ITV is expected to take over the Formওula 1 free-to-air coverage in the United Kingdom from the BBC next year as it ends its broadcast contract three years early due to cost-cutting measures.

The corporation is poised to announce it will end its current broadcasting deal with F1 in which it pays an estim𝐆ated ?12 million a year in a partnership with Sky Sports which runs until the end of the 201♓8 season.

The decision has been sparked by the BBC's large-scale cutbacks whꦉich ha꧒s seen it already lose exclusive rights to show the rugby union's 6 Nations and golf's The Open Championship.

BBC returned to broadcasting F1 in 2009 after a 12-year gap when ITV held exclusive rights to the seriꦏes and was🅰 the sole UK broadcaster for three years until Sky Sports stepped in.

According to The Telegraph, ITV is 𒈔preparing to move in after Bernie Ecclestone made it clear he wants F1 tꦑo remain on terrestrial television rather than exclusively being handed to Sky.

It is also understood any deal including ITV would not impact Sky's existing contracꦰt with F1.