<P> The BBC 's Formula One coverage used the ending bass line as a theme tune from 1978 until the BBC 's loss of TV rights to ITV Sport in 1997 , thus making the song highly recognisable in the United Kingdom . On 29 March 2009 the song re-entered the UK Chart at # 94 through downloads , following confirmation from the BBC that it would be reintroduced , the BBC having regained broadcasting rights from ITV . On 20 March 2011 , `` The Chain '' peaked higher at # 81 in the UK chart following a campaign on Facebook to try to get the song to number 1 for the start of the 2011 Formula One season . By November 2014 , the song had been certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry based on download sales alone , making it one of Fleetwood Mac 's most successful songs in the UK . </P>
when was the chain first used for f1
1978