Channel 4 left red faced

Formula One’s new home on terrestrial television in the UK is channel 4, but the new channel has got off to an embarrassing start.

Channel 4 picked up the broadcasting rights for F1 following BBC’s decision to dump the sport as a cost saving exercise.

Channel 4 will show 10 live races in the UK with a highlights package for the remaining 11 races of the season.

For full coverage of every race UK viewers will have to subscribe to Sky Sports.

Channel 4’s new F1 programme will retain the iconic Fleetwood Mac song ‘The Chain’ as the opening theme and will have a BBC feel to its broadcast with Ben Edwards as the main commentator alongside David Coulthard.

Lee MacKenzie will also swap her BBC tabard for a Channel 4 one and continue her walks in the paddock, whilst Eddie Jordan is also part of the team.

There is even the occasional spot reserved for Formula One legend Murray Walker, whilst Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna make the switch from occasional appearances on Sky Sports coverage to join the channel 4 team alongside Mark Webber, Susie Wolff, Nicolas Hamilton and four-time Formula One World Champion Alain Prost.

The shows main presenter will be former X Factor USA presenter Steve Jones.

However there will not be an appearance from former Formula One racer Alex Zanardi.

The channel had announced that he would make guest appearances during the season and during the channel’s media launch they showed a video Zanardi’s preparations for the Paralympics.

But the 49-year-old Italian has since posted on Twitter: ‘Sorry guys, no hard feelings but I’ve never agreed to be part of this team and I won’t be in it. That’s all.’

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