Sky Sports has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for Formula 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland until 2034 after agreeing a new five-year extension.
The new agreement ensures the broadcaster remains the sole destination for live coverage of every race, qualifying, and practice session.
Live home nation races and highlights from every Grand Prix will continue to be shared on free-to-air television.
The comprehensive deal also includes live coverage of support series such as Formula 2, Formula 3, and the F1 Academy.
Record-breaking audiences drive renewal
The renewal follows a historic 2025 season, which became the most-watched motorsport campaign ever for the network.
Interest soared as British driver Lando Norris claimed his maiden Drivers’ Championship with McLaren.
Viewing figures have surged by 90 per cent since the television network became the sport’s primary home in 2019.
That exponential growth includes a 120 per cent increase among under-35s and a doubling of female viewership.
Italian rights secured amid Antonelli surge
Alongside the UK and Ireland agreement, Sky Italia has also penned a five-year extension to retain rights until 2032.
Excitement in Italy has reached fever pitch following the meteoric rise of national prospect Kimi Antonelli.
The 19-year-old sensation has won three successive races to take an early lead in the 2026 championship standings.
Leadership praise long-term partnership
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali praised the broadcaster for its role in expanding the sport’s global footprint.
“Their world-leading approach to live broadcasting and content creation has made the difference in continuing to grow our sport in the UK, Ireland and Italy.”
Sky group chief executive Dana Strong highlighted the company’s commitment to storytelling and long-term investment.
“This new agreement secures Sky as the home of Formula 1 for years to come, as the sport enters an exciting era with more British talent on the grid.”
Strong concluded by thanking the motorsport hierarchy for a relationship they are eager to build upon into the next decade.
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has urged the FIA to suspend Max Verstappen following the four-time world champion’s persistent public criticism of the sport’s 2026 regulations.
The Dutch driver has been highly vocal regarding the new rules introduced at the start of the current campaign.
These technical changes were designed to improve sustainability but have drawn widespread complaints regarding their impact on the racing spectacle.
The Red Bull talisman recently likened driving the updated cars to playing Mario Kart rather than using a high-tech simulator.
Struggles under new regulations
Frustrations for the defending champion have been exacerbated by an uncharacteristically poor start to the season.
He currently sits seventh in the drivers’ standings after just four races.
The seasoned driver finds himself a massive 74 points adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Montoya demands strict punishment
Speaking on the BBC Chequered Flag Podcast, Montoya insisted that competitors must show respect for the series that provides their livelihood.
The seven-time Grand Prix winner stated that persistent negativity needs to be met with severe sporting sanctions.
“For me, what the drivers are doing, I’m okay with you not liking the regulations, but the way you were speaking about what you’re living off and your own sport, there should be consequences for that,” said Montoya.
The Colombian veteran explicitly called for motorsport’s governing body to make an example of the vocal critic.
“Park him,” declared Montoya.
“Add seven points to the license, eight points to the license.”
“Whatever you do after, you’re going to be parked. I guarantee you all the messaging would be different!”
Threat of a race ban
Under current FIA sporting regulations, accumulating 12 penalty points over a 12-month period triggers an automatic one-race ban.
The reigning world champion currently has three penalty points on his superlicence.
Issuing a severe points penalty for bringing the sport into disrepute would leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit without their star driver for a Grand Prix weekend.
However, such a drastic intervention from the stewards over media comments remains unprecedented in modern racing.
Kimi Antonelli secured a fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory for Mercedes in Miami, extending their unbeaten start to the 2026 Formula 1 season despite a major development push from rivals.
The sport returned to action following an enforced five-week break, marking the true beginning of an intense development war under the new era of regulations.
While the Silver Arrows maintained their Sunday dominance, an unusually long list of 64 new car parts across the grid drastically altered the competitive landscape.
Rivals close the gap with aggressive upgrades
Leading figures in the paddock had anticipated the Florida event would act as a complete reset for the championship hierarchy.
Ferrari introduced a grid-leading 11 new components, while both McLaren and Red Bull debuted seven major updates each.
In contrast, the Brackley-based championship leaders brought just two minor revisions to their hitherto-undefeated W16 car.
A much larger aerodynamic package for the current constructors’ champions is being held back for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.
McLaren strike back in sprint format
The sheer volume of new parts from the chasing pack immediately translated into a genuine threat to the early-season pacesetters.
