The broadcaster has awarded the contract to experienced independent sports production company, Whisper Films, which was founded in 2010 by Coulthard, BT Sport and former BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey and former BBC F1 producer Sunil Patekl.

This announcement follows the news last month that Channel 4 would become the terrestrial TV home of Formula 1 from 2016-2018.

The announcement that Coulthard will join the F1 onscreen presenting team ends months of speculation that he will be one of the presenters on BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans’ revamped Top Gear.

Coulthard said of his appointment and his involvement with Whisper Films, “This is an exciting time for the sport and an exciting time for Whisper Films. The F1 World has been incredibly impressed with what Whisper has delivered over the last five years and Channel 4’s decision is testament to that. I’m looking forward to being part of an exciting new era for Formula One, with Whisper Films and our proven level of creativity and innovation very much at the heart of that.”

The full presenting and commentary team will be announced in due course.