David Coulthard will move across from the BBC to Channel 4 following Formula 1’s free-to-air broadcaster switch in the United Kingdom, after the BBC dumped the sport in order to cut costs.
Channel 4 currently has a three-year deal in place to broadcast half the races live, whilst the remainder will be shown in an extended highlights package several hours after the checkered flag has fallen.
Coulthard held a presenting role alongside Suzi Perry and Eddie Jordan at the BBC and the broadcaster has confirmed he will continue to front the coverage.
“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,” said head of TV events and sport Ed Harvard.
The news was expected as Coulthard, alongside former F1-presenter Jake Humphrey and ex-BBC Sport producer Sunil Patel, set up a production company in 2010 called Whisper Films.
Whisper Films has produced much of the BBC’s F1 coverage and Channel 4, which owns a minority stake in the production company, recently awarded it a contract to do the same for its own coverage.
Coulthard added: “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.
“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.”