Lando Norris ended the perfect qualifying streak of the factory team by seizing pole position for Friday’s Sprint session.
The British driver then led a dominant one-two finish alongside team-mate Oscar Piastri in Saturday’s shortened race.
Although the Italian race winner eventually restored order with his Sunday triumph, the flashes of speed from the chasing pack suggest a fiercely contested championship battle lies ahead.
Max Verstappen has praised significant Red Bull upgrades after returning to form at the Miami Grand Prix, while team-mate Isack Hadjar struggled to match his pace.
The Milton Keynes-based team endured a difficult start to the 2026 season, failing to match the speed of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
However, developmental changes introduced during a five-week break allowed the Dutchman to deliver a highly competitive showing in Florida.
The four-time world champion qualified second for Sunday’s race, although a spin at the start relegated him to an eventual fifth-place finish.
Light at the end of the tunnel
The improved performance comes after a frustrating opening three rounds in Australia, China and Japan, where he failed to qualify higher than eighth.
These early struggles, combined with his distaste for the sport’s new regulations, had previously prompted him to consider his future in Formula 1.
Following a breakthrough in Saturday’s qualifying session, a noticeably happier driver expressed optimism about the updated RB22 challenger.
“I’m already very happy with where we are,” Verstappen said.
“From here there’s light at the end of the tunnel, that we can just push on and try to close the gap further.”
Regaining control of the car
Prior to the Miami weekend, the series leader admitted he felt like a passenger in a thoroughly unpredictable machine.
The extensive upgrades have seemingly cured those drivability issues, giving him the confidence to push the car to its limits once again.
“I never felt comfortable with the layout of the car,” Verstappen explained.
“I feel more in control of the car again and then I can push a bit more, then the upgrades are working.”
In stark contrast, his team-mate Isack Hadjar endured a torrid weekend, losing significant ground to the revitalised team leader.
The French driver will now face mounting pressure to extract similar performance from the upgraded package at the next round of the championship.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has extended his Formula 1 championship advantage by securing a dominant victory at the Miami Grand Prix following a five-week break.
The young Italian delivered a stupendous weekend performance, claiming his third consecutive pole position and race win.
His impressive form completely overshadowed teammate George Russell, who struggled to find grip and rhythm around the Florida circuit.
McLaren secure double podium finish
Reigning world champion Lando Norris capitalised on a new upgrade package to finish second.
The British driver had earlier taken a commanding sprint victory on Saturday, but missed out on the main event win after anticipated wet weather failed to materialise.
He was joined on the podium by teammate Oscar Piastri, who drove a solid race to secure third place despite finishing adrift of his garage partner.
Late drama demotes Leclerc
Ferrari endured a frustrating Sunday after Charles Leclerc received a 20-second post-race time penalty.
The Monegasque driver was punished for leaving the track repeatedly and driving in an unsafe condition.
A dramatic final-lap spin into the wall ultimately dropped him from sixth down to eighth position.
His teammate Lewis Hamilton also struggled, trailing behind all weekend and suffering a slow pit stop alongside contact with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.
Verstappen stumbles as Williams score
Max Verstappen endured a difficult race, spinning on the opening lap and receiving a five-second penalty for a pit exit violation.
Despite the Red Bull driver’s uncharacteristic errors, the team showed positive pace following recent upgrades.
Elsewhere, Williams salvaged vital points through Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, with the latter getting off the mark for the season.
Alpine also celebrated a highly successful weekend as Colapinto secured crucial points following his strongest performance to date.
Formula 1 will abandon its current hybrid power units and revert to V8 engines by the 2031 season, according to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The sport introduced a new engine era this year, featuring power units split evenly between electric and combustion power while operating on fully sustainable fuel.
However, this significant overhaul of the technical regulations has faced mounting criticism from several leading drivers.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen recently compared the latest hybrid machines to Formula E, branding them as unenjoyable to drive.
Meanwhile, seven-time title winner Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed his frustration regarding the sheer complexity of the modern systems.
Cost and weight concerns drive change
The existing power units remain enormously expensive for both manufacturers and customer teams to produce and maintain.
They are also exceptionally heavy, primarily due to the substantial battery packs required to support the electrical components.
The concept of returning to older engine configurations was initially floated last year but faced rejection from manufacturers who had already invested heavily in hybrid technology.
Despite this initial resistance, the sport’s governing body insists that a shift toward lighter, less complex machinery is inevitable.
