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STATS MAGIC

Sky Sports’ winning Formula for GPs is a triumph of technical wizardry in motorsport

F1's OTHER team reveal the staggering secrets of how they they are geared up for even the challenge of Monaco's streets

THESE are the incredible statistics behind the OTHER team in Formula One.

Sky Sports F1 fly more staff and equipment to each Grand Prix than some of the race teams.

Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Simon Lazenby analyse events at the Monaco GP, won by Brit Lewis Hamilton
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Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Simon Lazenby analyse events at the Monaco GP, won by Brit Lewis HamiltonCredit: Sutton Images

Their unrivalled TV coverage means having up to 85 people on location and 23 tonnes of technical kit flown in on seven aircraft containers.

The company has 14 presenters, 21 production and 50 technical staff broadcasting to the UK, Italy and Germany.

And each crew member piles up a staggering 120,255 of air miles during the season.

A behind-the-scenes glimpse at Sky's mind-boggling, in-depth coverage of the GP
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A behind-the-scenes glimpse at Sky's mind-boggling, in-depth coverage of the GPCredit: Sutton Images
An eventful weekend at the famous Monaco Grand Prix included the safety car briefly leading Aussie Daniel Ricciardo and Co at the main event on Sunday
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An eventful weekend at the famous Monaco Grand Prix included the safety car briefly leading Aussie Daniel Ricciardo and Co at the main event on SundayCredit: Lars Baron/Getty Images
David Croft, Simon Lazenby, Rachel Brooks and Ted Kravitz at the Monaco GP
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David Croft, Simon Lazenby, Rachel Brooks and Ted Kravitz at the Monaco GPCredit: Sutton Images

More than 60 Formula One Management wireless cameras - each costing upwards of £50,000 - beam pictures into executive producer Martin Turner's purpose-built control rooms via 28 individual video signals, 77 licensed radio frequencies and three miles of fibre cables and then onto 62 TV monitors with 32 recording and eight instant replay channels, supplemented by a media server boasting 500 terrabites of digital storage.

Sky allowed Sunsport exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the last Grand Prix in Monaco to see how they produce three full international programmes every day of the race weekend as part of their award-winning multi-million pound F1 coverage.

From seeing how commentators David Croft and Martin Brundle squeeze into the wardrobe-size commentary box, to how the unique £100,000 F1 SkyPad touchscreen analyser is set up.

Lewis Hamilton crashes during a dramatic qualifying session for drivers - and also for the experienced Sky Sports team covering Formula One at the Monaco GP
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Lewis Hamilton crashes during a dramatic qualifying session for drivers - and also for the experienced Sky Sports team covering Formula One at the Monaco GPCredit: Sutton Images via Press Association Images

 

Expert opinions and unbeatable angles highlight the Sky coverage of F1 GPs
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Expert opinions and unbeatable angles highlight the Sky coverage of F1 GPsCredit: Sutton Images

Turner explained: "Being a street circuit, Monaco is the most challenging Grand Prix for us during the season.

"It takes two and a half days to build, install and test our equipment, but just four hours to pack it all up."

Sky broadcast 14 hours of live F1 coverage to the UK alone from every one of this season's 21 Grands Prix.

The company has eight cameras, while the separate FOM cameras are flown all around the world.

There are usually around 25 trackside cameras, plus a £100,000 pit lane Spider-cam, while every car will carry at least one on-board camera.

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Turner, the brains behind the F1 SkyPad, added: "The SkyPad touchscreen's resolution is eight times that of a normal one to cope with sunlight.

"Lewis Hamilton and a number of drivers have used it and it's one of the most important components of our kit because it is unique."

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