F1 Report: Billy Monger joins guests to discuss incredible comeback, Bahrain GP and more!

Don’t miss tonight’s F1 Report as special guest Billy Monger joins Natalie Pinkham, John Watson and Peter Windsor in the studio to look ahead to the Bahrain GP and discuss his incredible comeback.

Less than a year after undergoing a double leg amputation following a near-fatal British F4 crash at Donnington Park last April, Monger finished on the podium in his first race back – a British F3 Championship debut with Carlin.

The future of F1 Q&A
When’s the Bahrain GP on Sky?

The 18-year-old had just eight weeks’ practice in his specially modified car, with the throttle and gears on the steering wheel and a single pedal for braking, which Billy does with a shorter right prosthetic leg.

But that wouldn’t phase a determined Monger on his return to the track as he qualified fifth out of 17 at Oulton Park, before finishing the first race of the 2018 season in third.

“It’s not something me and the team expected to happen,” Billy said on the F1 Report, which airs on Wednesday at 8.30pm on Sky Sports F1.

“To get on the podium in my first race back was an unbelievable achievement, not just for me but it warranted all the hard work and hours the team had to put in to get the controls up to a standard where I could deliver.”

Monger was in a coma for three days following his horrific accident last year, while drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Jenson Button helped raise over £500,000 to aid his recovery and rehabilitation.

Overwhelmed by the support from compatriots as well as family and friends, Monger was understandably ecstatic to get back in the car.

“Although it’s only been just under a year since my accident, it felt like a lifetime of not being in a race situation,” he added. “Obviously I’ve done testing in pre-season but to be back out and involved in a race was awesome.

“The first few laps I did in the car, there were all sorts of things going through my mind about whether I was going to be able to control it well enough. It was just an awesome feeling.

“You could see my smile from underneath my visor, it was massive!”

Elsewhere on the F1 Report, former F1 driver John Watson and respected journalist Peter Windsor chat about all the key topics ahead of round two of the 2018 campaign…

*The Haas-Ferrari debate and whether the US team are playing by the rules with their “2017 replica”

*The characteristics of the Bahrain track and whether Red Bull can challenge Ferrari and Mercedes

*On Liberty Media’s plans for the future and what Ross Brawn’s 2021 blueprint could entail

What’s more, Sky F1 expert Martin Brundle joins the panel via Skype – discussing the need for Brawn to put a “very firm directive” down to teams, the possibility of Mercedes and Ferrari opposing plans and whether F1 could benefit with a Saturday sprint race to determine grid position.

Monger targeting title win
Just getting back in a car was an astounding achievement in itself but that isn’t enough for Billy Whizz, who is certainly setting his sights high after a successful return.

“I’ve driven a certain way for 12 years so it’s been a steep learning curve,” Monger told Sky Sports News.

“Ideally I’d like to win the championship, that might sound a bit strange in my first season back but I don’t see a reason why I can’t. Hopefully we can build on the success we had in the first round and try to win some races.”

Watch the F1 Report tonight as Natalie Pinkham is joined by John Watson, Peter Windsor and special guest Billy Monger to look ahead to the Bahrain GP and discuss Billy’s incredible comeback. The show airs tonight on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm.

(c) Sky News 2018: F1 Report: Billy Monger joins guests to discuss incredible comeback, Bahrain GP and more!