Scheduling: The 2018 Australian Grand Prix

New television graphics, new cockpit protection, a new logo, and a new over-the-top service. Formula 1 heads into the 2018 season with major changes which viewers worldwide will notice.

2018 is the last year of the current Sky Sports and Channel 4 contract, with Sky acquiring exclusive rights from 2019 onwards. Despite the wider changes for 2018, both Sky and Channel 4 field broadly similar line-ups, with the only change that Pat Symonds appears to not be returning to Sky’s talent portfolio.

The bigger changes are for the BBC’s radio team, where Allan McNish, Mark Gallagher, and Tom Clarkson all leave the fray. Clarkson is expected to be part of Formula 1’s in-house team. In comes former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer, who will commentate on every race this season, alongside lead commentator Jack Nicholls. As always, audio coverage of every session is available on the BBC Sport website.

As noted in the past few weeks, Sky’s schedule is changing for 2018, with The F1 Show moving to a post-qualifying slot on Saturday’s. However, the race day timings remain the same, meaning that there is an extra ten-minutes of build-up, and ten fewer minutes of analysis following the race. The titles of the pre-race segments are changing, with Pit Lane Live an hour in duration, and a new On the Grid segment covering the period directly before lights out.

For those wondering, there is no sign of Virgin Australia Supercars from Melbourne appearing in Motorsport.tv’s schedules, even though the round is now part of the Supercars season moving forward. Elsewhere, Channel 4 are screening highlights of the Race of Champions event for the second year running.

NOTE: Clocks go forward one hour on Sunday 25th March, with the change from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time. The times listed are for GMT on Saturday and before; BST for Sunday and afterwards…

Channel 4
Sessions
24/03 – 13:00 to 14:50 – Qualifying Highlights
25/03 – 14:30 to 17:15 – Race Highlights

Supplementary Programming
25/03 – 08:25 to 09:30 – Race of Champions

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
23/03 – 00:30 to 02:45 – Practice 1 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
23/03 – 04:45 to 06:45 – Practice 2
24/03 – 02:45 to 04:10 – Practice 3
24/03 – 05:00 to 07:45 – Qualifying (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 05:00 – Pre-Show
=> 05:55 – Qualifying
25/03 – 04:30 to 09:10 – Race (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 04:30 – Pit Lane Live
=> 05:30 – On the Grid
=> 06:05 – Race
=> 08:30 – Paddock Live

Supplementary Programming
21/03 – 20:30 to 21:00 – The F1 Report: Australia Preview (also Sky Sports Mix)
22/03 – 04:00 to 05:00 – Driver Press Conference (also Sky Sports Mix)
22/03 – 18:00 to 18:15 – Paddock Uncut: Australia
24/03 – 07:45 to 08:15 – The F1 Show (also Sky Sports Main Event)
28/03 – 20:30 to 21:00 – The F1 Report: Australia Review

BBC F1
Sessions
22/03 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
25/03 – 05:30 to 08:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)

World Superbikes – Thailand
24/03 – 06:00 to 10:15 – Qualifying and Race 1 (Eurosport 2)
25/03 – 08:00 to 11:15 – Race 2 (Eurosport 2)
27/03 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

If the schedule above does change, I will update this post.

Update on March 19th – As pointed out in the comments, the Team Principles Press Conference takes place after first practice, at least in Melbourne. I have removed it from the schedule here as I cannot see it anywhere in Sky’s listings.

Scheduling: The 2018 Qatar MotoGP / Punta del Este E-Prix

The excitement, anticipation and tension has reached fever pitch on the eve of the new MotoGP season, which begins in Qatar!

Whether you are listening to the MotoGP app, or to BT Sport’s television coverage, the soundtrack to your weekend will be different, following the retirements of Nick Harris and Julian Ryder from the paddock at the end of 2017.

Simon Crafar, who raced in MotoGP and World Superbikes in the 1990s, partners Steve Day on the MotoGP World Feed, whilst Neil Hodgson will commentate on the 19 MotoGP races alongside Keith Huewen for BT Sport.

