06/03/2019
NEWS STORY
From this year, F1 fans in Britain who do not have Sky Sports will only have live coverage of one race, the British Grand Prix, which is itself in the final year of its contract.
While Channel 4 will continue to show F1, other than live coverage of the Silverstone event, its broadcasting of the remaining twenty will be limited to highlights only.
Consequently, fans in Britain, the so-called home of the sport will either have to pay out for Sky Sports or go without live coverage.
While much has been made of the fact that Sky has made its F1 channel available for £10 a month, the fact is that fans that don't already have access to Sky will still have to buy the basic package at around £22 a month, which means a minimum monthly outlay of £32.
Though he is one of the highest paid drivers in F1, Lewis Hamilton sympathises with fans who are increasing being pushed to spend more on their favourite sport.
"It is bloody expensive nowadays with everything you have in your home, with all your insurance and all the things you do end up paying," said the Briton, according to Motorsport.com.
"And on top of that you have to pay for TV and for a TV licence, which is ridiculous," he added. "I'm pretty sure that number is not going to change, because the economy, it is a difficult time for everyone particularly now, so it is a shame that the fans are not getting to see as much."
The world champion also admitted concern at ticket prices, a move that will surely further endear him to Chase Carey.
"The more people you have at a grand prix, the more atmosphere it is," he said. "It is the fans that makes the sport what it is, so the more you block them or deter them the worse the business is going to be for the people that own it.
"But that is nothing to do with me," he added. "When the fans do come or the people that I do get to meet at the races, I try to utilise the opportunity to connect with them."