NBC reveals full 2016 F1 TV coverage plan for
NBC, NBCSN and CNBC will combine to present all 21 races of the F1 season. NBCSN will present 14 races, NBC four, and CNBC three. NBC's coverage begins on Sunday, May 29 with the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, and continues Sunday, June 7, with the Canadian Grand Prix. NBC's coverage returns on Sunday, Oct. 23, with the United States Grand Prix from the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 30, with the Mexican Grand Prix.
In addition, NBC Sports Group will present comprehensive coverage of practice and qualifying of all 21 races across its family of networks and NBC Sports Live Extra. Live Extra will also enhance race coverage with dedicated feeds, including:
- On-Board Feed – Live Extra’s dedicated channel for live on-board cameras
- Pit Lane Feed – Live Extra's dedicated channel on pit lane featuring all pit stops and team communication
- Driver Tracker – real-time data showing where all 22 cars are on track
Formula 1 is coming off its most-watched season for a cable network in two decades, averaging 418,000 viewers for its 13 races on NBCSN, up 9% vs. 2014. For all 19 races, NBC Sports Group’s coverage averaged 512,000 viewers, up 14% vs. 2014 (457,000), and up 42% vs. 2013 (366,000).
| 2016 FORMULA ONE SCHEDULE | |||
| Date | Grand Prix | Time | Network |
| Sun., March 20 | Australian Grand Prix | 12:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., April 3 | Bahrain Grand Prix | 10:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., April 16 | Chinese Grand Prix | 1:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., May 1 | Russian Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., May 15 | Spanish Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., May 29 | Monaco Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBC |
| Sun., June 12 | Canadian Grand Prix | 1:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sun., June 19 | European Grand Prix | 8:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., July 3 | Austrian Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | CNBC |
| Sun., July 10 | British Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | CNBC |
| Sun., July 24 | Hungarian Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | CNBC |
| Sun., July 31 | German Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., August 28 | Belgian Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., September 4 | Italian Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., September 18 | Singapore Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., October 1 | Malaysian Grand Prix | 2:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., October 8 | Japanese Grand Prix | 12:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., October 23 | United States Grand Prix | 2:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sun., October 30 | Mexican Grand Prix | 2:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sun., November 13 | Brazilian Grand Prix | 10:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sun., November 27 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | 7:30 a.m. | NBCSN |
THIS WEEK’S F1 COVERAGE
This week’s coverage of the F1 Australian Grand Prix begins Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET with Practice 1 on NBCSN, followed by Practice 2 early Friday morning at 1:30 a.m. ET, and qualifying on Saturday at 2 a.m. ET. F1 Countdown kicks off race coverage Sunday at 12 a.m. ET, leading into the start of the 2016 campaign with the Australian Grand Prix at 12:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN. An encore presentation of the race will air Sunday at noon ET on NBCSN.
NBC Sports Group’s Formula 1 commentating team returns for a fourth season, with lead race announcer Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, analyst Steve Matchett, a former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team, and RACER columnist Will Buxton, who will provide live reports on-site for all 21 races this season.
In addition to coverage of the F1 Australian Grand Prix, NBCSN premieres Haas F1: America’s Return To The Grid, a one-hour documentary that chronicles the launch and development of Haas F1, the first American-led Formula 1 team in 30 years, Wednesday, March 16, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.