On a scheduling related note, I’m disappointed that BBC Three’s practice two coverage will not have more reaction and analysis, that being one of the highlights of last year’s coverage.

Whilst there is no GP2 and GP3 during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, there is BTCC and the IndyCar Series to whet the appetite. Below is the full schedule:

Thursday 5th June
16:00 to 16:45 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
21:30 to 22:00 – F1: Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Friday 6th June
07:00 to 07:15 – F1: Gear Up for Canada (Sky Sports F1)
14:45 to 16:50 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
14:55 to 16:30 – F1: Practice 1 (BBC Two)
18:45 to 21:00 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
19:00 to 20:35 – F1: Practice 2 (BBC Three)
21:00 to 21:45 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
23:00 to 00:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)

Saturday 7th June
14:45 to 16:15 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
14:55 to 16:05 – F1: Practice 3 (BBC Two)
17:00 to 19:20 – F1: Qualifying (BBC One)
17:00 to 19:45 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)

Sunday 8th June
01:30 to 04:00 – IndyCars: Firestone 600 (BT Sport 2)
– repeated on Sunday 8th June at 13:00
11:15 to 17:40 – BTCC: Oulton Park (ITV4)
17:30 to 22:15 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
=> 17:30 – Track Parade
=> 18:00 – Race
=> 21:30 – Paddock Live
18:20 to 21:00 – F1: Race (BBC One)
21:00 to 22:00 – F1: Forum (BBC Red Button)
22:15 to 23:15 – GP Heroes: Clay Regazzoni (Sky Sports F1)

Wednesday 11th June
20:30 to 21:00 – Midweek Report (Sky Sports F1)

Classic F1 on Sky Sports F1
I believe this is the first time that Sky have shown the 1998 Canadian Grand Prix. I am disappointed that it is not the full race given that races post 1996 have tended to be the full race, so one assumes this is the original ITV highlights minus pre and post race analysis. EDIT on June 5th: Or not, its since disappeared from the schedule.

31/05 – 21:00 to 21:40 – 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix Highlights
01/06 – 21:00 to 23:30 – 2007 Chinese Grand Prix
02/06 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 2012 Canadian Grand Prix (Sky commentary)
03/06 – 21:00 to 00:00 – 2011 Canadian Grand Prix
04/06 – 21:00 to 23:15 – 2007 Canadian Grand Prix
05/06 – 21:00 to 23:30 – 2008 Canadian Grand Prix
06/06 – 22:00 to 23:00 – 1978 Season Review
07/06 – 19:45 to 20:45 – 1991 Canadian Grand Prix Highlights
09/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix Highlights
10/06 – 21:00 to 23:15 – 1998 Japanese Grand Prix
11/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1983 United States Grand Prix West Highlights
12/06 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
13/06 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix Highlights

As always, if there are any amendments, I’ll update this schedule.

Scheduling: The 2014 Monaco Grand Prix

Formula 1 next weekend heads to the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix! Always a fan-favourite, the race will air exclusively live on Sky Sports F1 with extended highlights on BBC One later that evening. If you wish to skip straight to the schedule, as usual, click the links below…

– Monday 19th May
– Wednesday 21st May
– Thursday 22nd May
– Friday 23rd May
– Saturday 24th May
– Sunday 25th May
– Wednesday 28th May
– Classic F1

Whilst Sky Sports F1’s pre-Monaco schedule is perhaps not as extensive as last year, the channel does have highlights of the Historic Grand Prix from Monaco (also on ITV4), which took place last weekend along with the usual selection of classic races. As is the usual Monaco tradition, Thursday is practice day. The only on-track action on Friday is GP2, which hopefully is less dramatic than last year’s start shambles! There are two editions of The F1 Show, now traditional for Sky at Monaco.

Like last year, I am surprised that BBC did not opt to take Monaco, however, their first two choices were Britain and the final race meaning that the third race was always going to be an American-timezone race, which turned out to be Canada. So Sky were always going to pick up Monaco. Over on BT Sport, and I’m happy to say that they are pushing the boat further out for live coverage of the Indianapolis 500. Preceding the event will be a Motorsport Tonight Special, as always fronted by Abi Griffiths with studio guests including motor sport commentator Ben Evans.

Fans therefore have a choice of watching the Monaco post-race stuff on Sky or the Indy 500 build-up on BT Sport, a good choice! During the race itself, the plan is for BT to take a split screen approach, with studio discussion during the ad-breaks in America. Again, this is great news and reminiscent of what Sky Sports did for years with the IndyCar coverage. One imagines Keith Huewen will turn up somewhere, hopefully he does being Sky’s presenter for many years. Below are all the scheduling details you need:

Monday 19th May
20:00 to 21:00 – Monaco Historic Grand Prix 2014 (Sky Sports F1)
– repeated on Tuesday 20th May at 20:00 on ITV4

Wednesday 21st May
14:00 to 14:45 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
23:45 to 00:00 – F1: Gear up for Monaco (Sky Sports F1)

Thursday 22nd May
08:45 to 11:00 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
08:55 to 10:35 – F1: Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
11:00 to 11:50 – GP2: Practice (Sky Sports F1)
12:45 to 15:00 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
15:10 to 16:00 – GP2: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
16:00 to 16:45 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)
20:00 to 21:00 – F1: Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Friday 23rd May
10:05 to 11:35 – GP2: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Saturday 24th May
09:45 to 11:15 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
09:55 to 11:05 – F1: Practice 3 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
12:00 to 15:00 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
12:55 to 14:05 – F1: Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
15:00 to 16:00 – GP2: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
16:10 to 17:10 – GP Heroes: James Hunt (Sky Sports F1)
17:25 to 18:40 – F1: Qualifying Highlights (BBC One)
19:45 to 20:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Sunday 25th May
10:00 to 11:00 – Formula Renault 3.5 (BT Sport 1)
11:30 to 16:15 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
=> 11:30 – Track Parade
=> 12:00 – Race
=> 15:30 – Paddock Live
13:00 to 15:00 – F1: Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)
15:30 to 16:30 – Motorsport Tonight Special (BT Sport 2)
16:30 to 21:00 – Indianapolis 500 (BT Sport 2)
17:05 to 18:35 – F1: Race Highlights (BBC One)

