Scheduling: The 2019 Russian Grand Prix

From the lights of Singapore, Sochi plays host to the sixth running of the Russian Grand Prix.

There are several key changes to both Sky’s and Channel 4’s line-up for the weekend, with both commentary teams changing. Martin Brundle is stepping away from the Sky commentary box, so expect Paul di Resta to be alongside David Croft in the box.

Karun Chandhok is also absent from Sky’s team in Russia; however, Ted Kravitz is back with Sky, and should be with them for the remainder of the season. Although not working with Sky, Kravitz was in Singapore, but working with Singapore’s big screen team for the weekend as reporter (ran by Australian company ZSpace).

Over on Channel 4, Allan McNish replaces David Coulthard in the commentary booth. Coulthard and Brundle are missing the same three races this year. Both were absent from Azerbaijan back in April, and both are missing the upcoming Russian and Japanese rounds.

Due to the time difference between Russia and the UK, the race starts two hours earlier than other European races at 12:10 UK time. Channel 4 have more flexibility with the scheduling of their highlights programme as a result, which airs an hour earlier than usual at 18:00 UK time.

Russia plays host to the final round of the inaugural Formula Three season, with Robert Shwartzman set to clinch the crown.

Channel 4 F1
28/09 – 18:30 to 20:00 – Qualifying Highlights
29/09 – 18:00 to 20:00 – Race Highlights

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
27/09 – 08:45 to 10:45 – Practice 1 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
27/09 – 12:45 to 14:55 – Practice 2 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
28/09 – 09:45 to 11:10 – Practice 3
28/09 – 12:00 to 14:35 – Qualifying
=> 12:00 – Pre-Show
=> 12:55 – Qualifying
29/09 – 10:30 to 15:30 – Race
=> 10:30 – Pit Lane Live (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 11:30 – On the Grid (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 12:05 – Race (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 14:00 – Paddock Live
=> 15:00 – Notebook

Supplementary Programming
26/09 – 13:00 to 13:30 – Drivers’ Press Conference
26/09 – 16:00 to 16:30 – Welcome to the Weekend
27/09 – 16:00 to 16:30 – The Story so Far
28/09 – 15:45 to 16:15 – The F1 Show
02/10 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Midweek Debrief

BBC Radio F1
All sessions are available live on BBC’s F1 website
27/09 – 08:55 to 10:35 – Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
27/09 – 12:55 to 14:35 – Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
29/09 – 11:30 to 14:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Barcelona (Eurosport 2)
Also airs live on YouTube
29/09 – 15:30 to 17:30 – Race

British Touring Car Championship – Silverstone (ITV4)
29/09 – 10:20 to 18:15 – Races

Formula Two – Russia (Sky Sports F1)
27/09 – 07:25 to 08:15 – Practice
27/09 – 14:55 to 15:30 – Qualifying
28/09 – 14:35 to 15:45 – Race 1
29/09 – 09:10 to 10:10 – Race 2

Formula Three – Russia (Sky Sports F1)
27/09 – 10:55 to 11:30 – Qualifying
28/09 – 08:05 to 09:00 – Race 1
29/09 – 07:45 to 08:40 – Race 2

World Superbikes – France
Also airs live on World Superbikes’ Video Pass (£)
27/09 – 13:55 onwards (Eurosport)
=> 13:55 to 14:55 – SBK: Practice 2
=> 14:55 to 15:55 – SSP: Practice 2
28/09 – 09:30 to 14:15 – Qualifying and Race 1 (Eurosport 2)
29/09 – 09:30 to 15:15 – Support and Race 2 (Eurosport 2)
01/10 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

As always, the post will be updated if plans change.

Update on September 28th – a post-transmission mention to #AskCrofty, which aired today at 11:10 on Sky Sports F1, with David Croft asking the questions to Jenson Button.

Contribute to the running costs of Motorsport Broadcasting by donating via PayPal

Scheduling: The 2019 Singapore Grand Prix / Aragon MotoGP

Formula 1 heads out of Europe and over to Singapore for the start of the flyaway season, as the countdown continues to Abu Dhabi.

The night-race from Singapore falls on the same weekend as the Aragon MotoGP round, with a clash initially looking likely. However, a late switch from Dorna to move the main MotoGP race earlier means that both avoid a direct clash. The F1 begins at 13:10 UK time, with MotoGP’s main event from Aragon beginning at 12:00.

Both races air exclusively live on pay-TV, F1 live on Sky Sports, with MotoGP on BT Sport. Highlights of the latter air on Quest, which reverted to two airings as of recent races after a bit of back and forth from a scheduling perspective over the Summer.

Ted Kravitz is not with Sky in Singapore (sorry Lando, if you are lurking), but will be back with Sky in Russia. There is no Formula Two or Formula Three this weekend, both returning in Russia.

