Forget Red Bull; the Beeb is the most successful team in F1

On Sunday, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was crowned the youngest ever Formula One world champion, bringing to a conclusion one of the most entertaining seasons in the sport's history. British fans have been taken through it every step of the way by the BBC, and The Scrutineer casts an eye at their coverage from final race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

For sheer sporting theatre, it doesn't get more intense. Entering the final race weekend of a pulsating season, Formula One still had the opportunity to crown four drivers as its champion. Like all great storylines, there had to be a fitting finale; but for fans of the world's most glamorous sport, whatever the standard of finish, it wouldn't do justice to such a memorable year.

2010 was a season where F1 demonstrated each and every one of its endearing qualities: mesmerising driving, intense rivalry, controversy in abundance, on and off-track drama and wheel-to-wheel racing. When such a season unfolds, the quality of the television coverage becomes that little bit more important. Thankfully for British fans, the Beeb delivered.

Ever since it was announced  in early 2008 that Auntie had regained the rights to F1 coverage from ITV, I couldn't help but be excited. Despite the latter's coverage always being adequate and often being insightful, I had dreamed of the sport's return to its original home. For all of ITV's efforts, sport on the BBC has always had the edge. Having seen football, cricket, tennis and snooker enjoy superb coverage on our flagship broadcaster, the prospect of my favourite sport filling the airtime over summer weekends was mouth-watering.

They haven't disappointed. Entering the Abu Dhabi weekend, I was eager to see what gems the production team had mustered for the season finale. But for all of 21st century television technology, you still need that human touch for the optimum viewing experience. The likeable triumvirate of Jake Humphrey, David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan provide just that.

Humphrey, fresh-faced and eager in the typical Beeb mould, fronts the coverage. It's a role he's certainly grown into, meandering through the show with a successful blend of assured knowledge and boyish humour. Unlike his predecessors at ITV, Humphrey has the balance of affability and authority that is key in a role such as this. F1 is a subject evidently close to his heart, but his conscious effort to remain 'the link man' rather than spouting opinions left, right and centre is admirable.

That job falls to his broadcasting henchmen. 'DC' and 'EJ', as Humphrey affectionately calls them, are as diametrically opposite in personality as is possible between two human beings. If you were to travel to the deepest lands of Scandinavia and introduce the people to an Amazonian native from Brazil, they would share more common ground than these two.

Coulthard is ever the diplomat. Considered in his delivery, he is still struggling to shake off the management-speak style that rubs off on you after eight years with McLaren. Self-conscious yet confident, the Scot is the man Humphrey turns to when in need of some calm assurance.

Then there's Jordan. Controversial, excitable, bouncing Eddie Jordan. After 13 years of entertaining the paddock as chief of the vibrant Jordan GP, the colourful Irishman turned his hand to punditry. It always seemed the natural next step.

Their on-screen relationship has become the cornerstone of BBC's coverage. In the pre-race programme in Abu Dhabi, DC and EJ were dispatched to Red Bull and Ferrari respectively to try and sniff out some gossip before the action got underway. Coulthard politely enquired about the availability of a team member for interview; Jordan, brash and fearless, jumped about with excitement as he interrogated the Scuderia's PR guru Luca Colajanni.

There are more strings to the BBC bow, of course. Trusted former ITV employee Ted Kravitz joined Lee McKenzie as pitlane reporters, and each bring their own qualities to the party. Commentator Jonathan Legard didn't have big boots to fill with ITV's enthusiastic but generally unpopular James Allen, but his in-depth knowledge keeps viewers informed as the race unfolds.

The real jewel in the crown for the BBC, however, is summariser and grid-walker Martin Brundle. Using experience gained from 12 years racing in the sport, Brundle made his name as sidekick to Murray Walker in the ITV commentary box. Since then, he has become a master of his trade, able to impart his considerable knowledge in a way easily understandable to the average viewer. The term 'summariser' doesn't really do his job justice; for many years, Brundle has conveyed essential information with concision and expertise, and helped many an F1 fan, myself included, along the way.

Of course, what Brundle is most famous for is his 'grid-walks', where he spends ten minutes striding the busy grid, interviewing whomever he can get hold of. He confessed that his Abu Dhabi walk was the 'maddest' in all 14 years of doing them. In what made hilarious viewing, Brundle took Jordan with him, and proceeded in negotiating a track so crammed with photographers, team members, celebrities and Arabian royalty that it resembled raceday at Monaco.

That was just one of a few show highlights, the most memorable of which was an excellent feature showing Sir Stiring Moss and Murray Walker reviewing the season. To hear Walker, a man who is proud to have watched every Grand Prix since 1950, say that 2010 was the most exciting season he's seen just goes to prove that all the hype is entirely justified.

To finish, I'll leave you with a clip to the BBC's post-race Forum, which includes some brilliant scenes as Humphrey, Jordan and Coulthard struggle to get an interview with the newly-crowned world champion. It's well worth a watch.