Share this article on LinkedIn Email

BBC television presenter Jake Humphrey has promised that the quality of the channel's Formula 1 coverage will not drop in spite of Sky buying the rights to show all the races live in the UK this year.

The BBC will show 10 races live in 2012 and cover the rest with comprehensive highlights packages shown later on the day the races are run.

But while Humphrey accepts that Sky will throw significant resources into producing a strong product of its own, he does not feel it will have an impact on the BBC's ability to maintain its high standards during broadcasts.

"I know people are not over the moon about suddenly having every race live on pay-per-view television but it was either the deal that we have or no BBC F1 at all, so I am grateful that we will still get the chance to be at every race," Humphrey said while speaking on the main stage at AUTOSPORT International.

"Quite often when we had the early morning races [last year] our viewing figures were higher for the re-runs and there are quite a few early morning races where we'll have a re-run at 1400 and it will be two hours long and so we'll pretty quickly get into the racing.

"We'll do maybe a few interviews with the top guys before the start, but post race we've got the time to make sure that we interview the drivers that are important, we'll give David [Coulthard] proper time to watch the race and work out what he wants to analyse and we'll have the time to create a really, really nice package for the viewers who are watching."

He added: "After the race we are going to do an F1 Forum whether we are showing the race live or not. We will still do exactly what we do now.

"We will try and offer as much as possible. I think it will be different, but it will still be really strong output."

Humphrey also argued that the BBC will remain a focus for the teams competing in Formula 1, and that its high audience figures will ensure that it maintains the best access possible to drivers and high profile personalities.

"I think the teams realise that they have to speak to the media and Sky will do hours and hours of coverage and they will do a stunning job because they produce good sports content," he said. "But the important thing for us is that we are going to have the big audience, we are going to have the millions of eyeballs and that's what the teams love.

"The reason why Vodafone sponsors McLaren isn't because of the people in the stands but because of the viewers at home that are watching. We will still be the channel with the millions of people seeing those sponsorship deals on television and because of that there be an onus on the teams to make sure we get that access."

The BBC will begin 2012 with a revamped presenting line-up that now includes Ben Edwards as lead commentator and analysis from former technical director Gary Anderson. Humphrey believes it is the strongest line-up in television.

"We have got a race-winning technical director, and we've never had that before," he said. "Gary Anderson designed Formula 1 cars that won races; we've got a race-winning grand prix driver in the shape of David Coulthard; and a race-winning team owner in Eddie Jordan.

"I also think that Ben Edwards is the best motor racing commentator in the country, and I'm so pleased that we have now got him on the BBC."