Elsewhere, the IndyCar season concludes, returning to Laguna Seca for the first time in 15 years. The action airs live on Sky’s F1 channel, as IndyCar concludes the first of a multi-year deal with the broadcaster.

Channel 4 F1
21/09 – 18:30 to 20:00 – Qualifying Highlights
22/09 – 19:00 to 21:00 – Race Highlights

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
20/09 – 09:15 to 11:15 – Practice 1 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
20/09 – 13:15 to 15:15 – Practice 2 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
21/09 – 10:45 to 12:30
=> 10:45 – Practice 3 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 12:10 – Paddock Walkabout
21/09 – 13:00 to 15:30 – Qualifying
=> 13:00 – Pre-Show
=> 13:55 – Qualifying
22/09 – 11:30 to 16:00 – Race
=> 11:30 – Pit Lane Live (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 12:30 – On the Grid (also Sky Sports Main Event until 13:00)
=> 13:05 – Race
=> 15:00 – Paddock Live

Supplementary Programming
19/09 – 13:30 to 14:00 – Drivers’ Press Conference
19/09 – 16:30 to 17:00 – Welcome to the Weekend
20/09 – 16:00 to 16:30 – The Story so Far
21/09 – 15:30 to 16:00 – The F1 Show
25/09 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Midweek Debrief

BBC Radio F1
All sessions are available live on BBC’s F1 website
19/09 – 21:30 to 22:00 – Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
20/09 – 09:25 to 11:05 – Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
20/09 – 13:25 to 15:05 – Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
22/09 – 13:00 to 16:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)

MotoGP – Aragon (BT Sport 2)
Also airs live on MotoGP’s Video Pass (£)
20/09 – 07:45 to 15:15 – Practice 1 and 2
21/09 – 08:00 to 15:15
=> 08:00 – Practice 3
=> 11:00 – Qualifying
22/09 – 07:30 to 15:30
=> 07:30 – Warm Ups
=> 09:15 – Moto3
=> 11:00 – MotoGP
=> 13:15 – Moto2
=> 14:30 – Chequered Flag

MotoGP – Aragon (Quest)
23/09 – 18:00 to 19:00 – Highlights

British Superbikes – Assen
21/09 – 14:00 to 16:30 – Qualifying (Eurosport 2)
22/09 – 11:30 to 17:00 – Races (Eurosport 2)
26/09 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

Euroformula – Barcelona
Also airs live on YouTube
21/09 – 14:30 to 15:30 – Race 1 (BT Sport Extra 2)
22/09 – 13:00 to 14:00 – Race 2 (BT Sport Extra 3)

IndyCar Series – Laguna Seca (Sky Sports F1)
21/09 – 21:30 to 23:00 – Qualifying
22/09 – 19:30 to 23:00 – Race

International GT Open – Barcelona
Also airs live on YouTube
21/09 – 15:30 to 17:15 – Race 1 (BT Sport Extra 2)
22/09 – 14:00 to 15:30 – Race 2 (BT Sport Extra 3)

Red Bull Rookies Cup – Aragon (BT Sport 2)
21/09 – 15:15 to 16:15 – Race

Speedway Grand Prix – Britain
20/09 – 18:00 to 19:00 – Qualifying (BT Sport 1)
21/09 – 16:15 to 20:30 – Races (BT Sport 2)

As always, the schedule will be updated if timings change.

Contribute to the running costs of Motorsport Broadcasting by donating via PayPal

Scheduling: The 2019 Italian Grand Prix

From Spa, Formula 1’s ten teams head south to Monza for the last stop of the European leg, with the Italian Grand Prix!

After a light-weight line-up on Sky last weekend, Ted Kravitz is back with the team for their coverage from Monza. Over on Channel 4, Stefano Domenicali returns to the team after first appearing in Australia and Canada. Meanwhile, Claire Cottingham deputises for Jennie Gow on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Formula Two and Formula Three seasons are quickly heading towards their conclusion. There are only three rounds of Formula Two remaining this year, whilst Formula Three’s season finale takes place in Russia.

All of the F1 paddock, including F2 and F3, head into Monza with a heavy heart following the fatal accident of Anthoine Hubert last weekend in Spa.