Ben Sulayem targets earlier implementation
Under current governance structures, the sport’s rule-makers can mandate technical changes by the start of the next decade regardless of team opposition.
In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the power unit manufacturers.
But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone externally now is asking for.
When you try to tell them, they say no, but what will come, will come, and the power will come back to the FIA.
Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the Emirati official indicated that the eight-cylinder option is heavily favoured over a V10 layout due to modern automotive trends.
If I ask any of the manufacturers who are in F1 now if they produce any cars with a V10, an era that many of the cars had, but now, no.
These future V8s will not be straightforward naturally-aspirated designs, but will instead align with the ongoing commitment to fully sustainable fuels.
George Russell says his smooth driving style is to blame for his significant qualifying deficit to Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the Miami Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Italian claimed a superb pole position for Sunday’s race, beating his more experienced garage partner by almost four-tenths of a second.
That pace advantage left the Briton settling for fifth on the grid at the Miami International Autodrome.
The teenage sensation currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by seven points, having secured back-to-back victories in China and Japan earlier this season.
Low-grip struggles
The pair’s qualifying form continued a clear trend established throughout the Florida weekend.
While the former Williams driver managed to outscore his rival in Friday’s Sprint, that was solely due to the championship leader receiving a post-race penalty for track limits.
“I just struggle on these low-grip circuits, so here, Zandvoort, Brazil,”
Russell explained after qualifying.
“It was the same last year; it’s something I want to work on but there are three tracks out of the 24 that are outliers, and Miami is definitely top of that list.”
Sliding in the Florida heat
The British racer noted that the unique circuit characteristics actively work against his natural approach behind the wheel.
“I’m quite a smooth, precise driver, and that’s always been my style,”
he added.
“On these tracks you have to be happy with the car just sliding.”
“It’s so hot, the tyre pressures are high, the grip is really low, so it doesn’t feel that pleasant, whereas tracks like Saudi the grip is super high.”
Championship battle intensifies
The King’s Lynn-born racer entered the 2026 campaign as a heavy pre-season favourite to claim his maiden world title.
He initially delivered on those lofty expectations by comfortably winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
However, his rookie team-mate has dramatically shifted the momentum within the Silver Arrows camp during the subsequent rounds.
With grid positions locked in, the established Mercedes team leader faces a daunting uphill battle to close the points gap in Sunday’s showpiece event.
Former Formula 1 driver and four-time Paralympic gold medallist Alex Zanardi has died at the age of 59, his family has announced.
The beloved Italian sporting icon passed away peacefully on Friday night while surrounded by close family members.
No specific cause of death was provided in the official statement released over the weekend.
The acclaimed racer’s later life was tragically marked by a severe handbike accident during a relay event in Tuscany in 2020.
That collision with a truck resulted in serious facial and cranial trauma, leaving the extraordinary athlete in a medically-induced coma for an extended period.
A legacy of unimaginable resilience
Nearly two decades prior to that incident, the Bologna-born competitor survived a horrific crash during a 2001 CART race in Germany.
The devastating high-speed accident required the amputation of both his legs, a trauma that would have seemingly ended any traditional motorsport career.
However, the two-time American open-wheel champion famously designed his own prosthetics and astonishingly returned to competitive action.
Pivoting to hand cycling, the determined veteran transformed himself into one of the world’s most successful para-athletes.
Paralympic glory and national pride
He secured four glorious gold medals and two silvers across the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
His remarkable endurance feats also included competing in the New York City Marathon and setting a world Ironman record.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni led the widespread tributes, describing the national hero as an extraordinary man who turned every challenge into a lesson in courage.
“With his sporting achievements, with his example and with his humanity, he gave all of us much more than a victory: he gave hope, pride, and the strength to never give up.”
Giorgia Meloni added that the entire government extends its sincerest thoughts to his grieving loved ones.
Revered across the motorsport paddock
Before his life-altering accidents, the talented driver enjoyed spells at the very pinnacle of single-seater racing.
Following his consecutive American championships in the late 1990s, he secured a high-profile move back to Formula 1.
Even after transitioning entirely to para-sports, the inspirational figure made a stunning return to endurance motor racing in 2019.
Competing at the Rolex 24 of Daytona without prosthetics for BMW, he commanded immense respect from a star-studded field that included former world champion Fernando Alonso.