Coulthard joins Channel 4’s F1 team

Following the BBC’s decision to dump Formula One, David Coulthard has made his way over to the new home of F1 on terrestrial, Channel 4.

The BBC cancelled their contract to broadcast Formula One with immediate affect, ending their deal with F1 three-years early.

The corporation have cut the budget available to BBC Sport by £35million for 2016 and to make up some of that shortfall, they opted to drop Formula One.

The BBC had been the primary home of Formula One for many years, with the exception of a brief stint on ITV.

But the BBC regained the F1 broadcast rights from ITV in 2009 only to then suffer another savings cut which saw a deal agreed to share the broadcast rights with Sky Sports since the 2012 season.

The BBC’s live 10 races will now switch to Channel 4, along with commentator and former Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard.

The Scottish driver, who is also a founder of Whisper Films will also seemingly benefit after Channel 4 awarded the production contract for its F1 coverage to Whisper Films.

‘This is an exciting time for the sport and an exciting time for Whisper Films, The F1 world has been incredibly impressed with what Whisper has delivered over the last five years and Channel 4’s decision is testament to that. Coulthard told Motorsport Magazine.

‘I’m looking forward to being part of an exciting new era for Formula 1, with Whisper Films and our proven level of creativity and innovation very much at the heart of that.’

Channel 4’s head of TV events and sport Ed Havard added: ‘We are delighted that David Coulthard will be at the heart of Channel 4’s coverage and look forward to announcing the full presenting team in the coming weeks.’