Beeb back on track thanks to Lewis factor

The Lewis Hamilton factor, coupled with frustration over ITV's coverage of Formula One, has resulted in the BBC racing back to the track for the first time in more than a decade. Dominic Coles, BBC Sport director of sports rights, today revealed that F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone approached the broadcaster seeking a new five-year deal thought to be worth up to £150million to run from next season.

It is understood that Ecclestone has lost patience with ITV, whose live race reports are interrupted by up to five three-minute commercial breaks during every race.

Famously, in 2005, the network angered fans by running adverts during a tense conclusion to the San Marino Grand Prix.

ITV repeated the last three laps after the race was finished but were inundated with complaints from angry viewers and fined by regulator Ofcom.

More recently, the standard of commentating was criticised by Ross Brawn, the technical genius who helped steer Michael Schumacher to seven world titles. Brawn, whose views are respected by Ecclestone, said: "Our commentators don't seem very good at conveying what is going on." For the BBC, the big attraction is Hamilton, who has made a sensational impact on the sport since making his F1 debut last season.

After winning four races he came within a point of taking the 2007 world championship. This season he has already won the opening Grand Prix in Australia and is favourite to take the chequered flag again in Malaysia on Sunday.