Ex-MotoGP rider Michael Laverty joins BT’s team for six races in 2018, with more an emphasis on the analytical side of things from BT this year. BT have overhauled their Friday offering, with a full presentation team now covering the action on practice day, and a 15-minute wrap-up show in the evening.

Suzi Perry continues to present BT’s coverage, covering 14 rounds, with Craig Doyle hosting the remainder.

MotoGP highlights programme remains on Channel 5 for 2018, however highlights from Qatar do not air until Wednesday evening, which seems like a waste on Channel 5’s behalf given that there are diminishing returns the further away from live you air.

Elsewhere, Punta del Este is the next stop on the Formula E calendar, replacing Sao Paolo which was meant to fill this slot. Live action returns to Channel 5 for the first time since Marrakesh in January.

MotoGP – Qatar (BT Sport 2)
16/03 – 09:30 to 17:15 – Practice 1 and 2
17/03 – 09:30 to 12:30 – Practice 3
17/03 – 13:00 to 17:30 – Qualifying
18/03 – 10:30 to 18:00
=> 10:30 – Warm Ups
=> 12:15 – Moto3
=> 14:00 – Moto2
=> 15:30 – MotoGP
=> 17:00 – Chequered Flag

MotoGP – Qatar (Channel 5)
21/03 – 19:00 to 20:00 – Highlights

Formula E – Punta del Este (online via YouTube)
17/03 – 10:55 to 11:55 – Practice 1
17/03 – 13:25 to 14:10 – Practice 2

Formula E – Punta del Este
17/03 – 14:45 to 16:15 – Qualifying (5Spike)
17/03 – 17:30 to 20:10 (Eurosport 2)
=> 17:30 – Preview
=> 18:05 – Qualifying
=> 19:00 – Race
17/03 – 18:30 to 20:10 – Race (Channel 5)

Asia Talent Cup – Qatar (BT Sport 2)
17/03 – 17:30 to 18:30 – Race 1
18/03 – 09:45 to 10:30 – Race 2

As always, the above will be updated if anything changes.

Scheduling: The 2018 Barcelona test 2

After a truncated first test of 2018 in Barcelona, the ten Formula 1 teams return to the circuit this week hoping for a bit more action on track.

For Sky Sports, the schedule for the four days remains the same as the first test, with Craig Slater fronting the round-up at 21:00 each day, followed by Ted Kravitz’s Notebook. There is no #AskCrofty, as there was in previous years at testing. The Sky Sports Digital and News teams as always will provide updates throughout each day of testing.

There are two special editions of the F1 Report looking back at testing, one a general review, and one a technical overview. The presentation line-up for both is unconfirmed as of writing.

The BBC’s radio coverage also kicks off this week, with Jennie Gow presenting a preview of the new season on Thursday alongside website editor Andrew Benson and new recruit Jolyon Palmer.

Elsewhere, the IndyCar Series begins in St. Petersburg, live coverage continuing on BT Sport. The third round of the World Rally Championship takes place in Mexico, with UK TV coverage airing from Saturday through to Tuesday.

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
06/03 – 21:00 to 21:45 – Day 1 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15
– schedule repeated for following three days
07/03 – 21:00 to 21:45 – Day 2 Highlights
08/03 – 21:00 to 21:45 – Day 3 Highlights
09/03 – 21:00 to 21:45 – Day 4 Highlights

Supplementary Programming
10/03 – 17:30 to 18:00 – F1 Report: 2018 Testing Special
14/03 – 20:00 to 21:00 – F1 Report: Development Special

BBC Radio F1
08/03 – 20:30 to 21:30 – Season Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)

