Martin Brundle reacts as Sky Sports extends F1 deal until 2034

Martin Brundle has reacted to Sky Sports' extended contract with Formula 1, which will see the broadcaster cover the championship through to the end of 2034.

F1 announced the contract extension on 6 May, which includes coverage in the UK, Ireland and Italy. Sky, which has been the exclusive broadcaster of F1 in the UK and Ireland since 2019, will continue to broadcast all practice sessions, qualifying, sprint qualifying, sprint races and grands prix.

The partnership also includes coverage of Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and the Porsche Supercup.

"It is a big responsibility. It's a huge sport, it's the third biggest sport in the world after the Olympics and the World Cup, but we happen 24 times a year, not every four years," Brundle told Sky Sports.

"So there's a lot going on. It's an incredible calendar. We have the most amazing team of creative people. And every time the green light is on at the end of the pitlane, we're live, always.

"And hundreds of hours in between times, as you were explaining, with features and with stories and catch-ups and podcasts and everything on the digital side of it. 

Jenson Button, Martin Brundle, Naomi Schiff and Simon Lazenby, Sky Sports

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

"So we don't miss anything in Formula 1, and I think that is a big responsibility. Sky has been very good to Formula 1 and Formula 1 has been very good to Sky.

"I joined in 2012, I took a bit of stick at the time for daring to leave the BBC, but I saw a commitment from Sky to Formula 1 for the future. My goodness, today's deal means there'll be at least 22 years of that. As soon as they told me they were going to have a dedicated Sky F1 channel, I thought, right, this is serious. I need to be part of this. And I love being part of it, and I love being surrounded by creative people and all the things we're able to achieve.

"But the bottom line is, what's most important is the audience, the subscribers, the people who tune in. They've got to trust us, got to believe in us. We've got to tell them the story as we see it, as it unfolds, whether they like what we say or not. At the end of the day, that's who we're doing it for: the audience."