The Formula One motor racing championship is to be without free-to-air coverage in Spain for the first time in 19 years after existing rights holders declined to extend their deals.

The Mundo Deportivo newspaper said Spanish commercial broadcaster Antena 3 and Catalan public-service broadcaster TV3 have not extended their contracts, which expired following the 2015 season.

In January 2014, Antena 3 and TV3 agreed two-season extensions to their rights, covering the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. The two broadcasters agreed the deals, which included television and mobile rights, with the Mediapro agency.

Formula One’s 2016 season, which commences with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 20, will now only be available in Spain on a pay-television basis via the Movistar Plus platform of Spanish telco Telefónica.