IndyCar Series – St. Petersburg (BT Sport/ESPN)
11/03 – 16:00 to 19:15 – Race

World Rally Championship – Mexico
Every stage live via WRCPlus.com
10/03 – Day 1 Highlights
=> 09:30 to 10:00 (Motorsport.tv)
=> 11:00 to 11:30 (BT Sport 1)
10/03 – 17:00 to 18:00 – Live: Stage 13 (BT Sport 3)
11/03 – Day 2 Highlights
=> 09:30 to 10:00 (Motorsport.tv)
=> 15:30 to 16:00 (BT Sport 1)
11/03 – 16:00 to 17:00 – Live: Stage 21 (BT Sport 1)
11/03 – 18:00 to 19:30 – Live: Stage 22 [Power Stage] (BT Sport Extra 1)
12/03 – Day 3 Highlights
=> 09:30 to 10:00 (Motorsport.tv)
=> 11:00 to 11:30 (BT Sport 1)
13/03 – 19:00 to 20:00 – Highlights (Channel 5)

If anything changes, the above schedule will be updated.

Scheduling: The 2018 Mexico City E-Prix

Following a frantic Santiago E-Prix, the Formula E championship remains in the Americas for the Mexico City E-Prix!

As with Santiago, the E-Prix airs live on 5Spike and Eurosport 2. There is live boxing action on Channel 5 at the same time, so you can understand why Formula E takes the secondary spot for Channel 5 on this occasion. To Channel 5’s credit, highlights of the race are airing on Sunday morning.

For the first time ever in the UK, viewers have a choice of broadcaster for qualifying, with Eurosport also covering the session live.

Elsewhere, the Supercars fire up down under, starting their season off in Adelaide. For UK viewers, the action airs live on Motorsport.tv. And, as widely mentioned, Formula 1 testing starts off this week, for which the schedule can be found here.

Formula E – Mexico City (online via YouTube)
03/03 – 13:55 to 14:55 – Practice 1
03/03 – 16:25 to 17:10 – Practice 2

Formula E – Mexico City
03/03 – 17:30 to 19:00 (Eurosport 2)
=> 17:30 – Preview
=> 18:00 – Qualifying
03/03 – 17:45 to 19:15 – Qualifying (5Spike)
03/03 – 21:30 to 23:20 – Race (5Spike)
03/03 – 21:45 to 23:10 – Race (Eurosport 2)
04/03 – 10:45 to 11:50 – Highlights (Channel 5)

Virgin Australia Supercars – Adelaide (Motorsport.tv)
03/03 – 04:30 to 07:00 – Race 1
04/03 – 04:30 to 07:00 – Race 2

~~Update on March 1st~~ ~~– A late scheduling change, 5Spike have shaved 20 minutes off their race broadcast, now finishing at 23:00 instead of 23:20.~~

Scheduling: The 2018 Barcelona test 1 on Sky Sports F1

The cold, long winter is ending, and it is almost time to hear the sound of Formula 1 cars again!

As usual, Sky Sports F1 are covering both Barcelona tests. The first test features a 15-minute round-up show fronted by Craig Slater at the start of the hour. Rachel Brookes is recovering from her knee surgery at the end of 2017, so expect her not to return until Australia. After the round-up, Ted Kravitz is back with his Notebook on each of the four days.

So far, that is what we know, and can confirm. Whether any additional live elements come to fruition, as mooted during Sky’s coverage of the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, remains to be seen. The closer we get, the more unlikely it appears that F1’s new over-the-top service will launch in time for testing, so the best bet is for live streaming via YouTube or elsewhere, alongside live action on Sky, if FOM decide to head down that avenue.

Monday 26th February
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 1 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15

Tuesday 27th February
10:00 to 10:45 – Day 1 Highlights (R)
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 2 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15

Wednesday 28th February
10:00 to 10:45 – Day 2 Highlights (R)
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 3 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15

Thursday 1st March
10:00 to 10:45 – Day 3 Highlights (R)
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 4 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15

As always, I will update this site as and when, or if, further details confirmed.

Update on February 24th – For those of you who have not spotted the earlier post, there is no live coverage of testing.