Key Takeaways
- Formula 1 and Sky have extended their exclusive broadcasting partnership through the early 2030s for the UK, Ireland, and Italy.
- Sky Sports (UK & ROI) and Sky Sport (Italy) will continue to deliver live coverage of every practice, qualifying, sprint, and Grand Prix, plus the F1 Kids initiative, on linear TV and the NOW streaming service.
- In the UK and Republic of Ireland, the deal runs through the 2034 season, guaranteeing five additional years of exclusive F1 content after the record‑breaking 2025 season.
- Italian fans will enjoy live races on Sky Sport F1 and free‑to‑air highlights on TV8, with the agreement lasting through the 2032 season, including every Italian Grand Prix broadcast live on TV8.
- The partnership also secures Sky’s coverage of Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 ACADEMY, and Porsche Supercup, offering fans a complete ladder‑to‑F1 viewing experience.
- Since becoming the exclusive UK/Ireland home of F1 in 2019, Sky has driven a 90 % increase in total viewing, a 120 % rise among under‑35s, and more than doubled female viewership.
- The 2023‑2025 period alone added 14 % growth, culminating in 162 million viewer hours in the record 2025 season.
- In Italy, the 2026 season opened with a 25 % viewership boost, highlighted by 1.2 million live Sky viewers and 1.4 million on TV8 for Kimi Antonelli’s maiden win at the Chinese Grand Prix.
- Both F1 President Stefano Domenicali and Sky Group CEO Dana Strong praised the collaboration, citing world‑class storytelling, innovation, and long‑term investment as key to the sport’s continued growth.
Overview of the Renewed Sky‑Formula 1 Agreement
Formula 1 and Sky have announced a multi‑year extension of their longstanding partnership, ensuring that Sky remains the exclusive broadcaster of Formula 1 in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Italy for the next decade. The renewed deal guarantees that every practice session, qualifying round, sprint race, and Grand Prix will be available live on Sky Sports (UK & ROI) and Sky Sport (Italy), as well as on Sky’s streaming platform NOW. In addition, the agreement preserves the F1 Kids offering, a child‑friendly programme designed to introduce younger audiences to the sport. This continuity reflects both parties’ confidence in the value of their collaboration and their shared ambition to deepen fan engagement across these key markets.
Territorial Scope and Duration
Under the terms of the new contract, viewers in the UK and the Republic of Ireland will retain exclusive access to all Formula 1 action through the 2034 season, inclusive. This extension adds five further seasons beyond the current agreement, building on the record‑setting 2025 campaign that marked the most‑watched F1 season ever on Sky Sports in those regions. In Italy, the partnership runs through the 2032 season, inclusive, granting Italian fans live coverage of every Grand Prix on the dedicated Sky Sport F1 channel, complemented by free‑to‑air broadcasts on TV8, which will also air the Italian Grand Prix live. The staggered end dates reflect the distinct market dynamics while preserving a long‑term commitment to each territory.
Comprehensive Motorsport Coverage
Beyond the premier Formula 1 series, Sky’s renewed agreement retains its commitment to the broader motorsport ecosystem. The broadcaster will continue to show every event from Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 ACADEMY, and the Porsche Supercup, providing fans with a seamless ladder‑to‑F1 viewing experience. This extensive slate ensures that emerging talent receives consistent exposure, reinforcing Sky’s role as a developmental platform for the next generation of drivers. By maintaining coverage of these support series, Sky not only enriches its own programming lineup but also contributes to the overall health and visibility of grassroots motorsport.
Impact on UK and Irish Audiences
Since becoming the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the UK and Ireland in 2019, Sky has played a pivotal role in expanding the sport’s popularity in those territories. Total viewing hours across the UK and Ireland have surged by 90 % compared with the pre‑Sky era, while the under‑35 demographic has experienced a remarkable 120 % increase. Female viewership has more than doubled, underscoring Sky’s success in diversifying the fan base. The growth trajectory continued through the 2023‑2025 period, during which viewing rose by an additional 14 %, culminating in a record‑breaking 2025 season that amassed 162 million viewer hours. These statistics highlight the effectiveness of Sky’s production quality, storytelling, and multi‑platform accessibility in driving sustained audience expansion.
Italian Market Performance
In Italy, the partnership has already begun to deliver measurable returns. The 2026 season opened with a 25 % year‑on‑year increase in viewership, a testament to Sky’s ability to captivate Italian motorsport enthusiasts. A standout moment was the live broadcast of Kimi Antonelli’s maiden victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, which attracted 1.2 million viewers on Sky and an additional 1.4 million on the free‑to‑air channel TV8. This dual‑screen performance illustrates the strength of Sky’s combined linear and free‑to‑air strategy, maximizing reach while preserving the premium pay‑TV offering. The early success bodes well for the remainder of the contract period, suggesting sustained growth as Italian talent continues to emerge on the global stage.
Leadership Endorsements
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali lauded Sky as a “dedicated, trusted, and passionate partner,” crediting the broadcaster’s world‑class approach to live broadcasting, content creation, and behind‑the‑scenes analysis for the sport’s ongoing growth in the UK, Ireland, and Italy. Domenicali expressed enthusiasm about extending the collaboration into the next decade, emphasizing that Sky’s on‑screen talent and innovative storytelling have been instrumental in reaching new audiences. Echoing this sentiment, Sky Group CEO Dana Strong highlighted the broadcaster’s pride in supporting Formula 1’s expansion through long‑term investment, innovation, and high‑quality narration. Strong thanked Domenicali and the F1 team for their continued partnership and expressed excitement about building on this foundation as the sport welcomes more British talent and rising stars such as Kimi Antonelli.
Strategic Implications for the Future
The renewed Sky‑Formula 1 deal positions both entities to capitalize on several emerging trends in sports media. First, the agreement secures a stable platform for delivering live sport amid an increasingly fragmented viewing landscape, where audiences migrate between linear TV, streaming, and social clips. By maintaining a presence on both Sky Sports/NOW and free‑to‑air outlets like TV8, the partnership caters to varied consumer preferences while preserving a premium pay‑TV core. Second, the continued inclusion of feeder series and youth‑focused content (F1 Kids) aligns with motorsport’s strategy to cultivate a pipeline of fans and drivers, ensuring long‑term relevance. Finally, the strong performance metrics—particularly the surge in younger and female viewers—demonstrate that Sky’s nuanced storytelling and multi‑channel approach can successfully broaden the sport’s appeal beyond its traditional base.
Conclusion
The extension of the Sky‑Formula 1 partnership through the early 2030s represents a mutually beneficial commitment to delivering top‑tier motorsport entertainment across the UK, Ireland, and Italy. By guaranteeing live access to every practice, qualifying, sprint, and Grand Prix, preserving coverage of the support series, and enhancing youth‑oriented programming, the agreement not only safeguards the current fan base but also lays the groundwork for future growth. The documented increases in total viewing, under‑35 engagement, and female audience—combined with strong early results in Italy—underscore the effectiveness of Sky’s production excellence and innovative outreach. As Formula 1 enters an era marked by rising British talent and promising international stars like Kimi Antonelli, the Sky alliance is poised to remain a cornerstone of the sport’s broadcast strategy, bringing the thrill of racing to millions of viewers for years to come.