BBC Sport and Sky Sports have confirmed the 2014 F1 calendar picks this morning. The picks are as follows:

2014 Schedule Details
March 16th – Australia (Melbourne) – Sky
March 30th – Malaysia (Sepang) – BBC and Sky
April 6th – Bahrain (Sakhir) – Sky
April 20th – China (Shanghai) – Sky
May 11th – Spain (Barcelona) – BBC and Sky
May 25th – Monaco (Monaco) – Sky
June 8th – Canada (Montreal) – BBC and Sky
June 22nd – Austria (Red Bull Ring) – Sky
July 6th – Britain (Silverstone) – BBC and Sky
July 20th – Germany (Hockenheim) – Sky
July 27th – Hungary (Budapest) – Sky
August 24th – Belgium (Spa) – BBC and Sky
September 7th – Italy (Monza) – BBC and Sky
September 21st – Singapore (Marina Bay) – Sky
October 5th – Japan (Suzuka) – BBC and Sky
October 12th – Russia (Sochi) – BBC and Sky
November 2nd – USA (Circuit of the Americas) – Sky
November 9th – Brazil (Interlagos) – Sky
November 23rd – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) – BBC and Sky

As of writing, there has been no formal announcement on either the BBC and Sky line-ups for the new season. The Executive Producer for Sky Sports F1, Martin Turner said: “The rule changes mean 2014 is the most eagerly awaited season in years and only on Sky Sports F1 can viewers enjoy the full story live. From the first corner in Australia to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, we’ll be there offering our viewers unrivalled live coverage and analysis. Our ten exclusively live races include several of the season’s key grands prix including three of the first four, two of the final three and of course, Monaco, the most glamorous weekend on the calendar. We can’t wait.”

BBC’s Head of F1, Ben Gallop added: “It has been another great year for F1 on the BBC. We’re now very much looking forward to 2014 and feel we have a strong package for our TV coverage. This format of both live and highlights is attracting a wide range of viewers and we hope to see even more people tuning in next year to experience the magic of Formula 1.”

For 2013, the surprise was that BBC were not screening Monaco, this year it has to be Brazil. For those unfamiliar, the pick order goes as follows:

– BBC pick 1, 2 and 3
– Sky pick 4, 5 and 6
– BBC pick 7
– Sky pick 8

Sadly, I only got nine correct in my predictions, but hey ho! The first three picks for BBC are pretty certain to be Britain, Abu Dhabi and Canada. Picking Canada over Brazil surprises me, so one assumes that BBC are thinking that 2014 may be another Vettel walkover. Also, as noted previously, Britain will be on BBC Two due to Wimbledon. Sky will have jumped on Australia again, and also Brazil exclusively for the very first time. A fascinating question is what is going to happen to Brazil’s highlights show. Technically, it is not daytime, and it is not primetime. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Brazil highlights turn up at about 20:00 or 21:00 on BBC Two, which may well have been BBC’s thinking here, in that a highlights show at that time is better than 22:30.

Sky’s third pick? I’d say Monaco. Why? History tells us BBC will not pick USA, as the timeslot is completely unfavourable to them for live coverage, so Sky would have taken Monaco knowing that BBC would be avoiding USA. For anyone thinking “USA is the same as Canada for timeslot”, that is indeed correct but Canada is in the Summer and USA would be against the biggest shows in television, big difference. BBC would then snap up Malaysia, Sky would take USA, as discussed. Belgium is next for BBC, at which point it appears Sky considered A.N. Other higher priority than Italy, I assume that race being Austria. From there things would have alternated, but that is how I suspect the first ten picks ended up.

Overall, I’d say Sky edges it for the picks, thanks to having Australia, Monaco and Brazil all exclusively live. It is a tale of two halves though, and I do feel a bit sorry for BBC as they are in reality forced to take Abu Dhabi despite it being one of the worst circuits on the entire calendar which has allowed Sky to take Brazil.