ESPN and Formula 1 have agreed to a multi-year linear and digital partnership that brings the FIA Formula One World Championship back to its original television home in the United States starting in 2018 when ESPN and ABC will televise all 21 races in the championship. The first Formula 1 race ever aired in the U.S. was on ABC in 1962.

Beginning with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 25, and ending with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, all of the races will air live in the United States on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.

All in more than 125 hours of F1 programming, including all practice sessions, qualifying and races, will air live and in replay across ESPN platforms in 2018. Betting odds will be available online.

"ESPN has had a long commitment to motorsports, and Formula 1 is a crown jewel in the sport," said Burke Magnus, ESPN executive vice president of programming & scheduling. "There are many passionate Formula 1 fans in the U.S. and we look forward to bringing the pageantry, spectacle and excitement of F1 to viewers across the ESPN platform."

Among the season highlights will be the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, May 27 (Memorial Day weekend in the U.S.), which will air live on ESPN at and re-air later in the day on ABC after the Indianapolis 500.

The United States Grand Prix and the Mexican Grand Prix will air live on ABC while the Canadian and British Grands Prix will be featured live on ESPN. The Singapore Grand Prix, the only night race of the championship, will air on ESPN2.

"We are excited about the return of the world's foremost motor racing platform to the ABC and ESPN platforms," said Sean Bratches, managing director, commercial operations at Formula 1. "ABC's Wide World of Sports first started airing live grands prix in the early 1960's and this linear and digital partnership with ESPN represents a significant step forward in achieving Formula 1's aim of broadening the sport's appeal. The U.S. market is very important growth opportunity for Formula 1 and we are looking forward to working with ESPN to ignite the growing fan interest."

Formula 1 made its debut on American television with the airing of highlights from the Monaco Grand Prix on ABC's Wide World of Sports on June 10, 1962, one week after the race was run. Select races appeared on ABC until 1988. Monaco, of course famed for its legendary Casino.

ESPN began televising F1 races with a 10-race schedule in 1984, expanding to 14 races from 1985-1988, and then 15 from 1989-1993. ESPN aired 16 races in 1994, then a high of 17 in 1995, followed by 16 in both 1996 and 1997, the last years the championship appeared on ESPN.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by CommanderB, 07/10/2017 2:20

"This is great news. Anything will better than the muppets who cover F1 on NBC. It is not surprising the interest in F1 in the US isn't greater when the NBC pundits hardly know one end of a modern F1 car from the other.

Hopefully ESPN will appreciate the audience for these races aren't children and staff the coverage with competent experts with relevant recent experience in the sport.

Roll on March 25th!!!"

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2. Posted by Liam III, 05/10/2017 18:37

"NBCSN has a lot of other programing related to racing around the world including Mobile1 The Grid. My fear is that F1 will get lost on ESPN and not attract the new fans they appear to be hoping for.
I currently scroll across my program guide and look for other motorsport to watch on NBC, I never do this on ESPN.

Maybe putting more boots on the ground at the event grounds can "enhance' the experience for the TV viewer like ESPN does with the Indy 500. Prove to us you got this, or it will be relegated to the scrapheap of poor management decisions we have grown accustomed to. "

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3. Posted by Paul C, 05/10/2017 12:54

"A return to ESPN is fine as long as the broadcasters stay the same. By the way, USA racing fans get a trifecta on Memorial Day barring rain at Indianapolis. Monaco, Indy and the NASCAR 600 mile race from Charlotte."

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4. Posted by C5, 04/10/2017 19:32

"Great if the races are coming free-to-air in the US, even if delayed. But I sure hope ESPN have the senses to grab the current presenter team from NBCSN.

Hobbes and Matchett are easily 3/4 of the reason I watch the races these days. I like Diffey too, as I did Varsha. But David and Steve are totally the ones that makes the broadcasts memorable for me. Whenever I'm travelling or otherwise forced to watch the race with other presenters it's a total drag. I ca do that for one race, but no way I'm doing it for 21...
"

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5. Posted by Ro, 04/10/2017 16:55

"and what about Europe then ?"

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US F1 TV coverage returns to ESPN

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