Sky will be staying the full live home of F1 for years to come. A new rights extension keeps the brand as the exclusive live broadcaster in the UK and Ireland through the end of the 2034 season. All races will also be available through their NOW platform.
If you want every practice session, qualifying session, Sprint, and Grand Prix live, you need to keep Sky or NOW for years.
Here is everything to know about this deal:
Details of this new Sky Sports Formula 1 rights deal
The new agreement is a five-year extension on top of Sky’s existing deal. The stretch now takes the partnership to 2034 in the UK and Ireland. The full live package stays the same in the most important ways. So, the brand will continue to carry every race weekend live.
The Sky Sports Formula 1 rights deal also keeps more than just Formula 1 on the broadcaster’s platforms. The agreement includes live coverage of:
- Formula 2
- Formula 3
- F1 Academy
- Porsche Supercup
Just as important, the deal does not shut out free-to-air access completely. Live home nation races and highlights of every Grand Prix will still be shared free-to-air. Also, the live coverage of the British Grand Prix remains free-to-air in Britain.
Why Formula 1 was happy to keep Sky
This extension did not happen in a vacuum. Formula 1 and Sky are both pointing to strong growth in the UK and Ireland since Sky became the home of F1 in 2019.
Total viewing in those markets has increased by 90%. Following among under-35s is up 120%, and female viewership has more than doubled. Sky also said the 2025 season was its biggest F1 season yet, with 162 million viewer hours.
Those numbers help explain why Formula 1does not feel pressure to make a change. From their side, the current setup is still delivering audience growth. From Sky’s side, Formula 1 remains one of its most valuable premium sports rights.
There is also a timing benefit. Formula 1 is in a strong place in Britain right now. Lando Norris is the reigning world champion.
George Russell remains one of the sport’s major names. Lewis Hamilton is still one of F1’s biggest figures, and several teams are based in England. In fact, all but three of the 11 teams are based in England.
What is not changing
If you already use Sky Sports F1 or NOW for Formula 1, your viewing habit does not need to change. The same setup stays in place. You still go to Sky for the complete live race weekend, and you still get the same broader support-series coverage under one roof.
Sky Sports recently also acquired rights to the upcoming Women’s World Sevens Football in the UK.