Sky confirms 4K coverage for Formula 1 from 2017

The new F1 deal sees Sky box-off live coverage of Formula 1 until 2024. And from the start of the 2017 F1 Championship season, every race will be shown in 4K, via the newly-launched Sky Q service.

Sky will launch its 4K content offering this summer, potentially around the start of the Premier League football season in August. It will only be available to Sky Q subscribers.

The new deal confirms the Sky Sports F1 channel as the place to see all live F1 races from 2019 to 2024, but also that some races will be made available to watch for free.

MORE: Sky Q: What is it? How can you watch it?

The soon-to-launch Sky Sports Mix channel, which promises to bring some of Sky's premium sports content to non-Sky Sports subscribers, will show "at least two other 'prime time' live races a season". The Formula 1 British Grand Prix and F1 highlights will also be shown on a "free-to-air" basis.

Sky has not confirmed whether it will launch a Sky 4K channel, or offer a range of on-demand Ultra HD programmes instead, but the company has repeatedly stated it wants to deliver the most comprehensive 4K content offering available.

Currently BT Sport Ultra HD is the only UK broadcast channel to deliver 4K pictures, showing live football and other sports at a rate of around one event per weekend.

MORE: Sky Q hands-on review

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).