Billy Monger joins Channel 4 F1 team for 2019

Martin Brundle (GBR) Sky Sports Commentator with Billy Monger (GBR) Racing Driver and Alain Prost (FRA) Renault Sport F1 Team Special Advisor on the grid.

British broadcaster Channel 4 has added racing driver Billy Monger to its presenting team for the 2019 season.

It means that the 19-year-old - nicknamed 'Billy Whizz' - will be working alongside the likes of experienced F1 stars David Coulthard and Mark Webber, former team boss Eddie Jordan, and main presenter Steve Jones.

“I’ve been watching the F1 coverage on TV since I was little," said Monger. "I’m delighted to join the Channel 4 F1 team this season.

"Whilst my goal remains to be racing in one of the cars out on track one day, I am really excited to get broadcasting from the paddock this year.”

Channel 4 gets live British GP and highlights deal for 2019

Monger has been an inspirational figure in the world of motorsport. He lost both legs in a racing accident at Donington Park in April 2017 while competing in the Formula 4 British Championship.

Even so, he's battled his way back and last year resumed competitive racing in the British F3 Championship in March 2018 in a car specially modified for him by Carlin. He went on to take two pole positions and three podiums on his way to sixth place finish in the championship standings.

In December, Monger was the hugely popular winner of the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

His racing plans for 2019 are yet to be announced, and his media duties will be tailored accordingly.

“I’m delighted that the young racing superstar Billy Monger will be joining our team," commented Ed Havard, Channel 4’s Head of Entertainment and Events.

Until the end of 2018, Channel 4 held the free-to-air rights to ten live Grand Prix races per season, with extended highlights programmes for the remainder.

While that deal has now come to an end - leaving Sky Sports with the exclusive live rights to F1 in the UK - the two media companies subsequently reached a deal to allow Channel 4 to continue carrying delayed highlights in 2019.

In addition, Channel 4 will have live coverage of all practice, qualifying and race sessions of the British Grand Prix in July.

“Channel 4 will once again be the destination for F1 fans to enjoy the action free to air throughout the year, including live coverage of the British GP," said Havard.

"This year’s F1 season is set to be thrilling as Lewis Hamilton continues to chase Michael Schumacher’s all-time record," he added.

Channel 4 also announced that top-end audio equipment manufacturer Bose will continue its relationship as the sponsor of the broadcaster's Formula 1 coverage throughout the 2019 season.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.