sport Formula One - 2014 Season

[MrPogo]

Nice spot. Shame they were out of the men's waterproof jackets in all but Small and Extra Small (Small might have fitted me, as I can take anything from a Small to a Large depending on the manufacturer, but not going to take a punt at thirty quid!). Got a couple of bags and a t-shirt.

[Bacon Horsemeat]

They only have the small polos, FFFUUUU

[layten]

So I just found out that Gary Anderson has left the BBC and they are not going to bother replacing him....

Nice one you bunch of jokers, push out (reading around it seems he was pushed rather than jumped, not pretty enough for TV) somebody who really knows his shit just before a season with massive technical changes starts.

"What was the BBC thinking when it got rid of you, Gary?"

Ben Roynon, via Facebook

Got rid of me seems a little harsh, but in reality I suppose that's the correct term.

Ever since I started work with them, I've been pushing them to do more on the technical side, and during the second half of 2013 it appeared to me that they were wanting to do less.

For example, I set up an open-house visit to Renault to cover the engine package for 2014 in detail and twice on the day before we were due to go it was cancelled by the BBC. The reasoning was that as far as they were concerned, the viewers were not that interested.

I was not very happy. I believed that with the enormous technical changes for 2014, we should be doing more, not less.

I felt that if I couldn't bring to the viewer what I felt they wanted because my hands were tied, then it was better not to be there at all. I was in the midst of writing a resignation email when I got the call from them to meet up for a chat, which is when, as you say, they got rid of me!

Fuck the BBC. They would rather spunk their sport budget up the wall on 2 weeks of giant fucking ping-pong anyway.

[mexos]

2011-2012 was the peak of F1 coverage IMO. Jake, DC and Eddie all in sync. The production value was off the chart. It was superb. When Jake left and Sky came in I had this little sad feeling it would never get that good again. The whole production is just nowhere near as sharp anymore. It doesn't feel as insightful, the fun and rapport between the presenters isn't there. Time for a re think BBC.

Step 1: Eject Suzi. Do this now.

Step 2: Promote James Allen right now - get him back in the pit lane. He was brilliant in that position, just don't give him a lead commentary role.

Step 3: Convince Ross to come out of retirement (when he's bored of fishing) to be the new Gary for 2015

Step 4: Convince Jake to come back once BT sport goes belly up. 2015

Step 5 Get the freshly retired Jenson onboard as the new DC or Eddie if either of them step down. DC and JB together would be ace. 2015/6

[Arc'Tan'Gent]

as I can take anything from a Small to a Large.

[Shimmyhill]

Problem with step 4 is that BT are rumoured to be in it for 15 years min with funding in place to make a loss for that long to take the game to Sky and Virgin and become the big three.

Sky race commentary is as good as it was on the bbc, funny that, and while the other stuff is poor from what I saw on the bbc last season they were not any better.

I love the technical side of f1 but always found Gary a bit dry and quite often be got 'live' calls wrong - I imagine the majority of viewers didn't like he tech stuff and wondered why this chap was getting it wrong so often - it's fair enough when EJ gets it wrong as he is daft but Gary didn't present so well on screen.

As ever pandering to the lowest common denomination will always come first

[Velse]

Ted Kravitz is decent on Sky. The presenter is a bit crap but the rest is pretty good. Completely agree that Jake et al was the high point, but it couldn't last forever. Shame it couldn't last for more than a few years mind.

[Dudley]

I think it's more the BBC are of the mind to do this as cheaply as possible. Suzi won't demand much, DC is near free so long as he shills for Red Bull enough and he's doing two jobs anyway, EJ would turn up at the opening of a box of malteasers etc etc.

So why bother paying for a tech guy demanding expensive trips to factories to talk about engines and shit when it's much easier to send DC to talk to his mate Lewis about facial hair again.

[Sidewaysbob]

I could watch Kravitz all day, the man knows what he's talking about.

[Dudley]

Yep, he's a gawky ass nerd of a bastard but he's basically perfect for what he does.

[mexos]

Ted is by far the best thing about the Sky coverage. I'd prefer him back at the beeb even more than Martin these days.

