Tom Clarkson to miss first F1 race in 28 years due to Damon Hill tour clash

Formula 1 broadcaster Tom Clarkson will miss his first grand prix in nearly three decades at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, bringing an extraordinary attendance streak stretching back to 1998 to an abrupt halt due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict with a live stage tour alongside 1996 world champion PlanetF1 reports.

Clarkson is widely recognised across the paddock as the main host of the official FIA press conferences during race weekends. His duties typically involve posing the opening questions to drivers during Thursday pre-event briefings, guiding post-qualifying and race debriefs, and managing the team representative news conference on Fridays. Beyond his media duties in the Crash reporting, he also fronts the popular Beyond the Grid podcast series.

The broadcasting streak will officially end because Clarkson is committed to an international stage tour with former Williams driver Damon Hill in Australia and New Zealand. Entitled An Evening with Damon Hill — In Conversation with Tom Clarkson, the live production marks the anniversary of Hill winning the world title. The project follows a successful nine-date run across the United Kingdom, spanning from Scotland down to the bottom of England, earlier in the year.

Following the UK success, event organisers Fane approached the pair about taking the show abroad. Clarkson explained the reasoning behind the venture, telling Speedcafe:

"Well everyone loves an anniversary don’t they? So the 30th anniversary of Damon winning the world title in 1996 felt like a great opportunity to sort of celebrate with him. And that’s why Damon and I went and did this tour in the UK back in January. We did nine dates, top to bottom. Scotland to the bottom of England."

Tom Clarkson, Broadcaster, via Crash

"And we had so much fun doing it that the organisers Fane said, ‘Guys, that was amazing. Would you ever think about perhaps taking it abroad?’ And we were like, ‘yeah, sure!’ Since all those plans were put in place of course the Bahrain Grand Prix is taking place at Sepang in Malaysia that middle weekend, which has slightly scuppered things. But we are committed to the tour. Nothing will change on the tour."

Tom Clarkson, Broadcaster, via Crash

The root of the logistical nightmare lies in a dramatic calendar shake-up. When the international tour dates were locked in at the start of the year, the corresponding weekend was entirely free of motorsport commitments. However, the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was shoehorned into the 4 October slot following the cancellation of the original Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This reschedule created an intense triple-header incorporating races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, directly trapping the Sepang weekend in the middle of Clarkson's overseas travel.

With Clarkson locked into the Australasian leg — visiting Perth, Brisbane, Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne between 28 September and 5 October, coverage duties must shift. Former Sky Sports presenter Rachel Brookes is stepping in to cover the void. Brookes previously deputised for Clarkson during the Friday team representative press conference at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, following her departure from Sky Sports in June. PlanetF1 notes that Brookes was engaged by the FIA in a freelance capacity at Madrid and is understood to be appearing at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia next month to cover for the absent host.

As the paddock prepares for the logistical challenges of the rescheduled triple-header, fans of Sport coverage will watch how the broadcast operations adapt to the temporary absence of one of its most permanent fixtures.