Ecclestone cuts BBC coverage

Ecclestone owns the rights to F1 (GETTY IMAGES)

Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the BBC will not broadcast full reruns of the 10 races which it is not showing live next year. From 2012, Sky will broadcast all races live while the BBC's live coverage will be restricted to 10 of the 20-race calendar.

In July Ecclestone confirmed to Formula One's teams that the BBC would broadcast every race in full after it has taken place. The McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, said "Bernie assured me, and I asked him several times, the deferred coverage will not be highlights, it will be a full race. That, to some fans, will be very important."

However,in a U-turn, Ecclestone said yesterday: "The BBC will broadcast 75 minutes of every race."