[wev]

First there was this

And now there seems to be all but an official confirmation from both parties, but it does seem that Williams will be sponsored by Martini for the coming season, complete with Martini livery

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112504

Hopefully this means Williams will finally get some proper financial backing and return to being a team competing for podiums again (not sure if I could see them being able to compete for Championships with the amount of money at the disposal of Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren though)

[Bacon Horsemeat]

From the Sky 1 testing coverage, extremely informative on the new car designs. I love the diversity of them, and it's amazing how tight it is round the back (erm...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHnRBkpZJJI

After watching this, I prefer Ted to Gary, hands down.

The Ferrari looks like it has been crushed!

[Rattlehead.ie]

Interesting if thats true.

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/red-bull-exploring-change-of-engine-supplier--minardi

Hopefully means Red Bull won't be running away with the Championship this year

[Sidewaysbob]

I'd take any and everything Minardi has to say with a MASSIVE pinch of salt. Redbull might be looking around if Renault can't fix their over heating issues, but to say they're going to bolt a new engine in over night is laughable. Newey just needs to cool the thing properly, not go cap in hand to Merc for a customer deal.

[myoozikk]

Had dinner last night with a mate on the inside.

He say's don't discount Red Bull at all, Renault has sorted their shit, cooling is TBC. It's all about reliability not so much speed at the moment. You'll be seeing a huge amount of variation on the cars as time goes on but should be a very very interesting season.

& next year even more so.

[mexos]

Interesting if thats true.

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/red-bull-exploring-change-of-engine-supplier--minardi

Hopefully means Red Bull won't be running away with the Championship this year

[Moodmon]

Have to second all the Kravtiz love. I mean in that Jerez video he is using every fibre in his body to resist calling the nose a penis, instead resorting to Kenneth Williams oooh noises. His notebooks generally just involve him wandering around the back with a cameraman and an actual notebook, and he still makes it interesting.

I also rather like the Croft/Miserable Cunt combo during the race. Other things I will be liking will be the Williams if they have that Martini livery, and ABV* for the championship.

* anyone but Vettel

[Bacon Horsemeat]

[Dudley]

In the wake of Simona De Silvestro perhaps getting a shot at Sauber, here's the last few women that I know of to drive an F1 car "officially".

I assume we can name them all...

[MrPogo]

I only know the top one, but assume I get bonus points for having taken the photo

[kiroquai]

Susie Wolff, Maria de Villota, Katherine Legge, Sarah Fisher and Giovanna Amati

The Marussia image is Timo Glock, though, but I know who it was supposed to be

[Dudley]

All correct of course and D'oh! That's the only one I had to google search.

And yes Pogo, I thought it came from here, it's came from my wallpaper rotation, along with the Katherine and Amati ones

On a side note, I'm biased as a fan but I maintain the Minardi PS05 was one of the most genuinely gorgeous F1 cars of all time.

Have I missed anyone since Amati?

[kiroquai]

Yeah, the PS05 was a lovely machine. The colour scheme complimented it really well too! Minardi have a history of really nice cars - think the M192's my favourite

Nope, don't think you've missed anyone! Honda were busting their balls to try and get Danica Patrick into one of their cars at Indy in 05 - 07 for a demo run but it never quite happened.

[Jonny5]

FIA legalises donuts for F1 winners!

[Jonny5]

The second test is this week, February 19-22 at the Bahrain International Circuit. Anyone know what the time difference is? I'm looking forward to seeing if Renault/Redbull really are in trouble and also getting a better idea of who has the pace to be running at the front.

[SMD]

+4 hours GMT

[SeanR]

FIA legalises donuts for F1 winners!

Now, they are allowed to "perform an act of celebration" after crossing the finish line, provided the act is "performed safely" and "does not delay the podium ceremony".

doesn't rule out wanking over the car. Just saying...

[merman]

Red Bull sign British driver Jann Maddenborough to an intensive driver programme with the aim of competing in GP3.

Why is that interesting? Jann learned to race on Gran Turismo before winning a Nissan virtual driving competition that gave him the chance to race in real cars.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/29552/9164883/red-bull-have-signed-gamer-turned-racer-jann-mardenborough-and-he-will-race-in-gp3

[MrPogo]

That is pretty cool. As I understand it the usual rule is "if you're not racing go karts competitively by the age of eight you've missed your chance" (unless your parents are seriously rich, as that's the only level which someone on less than a six figure income can hope to fund without having already proved themselves and picked up sponsors etc).