Formula One Decade

Formula 1 Decade is a show on SPEED Channel. First airing in May 2003, the show takes a look at Formula 1 Grand Prix events that were run 10 years prior to the present season. A one-hour show, the announcers, SPEED's Formula 1 commentary team, Bob Varsha, Steve Matchett, and David Hobbs, reminisce about the events and what rules have changed since they took place, rather than calling the races as if they were actually happening at the present time. In 2003, when the show looked back at the 1993 season, dominated by Alain Prost, Varsha was the show's host, while Hobbs and Matchett looked at videotape of the races, and reminisced. That changed in 2004, when Matchett began introducing the race that would be seen on an episode and wrapping up each show, while Varsha joined Matchett and Hobbs to do commentary.

Late Friday night, April 2, 2004, the show had the daunting task of airing the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, and showing the crash that claimed the life of 3-time World Drivers' Champion, and 41-time Grand Prix race winner Ayrton Senna in that event.

The show will return in 2005, taking a look back at the 1995 season, when Michael Schumacher took his second straight World Drivers' Championship.

SPEED Channel picked up the rights to broadcast the years-old races in their three-year agreement with the FIA in 2003. It was included in their contract that allowed them to continue broadcasting live Formula 1 races, though it cost extra money, as the Formula 1 archives are rarely opened to any network.