Channel 4 F1
07/09 – 18:30 to 20:00 – Qualifying Highlights
08/09 – 19:00 to 21:00 – Race Highlights

Sky Sports F1
05/09 – 14:00 to 14:30 – Drivers’ Press Conference
05/09 – 17:00 to 17:30 – Welcome to the Weekend
06/09 – 09:45 to 17:30
=> 09:45 – F1: Practice 1
=> 11:55 – F2: Practice
=> 12:45 – Paddock Live
=> 13:45 – F1: Practice 2
=> 15:50 – F2: Qualifying
=> 16:30 – The Story so Far
=> 17:00 – F3: Qualifying Tape-Delay
07/09 – 09:30 to 17:15
=> 09:30 – F3: Race 1
=> 10:15 – Paddock Live
=> 10:45 – F1: Practice 3
=> 12:10 – Paddock Live
=> 13:00 – F1: Pre-Show
=> 13:55 – F1: Qualifying
=> 15:35 – F2: Race 1
=> 16:45 – The F1 Show
08/09 – 08:30 to 17:30
=> 08:30 – F3: Race 2
=> 09:15 – Paddock Live
=> 09:40 – F2: Race 2
=> 10:40 – Paddock Live
=> 11:05 – Porsche Supercup: Race
=> 11:40 – Paddock Live
=> 12:30 – F1: Pit Lane Live
=> 13:30 – F1: On the Grid (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 14:05 – F1: Race (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 16:00 – F1: Paddock Live
=> 17:00 – F1: Notebook
11/09 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Midweek Debrief

BBC Radio F1
All sessions are available live on BBC’s F1 website
05/09 – 21:00 to 21:30 – Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
08/09 – 14:00 to 16:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)

British Superbikes – Oulton Park
07/09 – 11:00 to 13:00 – Qualifying (Eurosport 2)
07/09 – 15:30 to 18:00 – Race 1 (Eurosport 2)
08/09 – 13:00 to 18:00 – Races 2 and 3 (Eurosport 2)
11/09 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

Euroformula – Silverstone
Also airs live on YouTube
07/09 – 15:00 to 16:00 – Race 1 (BT Sport 3)
08/09 – 13:45 to 14:45 – Race 2 (BT Sport 2)

International GT Open – Silverstone
Also airs live on YouTube
07/09 – 16:00 to 17:45 – Race 1 (BT Sport 3)
08/09 – 14:45 to 16:15 – Race 2 (BT Sport 2)

Speedway Grand Prix – Denmark (BT Sport 3)
07/09 – 17:45 to 21:15 – Races

World Superbikes – Algarve
Also airs live on World Superbikes’ Video Pass (£)
06/09 – 10:25 onwards (Eurosport 2)
=> 10:25 to 11:30 – SBK: Practice 1
=> 15:00 to 15:55 – SBK: Practice 2
=> 15:55 to 17:00 – SSP: Practice 2
07/09 – 13:00 to 15:30 – Qualifying Tape-Delay and Race 1 (Eurosport 2)
08/09 – 10:30 to 13:00 – SSP: Superpole Race (Eurosport 2)
08/09 – 18:00 to 19:00 – Race 2 Tape-Delay (Eurosport 2)
10/09 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

As always, the schedule will be updated if plans change.

Update on September 4th – Well, Sky Sports F1’s schedule for the weekend has radically changed. No, this is not a mistake, nor a typo, but schedules for the weekend show that Sky will be live from Friday morning through to Sunday evening.

The 5-minute fillers between sessions have gone. I do not know if this is a one-off for whatever reason, or a change of direction going forward (perhaps experimenting ahead of 2020?). Either way, the site will be updated as and when more information comes out.

Update on September 8th – An update on this, more for completeness purposes. Aside from an Ask Crofty special on Saturday with Nico Rosberg, none of the other special segments from Sky were actually live. In fact, it was the same pre-recorded material on a loop, just under a different title.

Contribute to the running costs of Motorsport Broadcasting by donating via PayPal

Scheduling: The 2019 Belgian Grand Prix

After the Summer break, Formula 1 heads to Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix! With nine races remaining until the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 1st, can anyone stop Lewis Hamilton from winning his sixth Drivers’ Championship?

All nine races air exclusively live on Sky Sports. Sky will be thin on the ground in Belgium, with both Anthony Davidson and Paul di Resta at Silverstone for the start of the 2019-20 World Endurance Championship season (airing live on BT Sport/ESPN). Ted Kravitz is also absent, returning to the team in Monza next time out.

Meanwhile on the Channel 4 front, Mark Webber joins Steve Jones and David Coulthard in the paddock for their highlights offering. Slightly unusual is the fact that Channel 4’s qualifying highlights air at 18:00 instead of 18:30, but this is still three hours after qualifying ends, so still within their contractual obligations.