Wednesday 28th May
20:30 to 21:00 – Midweek Report (Sky Sports F1)

Classic F1 on Sky Sports F1
19/05 – 21:00 to 21:40 – 1982 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
20/05 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1988 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
21/05 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1989 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
22/05 – 21:00 to 21:40 – 1993 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
23/05 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1984 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
24/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1992 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
25/05 – 16:15 to 17:15 – 1977 Season Review
25/05 – 21:00 to 21:40 – 1983 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights
26/05 – 21:00 to 23:30 – 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix
27/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1996 German Grand Prix Highlights
28/05 – 21:00 to 21:30 – 1990 Australian Grand Prix Highlights
29/05 – 21:00 to 23:45 – 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix
30/05 – 21:00 to 21:30 – 1987 Australian Grand Prix Highlights

As always if anything changes, I’ll update the above details.

Scheduling: The 2014 Spanish Grand Prix

Formula 1 returns to Europe this upcoming week after the four fly-away races with the Spanish Grand Prix from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. As was the case in both 2012 and 2013, this race will be shown live on both BBC One and Sky Sports F1. If you want to skip straight to the schedules, click the links below…

– Thursday 8th May
– Friday 9th May
– Saturday 10th May
– Sunday 11th May
– Wednesday 14th May
– Classic F1

As well as heralding the first round of the 2014 GP3 Series season, it is also the first Grand Prix in 2014 that Eddie Jordan will be attending! This is Jordan’s first of twelve rounds this year. Over on Sky, expect the usual trio of Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill and Anthony Davidson back to take the channel through the early Summer races. Staying with Sky, and after Senna Week, there is more new Senna related programming during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, whilst there are also two ‘GP Heroes’ documentaries from the Brunswick Film Archive – meaning there is new programming on race day from 11:00 through to 17:45.

Thursday 8th May
14:00 to 14:45 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
21:45 to 22:00 – F1: Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
23:30 to 23:45 – F1: Gear Up for Spain (Sky Sports F1)

Friday 9th May
08:45 to 11:00 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
08:55 to 10:35 – F1: Practice 1 (BBC Two)
11:00 to 11:50 – GP2: Practice (Sky Sports F1)
12:45 to 14:50 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
13:00 to 14:35 – F1: Practice 2 (BBC Two)
14:50 to 15:30 – GP2: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
16:00 to 16:45 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)
18:00 to 19:00 – GP Heroes: Peter Revson (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Saturday 10th May
07:25 to 08:45 – Historic Grand Prix of Monaco Qualifying (Motors TV)
08:45 to 09:20 – GP3: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
09:10 to 11:15 – Historic Grand Prix of Monaco Qualifying (Motors TV)
09:45 to 11:15 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
09:55 to 11:05 – F1: Practice 3 (BBC Two)
12:00 to 14:35 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
12:00 to 14:35 – F1: Qualifying (Sky1)
12:20 to 14:30 – F1: Qualifying (BBC One)
13:00 to 15:35 – F1: Qualifying (Sky1 + 1)
13:25 to 17:25 – Historic Grand Prix of Monaco Qualifying (Motors TV)
14:35 to 15:50 – GP2: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
16:15 to 17:00 – GP3: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Sunday 11th May
08:20 to 09:10 – GP3: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
08:25 to 11:20 – Historic Grand Prix of Monaco (Motors TV)
09:30 to 10:30 – GP2: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
11:00 to 11:30 – Memories of Senna (Sky Sports F1)
11:30 to 16:15 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
=> 11:30 – Track Parade
=> 12:00 – Race
=> 15:30 – Paddock Live
12:15 to 15:15 – F1: Race (BBC One)
12:55 to 17:40 – Historic Grand Prix of Monaco (Motors TV)
15:15 to 16:15 – F1: Forum (BBC Red Button)
16:15 to 17:15 – GP Heroes: Sir Jackie Stewart (Sky Sports F1)
17:15 to 17:45 – Senna: The Driving Force (Sky Sports F1)

Wednesday 14th May
20:30 to 21:00 – Midweek Report (Sky Sports F1)

Classic F1 on Sky Sports F1
03/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1981 British Grand Prix Highlights
04/05 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1983 United States Grand Prix West Highlights
05/05 – 21:00 to 21:45 – 1996 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
06/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1996 Australian Grand Prix Highlights
07/05 – 21:00 to 23:15 – 2012 Spanish Grand Prix (Sky commentary)
08/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1996 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights
09/05 – 21:00 to 21:30 – 1981 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights
10/05 – 17:05 to 18:05 – 1976 Season Review
10/05 – 21:00 to 21:40 – 1991 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights
11/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1994 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights
12/05 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 2007 United States Grand Prix
13/05 – 21:00 to 23:15 – 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix
14/05 – 21:00 to 22:45 – 1989 Australian Grand Prix
15/05 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 2010 German Grand Prix
16/05 – 21:00 to 23:00 – 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix (Sky commentary)
17/05 – 21:00 to 23:15 – 2008 British Grand Prix
18/05 – 21:00 to 22:00 – 1993 German Grand Prix Highlights

If anything changes, I shall update the schedule.

Update on May 3rd – I’ve added the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco coverage on Motors TV to the schedule.