BBC Sport has appointed Alice Powell and Abbi Pulling as its first all-female Formula 1 commentator and co-commentator lineup for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix this weekend.
The historic broadcasting shift on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds follows a series of broadcasting adjustments across major networks.
The commentary change was triggered by regular Sky Sports commentator David Croft choosing to skip the Barcelona race weekend to attend the Download music festival in the United Kingdom.
His absence prompted BBC regular lead commentator Harry Benjamin to move over to Sky F1 as Croft's trusted stand-in for the weekend.
To fill the vacancy, the BBC elevated 33-year-old Powell to lead the radio broadcast alongside Pulling, who reprises her role as co-commentator and analyst.
The pair share a close professional bond outside the commentary booth, as Powell currently serves as Pulling's manager.
Powell has raced across multiple categories in a 20-year career, including stints as a W Series driver and racing developer.
She expressed great enthusiasm about fulfilling a childhood dream that began while playing in her garden as a six-year-old.
"I'm really excited to lead my first F1 commentary, alongside Abbi.
As well as dreaming of becoming a racing driver when I was a kid, I also wanted to become a commentator.
Who would have thought that six-year-old Alice, who would pretend to be Murray Walker commentating on my own little race on my bike in the garden, would be having the chance to lead a BBC commentary many years later?
A big thank you also to IMG and the BBC for this opportunity," said Alice Powell.
Pulling, 23, won the all-female F1 Academy championship in 2024 before advancing to the GB3 category, a single-seater championship positioned just below FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2.
Last month, she made history by taking her maiden GB3 victory from pole position at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
"It's incredible to be doing Barcelona comms with BBC 5 live, especially as it's an all-female line-up with Alice and me.
The important thing as well is that it's not just to tick a box.
It is down to our experiences and involvement with the sport that we're in these positions, which continues to show how much sport is evolving.
It's becoming more widely accepted not to just have women within the sport in these roles, but also to have the knowledge and be trusted by the listeners," said Abbi Pulling.
In addition to her GB3 campaign, Pulling serves as a rookie and simulator driver for the Nissan team in the all-electric Formula E world championship.
BBC Sport will continue its full seasonal coverage across its radio frequencies, website, and digital application throughout the grand prix weekend.
