Channel 4 Unveils F1 Presenting Team
Channel 4 has unveiled its presenting team for the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, which includes experienced drivers David Coulthard, Mark Webber, Alain Prost, Alex Zanardi, Susie Wolff, Karun Chandhok, Eddie Jordan and Bruno Senna; alongside presenters and journalists Steve Jones, Ben Edwards and Lee McKenzie.
Coulthard, a 13-times Grands Prix winner, will be the lead analyst and commentator, fronting Channel 4’s coverage at every Grand Prix of the season alongside live presenter, Steve Jones.
Coulthard will be joined for Channel 4’s live races by expert analysts Mark Webber, whose career spans 12 seasons and nine Grand Prix wins, and Scottish racing driver Susie Wolff, who was until recently a Williams F1 test driver and in 2014 became the first woman in over 20 years to take part in a Grand Prix weekend.
There will also be a range of motorsport legends who will form part of the wider presenting team across the 2016 World Championship season including: four-times Formula One World Champion, Alain Prost; former racing driver, team boss and BBC analyst, Eddie Jordan; former Formula One, World Touring Car driver and gold-medal winning Paralympian Alex Zanardi; British Touring Car driver Nic Hamilton; and FIA Endurance Championship race driver and nephew of three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna, Bruno Senna.
To launch its Formula One coverage, Channel 4 will broadcast a special programme with motorbike racer and lorry mechanic, Guy Martin and David Coulthard as they go head-to-head, pitting Guy’s Tyco BMW Superbike against David’s V8 Red Bull racing car in a test of speed.
Unveiling the new team, Channel 4, chief creative officer, Jay Hunt said: “This is the dream team – we’ve brought together the very best in screen and off screen talent to make Channel 4’s coverage unmissable.”
David Coulthard said: “I’m very proud to be a part of this exciting line up which will give F1 fans who choose to watch the most creative and innovative free-to-air coverage of the season a totally fresh perspective. This season promises to be the most competitive for years and viewers can look forward to extensive coverage of all the races, expert punditry, unrivalled paddock and pit access as well as exhilarating stunts and features throughout to bring the audience right into the heart of the race action.”
As part of a three-year deal from 2016-2018 with Formula One World Championship Limited, Channel 4 will broadcast live coverage of ten Grands Prix – without advertising breaks during the main races – including practice and qualifying sessions each season. Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of all 21 races, including those broadcast by Sky Sports. Kayak, the travel search engine tool, is Channel 4’s official Formula One sponsor.
