The Four Wheel Game

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm very pleased that I didn't shell out any hard-earned cash to Sky to feed my enthusiasm for Formula 1... The BBC coverage on its HD channels was excellent: the 'extended highlights' seamless, a minimum of repetitive, padding-out 'life-style' features before the action, and a great commentary team: Ben Edwards is a pro and the perfect foil for Coulthard (good though Brundle was / is).

And what a great race! Lots of interest, and really positive for Button & Hamilton in the gorgeous McLaren silver arrows (some really ugly cars in other teams this year though )



Over to you, Mr Pee...

[gamba]

Caliban,

You've said it all for me - thanks.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

[DublinJimbo]

Ben Edwards is a pro and the perfect foil for Coulthard (good though Brundle was / is).

Mr Edwards needs to (a) calm down a bit and (b) stop interrupting when DC is in full flight.

While at first I was hugely indignant at the BBC's deal-making with The Evil Empire, I have to agree that yesterday's highlights effort was surprisingly good. I've always felt that devoting forty minutes to the pre-race chat and 'features' was a bit much, so it was a blessed relief to have this more or less eliminated. Mind you, Martin Brundle's pit walk will be sorely missed.

[Mr Pee]

Well, I watched this live on Sky, having set the alarm for 4:15 am, and their coverage was very good as well. It's the first race, and just like the BBC team did, they'll relax and gel a bit more as time goes on, but for a first effort it really wasn't bad. Martin Brundle and David Croft did a great job in the commentary booth. And Martin did his gridwalk, always one of the highlights of the BBC coverage. I actually really enjoy the pre-race stuff, and the post race analysis, and Sky gave us an hour and a half of both. (And no adverts during the race or qualifiying sessions).

Add in the F1 Legends series on the F1 Channel, where Steve Rider interviews racers from the past- so far we've had Fittipaldi, Mansell, and Stewart- and live coverage of the GP2 and GP3 "feeder" series, and it all makes for a pretty comprehensive package. I did enjoy the BBC, and they did - and I'm sure are still doing- a great job, but Sky, even though it's early days, are proving as professional as one would expect.

AS to the race itself- pretty good. I think it will be a much closer Championship than last year- McLaren are looking really strong, the Red Bull car doesn't look nearly as perfect as last year's, and Button's driving seems to improve with every race. Hamilton really should learn to look a bit less like a kid who's had his toys taken away when things don't go to plan. He does himself no favours in post-race interviews.

And as to Ferrari- one has to wonder whether they can really afford to keep Massa until the end of the season. I know the car is not good, but Alonso still made him look as though he was in an HRT rather than the Ferrari.

Looking forward to Malaysia- and a slightly more civilised start time!!!

[Nick Armstrong]

Mr Edwards needs to (a) calm down a bit and (b) stop interrupting

I bet folk were saying something similar about Murray Walker in his earlier days!! Edwards's style didn't bother me, to be honest - the level of excitement seemed appropriate.

[Mr Pee]

I bet folk were saying something similar about Murray Walker in his earlier days!! Edwards's style didn't bother me, to be honest - the level of excitement seemed appripriate.

There have been a few comments along those lines about David Croft on Sky- and similar responses! There's nothing wrong with a bit of excitement. Crofty reminded me of Murray Walker as well.

[anotherbob]

If I was to watch a Formula 1 race nowadays it would certainly be on the BBC because it cuts out most of the laps during which nothing happens

Now this chap was worth watching.......

[anotherbob]

.....in the gorgeous McLaren silver arrows

No matter what engines they use, Mclarens will NEVER be Silver Arrows.
This is a Silver Arrow.....

http://www.intheshed.plus.com/stuff/silver arrow.jpg

[Mr Pee]

No matter what engines they use, Mclarens will NEVER be Silver Arrows.
This is a Silver Arrow.....
http://www.intheshed.plus.com/stuff/silver arrow.jpg

That's true enough, but the McLaren's are by far the most beautiful cars on the grid this year- and what makes that even sweeter is that they are also among the fastest. Those stepped noses look absolutely hideous on most of the other cars, particularly the Ferrari and Sauber.

[amateur51]

Aaaah give me the good old days, here's 1957 German Grand Prix, Hawthorn & Peter Collins trying their utmost to fend off Fangio who loses precious time in a bungled refuelling pitstop ... excitement AND elegance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUcyO9K4EU0

This makes me fill up every time

[anotherbob]

That's true enough, but the McLaren's are by far the most beautiful cars on the grid this year- and what makes that even sweeter is that they are also among the fastest. Those stepped noses look absolutely hideous on most of the other cars, particularly the Ferrari and Sauber.

The only motor racing currently worth watching (I exclude the excellent amateur meetings at my local Oulton Park) is on two wheels. The "Rules" of Formula One have reduced it to a farce. Do you ask a 1500 metre runner to change into hobnail boots at the half-way mark

Fill the things with fuel, shout "GO" and the last one home's a cissy.

[Nick Armstrong]

The only motor racing currently worth watching (I exclude the excellent amateur meetings at my local Oulton Park) is on two wheels. The "Rules" of Formula One have reduced it to a farce. Do you ask a 1500 metre runner to change into hobnail boots at the half-way mark

Fill the things with fuel, shout "GO" and the last one home's a cissy.

There's much in what you say!!!

Except that I've never been able to get into bikes... It's always been 4 wheels good, 2 wheels bad, for me.

And I think that the Mercedes powered McLarens are a fitting successor to the magnificent Merc you pictured, I have no problem with the 'silver arrow' soubriquet

Very stirring to see that footage of Fangio on the 'old' Monaco circuit, and interesting to see the old gasworks hairpin where the Rascasse now stands. And that 1957 clip, ammy... But I have to say, as I 'got into' F1 in the mid 70s, the wings, the fat tyres and the airboxes above are in my blood

[amateur51]

And that 1957 clip, ammy... But I have to say, as I 'got into' F1 in the mid 70s, the wings, the fat tyres and the airboxes above are in my blood

The first time my Nain saw a F1 race where the wing was perched just behind the driver, she said it was a very sensible idea ... it kept the rain off the driver's head

Mind you, she also thought that frozen prawns were better value than fresh ones because ... they're closer together so you get more to the pound

[Nick Armstrong]

The first time my Nain saw a F1 race where the wing was perched just behind the driver, she said it was a very sensible idea ... it kept the rain off the driver's head

Mind you, she also thought that frozen prawns were better value than fresh ones because ... they're closer together so you get more to the pound

Wresting the thread back from your Nain's frozen prawns I thought I might post one of the pics I took from my lookout at the Monaco GP meeting, the Rascasse café (I've been down a few times for the first day of practice, the Thursday - only once for the race - Thursday much nicer, before the place fills up with freeloading Eurotrash for the weekend ). Anyway, here's young Michael at his exercise: