Sky Sports to offer live coverage of pre-season testing

British broadcaster Sky announced on Monday that it will deliver 20 hours of live coverage of next month's opening days of F1 pre-season testing at Barcelona.

Teams will kick off their preparations for the 2019 season at the Circuit de Catalunya on Monday, February 18 for an initial four-day test.

Coverage on Sky F1 will run every afternoon from 1pm to 5pm, with a one-hour analysis show broadcasted from the paddock after the day's action.

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Sky will also publish specific content from testing in Barcelona on its digital platforms.

F1 TV, the official web-based outlet of Formula 1, is also rumored to offer live coverage next month from the Circuit de Catalunya although FOM has yet to confirm its plans.

Sky F1 will add two new talking heads to its 2019 line-up of commentators, with Jenson Button and Karun Chandhok joining Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Paul di Resta, Anthony Davidson, Johnny Herbert and occasionally Nico Rosberg on race weekends.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.