Channel 4 F1
31/08 – 18:00 to 19:30 – Qualifying Highlights
01/09 – 19:00 to 21:00 – Race Highlights

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
30/08 – 09:45 to 11:55 – Practice 1
30/08 – 13:45 to 15:50 – Practice 2
31/08 – 10:45 to 12:30
=> 10:45 – Practice 3
=> 12:10 – Paddock Walkabout
31/08 – 13:00 to 15:35 – Qualifying
=> 13:00 – Pre-Show
=> 13:55 – Qualifying (also Sky Sports Main Event from 14:15)
01/09 – 12:30 to 17:00 – Race
=> 12:30 – Pit Lane Live
=> 13:30 – On the Grid
=> 14:05 – Race
=> 16:00 – Paddock Live

Supplementary Programming
29/08 – 14:00 to 14:30 – Drivers’ Press Conference
29/08 – 17:00 to 17:30 – Welcome to the Weekend
30/08 – 16:30 to 17:00 – The Story so Far
31/08 – 16:45 to 17:15 – The F1 Show
04/09 – 20:00 to 20:30 – F1 Midweek Debrief

BBC Radio F1
All sessions are available live on BBC’s F1 website
30/08 – 09:55 to 11:35 – Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
30/08 – 13:55 to 15:35 – Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
31/08 – 10:55 to 12:05 – Practice 3 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
31/08 – 13:55 to 15:05 – Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
01/09 – 14:00 to 16:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)

European Le Mans Series – Silverstone (BT Sport Extra 4)
Also airs live on YouTube
31/08 – 14:00 to 19:15 – Race

Formula Two – Belgium (Sky Sports F1)
30/08 – 11:55 to 12:45 – Practice
30/08 – 15:50 to 16:30 – Qualifying
31/08 – 15:35 to 16:45 – Race 1
~~01/09 – 10:05 to 11:05 – Race 2~~

Formula Three – Belgium (Sky Sports F1)
30/08 – 17:00 to 17:35 – Qualifying Tape-Delay
31/08 – 09:30 to 10:20 – Race 1
01/09 – ~~08:40 to 09:30~~ 10:05 to 11:05 – Race 2

IndyCar Series – Portland (Sky Sports F1)
31/08 – 23:00 to 00:30 – Qualifying (also Sky Sports Main Event)
01/09 – 20:00 to 23:00 – Race

Porsche Supercup – Belgium (Sky Sports F1)
01/09 – 11:25 to 12:05 – Race

Speedway Grand Prix – Germany (BT Sport 3)
31/08 – 17:45 to 21:15 – Races

World Endurance Championship – 4 Hours of Silverstone (BT Sport/ESPN)
01/09 – 12:00 to 16:00 – Race

As always, the schedule will be updated if plans change.

Update on September 1st at 09:05 – Due to the death of Anthoine Hubert during yesterday’s Formula Two race, the second Formula Two race of the weekend has been cancelled. The second Formula Three race moves into the slot occupied by Formula Two.

Scheduling: The 2019 W Series finale / Austrian MotoGP

This weekend, Jamie Chadwick and Beitske Visser take to the track in the hope of becoming the inaugural W Series champion! The two join 16 other drivers’ on-track at Brands Hatch in the final round of the W Series season.

Live coverage of the finale airs on Channel 4 in an extended two-hour broadcast. The race itself starts at 15:10 on Sunday, with Lee McKenzie fronting coverage as usual. Ted Kravitz remains alongside McKenzie, whilst David Coulthard re-joins Claire Cottingham in the commentary box.

W Series supports the German touring car series DTM, which airs live for UK viewers on Freesports TV.

Motorsport Broadcasting will be reporting on-site from Brands Hatch, so keep an eye on this site and on the Twitter feed over the weekend and beyond for snippets from Brands.

Elsewhere, MotoGP heads to Austria, with both MotoE and the Red Bull Rookies Cup joining them at the Red Bull Ring.

W Series – Brands Hatch (Channel 4)
Qualifying airs live across Facebook and Twitter
11/08 – 14:30 to 16:30 – Race

MotoGP – Austria (BT Sport 2)
Also airs live on MotoGP’s Video Pass (£)
09/08 – 07:45 to 15:15 – Practice 1 and 2
10/08 – 08:00 to 16:00
=> 08:00 – Practice 3
=> 11:00 – Qualifying
11/08 – 07:15 to 15:00
=> 07:15 – Warm Ups
=> 08:45 – MotoE
=> 09:30 – Moto3
=> 11:00 – Moto2
=> 12:30 – MotoGP
=> 14:00 – Chequered Flag

MotoGP – Austria (Quest)
12/08 – 23:00 to 00:00 – Highlights

DTM – Brands Hatch (Freesports TV)
10/08 – 13:15 to 14:45 – Race 1
11/08 – 13:15 to 14:45 – Race 2

Red Bull Rookies Cup – Austria
10/08 – 16:00 to 17:00 – Race 1 (BT Sport 2)
11/08 – 14:15 to 15:15 – Race 2 (BT Sport/ESPN)

As always, please check back in case scheduling details for the weekend change.

Contribute to the running costs of Motorsport Broadcasting by donating via PayPal