Channel 4 chooses live 2016 Formula 1 races - Silverstone tops the bill

Channel 4 has revealed the ten Formula 1 races it will screen live in the UK during the 2016 season, with the British Grand Prix topping the bill.

The broadcaster took over the UK’s terrestrial TV coverage after the BBC pulled out of its contract three years early as part of a cost saving measure at the corporation.

Channel 4 has chosen the Bahrain Grand Prix to be its first live event of the year and it will also screen the inaugural race in Azerbaijan, as well as the Silverstone event and the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Here is the full list of Channel 4’s live races:

Bahrain – 1-3 April (4.00pm)

Spain – 13-15 May (1.00pm)

Europe (Azerbaijan) – 17-19 June (Start time TBC)

Britain – 8-10 July (1.00pm)

Hungary – 22-24 July (1.00pm)

Belgium – 26-28 August (1.00pm)

Italy – 2-4 September (1.00pm)

Malaysia – 30 September-2 October (8.00am)

Mexico – 28-30 October (7.00pm)

Abu Dhabi – 25-27 November (1.00pm)

Channel 4 has said it will screen each of its live races without advertising breaks and it will air all practice and qualifying sessions for those events. The channel will show the remaining races via delayed highlights packages.

Stephen Lyle, Channel 4 Head of F1 said: “We are delighted to announce the full line up of races we will be showing live across 2016. The British Grand Prix is a huge highlight of the sporting calendar and we’re looking forward to covering all the action live from Silverstone this summer. ”

Whisper Films, a production company co-founded by David Coulthard, will produce Channel 4’s F1 programmes and the 13-time Grand Prix winner has already been announced as one of the broadcaster’s presenters. The full presenting and commentary team will be announced “in due course”, according to Channel 4.

Sky Sports F1 will continue to show every F1 race live in the UK, which in 2016 will incorporate the longest ever season calendar, currently set at 21 races. However, the US Grand Prix is listed as provisional as the Circuit of the Americas is still yet to finalise its deal with Formula One Management due to funding problems at the Austin circuit.

Sky Sports Head of F1, Martin Turner, said: "This season offers everything. More races, more stories and more drama and only on Sky Sports F1 can viewers enjoy the complete story live. All eyes will again be on Lewis Hamilton while Mercedes and Ferrari will go head to head for the Constructors title.

"Our award-winning coverage will be there from the opening grid to the final chequered flag on our dedicated F1 channel and across our digital platforms."