Recently retired Formula One veteran David Coulthard has been confirmed as part of BBC television’s presenting team for the 2009 F1 season.
The Scot and former team owner Eddie Jordan will be regular pundits as the sport returns to the BBC after a 12-year break. The F1 anchor man will be Jake Humphrey, a former children’s TV presenter who has become the youngest presenter to host Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score.
Coulthard’s deal had been widely anticipated; bigger news for race fans will be the appointment of Jonathan Legard as race commentator.
Legard, who was Radio 5 Live’s F1 correspondent from 1997 to 2004, will move from his current role as a football reporter to take up the position; his strong reputation within the industry is said to have played a key role in the BBC’s decision process.
There is no place in the new line-up for ITV commentator James Allen, but the BBC will keep ITV’s pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz and employ A1GP regular Lee McKenzie in a similar role.
As he revealed at the recent Autocar Awards, Martin Brundle will continue as race pundit in 2009.
The BBC is also claiming that Murray Walker will ‘make a return’ in 2009, in an online Q&A forum. Developing F1’s online presence is said to be a major part of the corporation’s deal with the sport’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
