F1 2011

[Alcatraz]

DRS did amazing things to that race. Not least the heartbreak of denying Schumi, but it allowed Button to put the shits into Vettell

[OneLittleFish]

Absolutely outstanding drives on show today. A little worried about the outcome into the investigation against the Button/Alonso incident - it wouldn't do any good to F1 to see Button lose that victory.

This season has been absolutely incredible.

[The Nal]

Ayrton Senna: If you no long go for a gap you are no longer race driving

How very true...

Edited June 13, 2011 by The Nal

[Benj]

I'm as much of a Hamilton fan as the next person, but in recent races that's clashes with Massa, Maldonado, Webber and his team-mate.

Overtaking is brilliant if you're not taking yourself or other cars out of the race at the same time.

[Kowalski]

Lauda on Hamilton:

"He is completely mad. If [governing body] the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more," he said while commentating on the race for German broadcaster RTL.

"At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this as it will result in someone getting killed."

In saying that I don't think Hamilton was to blame for the Button incident, it was pretty clear that Button didn't see him.

[Benj]

Lauda on Hamilton:

"He is completely mad. If [governing body] the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more," he said while commentating on the race for German broadcaster RTL.

"At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this as it will result in someone getting killed."

In saying that I don't think Hamilton was to blame for the Button incident, it was pretty clear that Button didn't see him.

[TheGayTent]

First bit of real pressure and the boy wonder cracks...

[Gre]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92327

Interesting...

[sifi]

Both McLaren and Ferrari are being embarrassed by Adrian Newey at the moment...

[Benj]

Saying all this... I believe McLaren now have the fastest race day car on the grid and with the ban on the new exhaust systems coming from the British GP onwards McLaren could well be having a big say for the rest of the season (or not - who knows until it comes in place) so I hope he dosen't set balls rolling he might start to regret.

[Benj]

The only one you can call ridiculous is the Massa incident....

Anyway... All drivers will have bad days... Vetell will crash out at some point so I doubt one DNF will be the be all and end all.

I really hope he wins Piss you lot off even more

[Benj]

F1 gone to Sky!

ADVERTS!!! BOOOOOO

accodring to what Ive seen on the news, the BBC will still also show half the races, which is weird, I just hope they keep the same production team across both channels otherwise any cost savings on the BBC side are irrelevant.

Also, even thought eh races will be on Sky Sports by the sound of it, will they show these free to air, as otherwise, surely they'll be a massive fuss kicked up by the sponsors?

Luckily I pay for Sky anyway for the football, if you don't your looking at about 300+ quid a year to see every race live!

[Kowalski]

Absolutely terrible news.

I have Sky Sports but still think F1 should stay on its spritual home. I cannot see how they will broadcast them free to air, but hopefully they're not stupid enough to have ad breaks in the middle of the races. And if James Allen gets hired by Sky I think I'll wait for the BBC highlights rather than watch the races live.

Viewing figures will plummet for the Sky only races.

[sifi]

f**king great. Don't have Sky, won't ever have Sky. Will watch illegally. The Italians have it on RAI.

[The Nal]

Shit. Although it does mean I can watch them in HD.

[Kowalski]

This is what happens when the BBC are forced to cut costs. A real shame IMHO.

EDIT: Brundle on Twitter: "BBC/Sky/F1 2012+. Found out last night, no idea how it will work yet I'm out of contract, will calmly work through options Not impressed"

Edited July 29, 2011 by Kowalski

[sifi]

2012 is when the current Concorde agreement expires with it's free to air stipulations, I think?

Hope Brundle doesn't clear off to Sky.

Far too many questions remain to be answered - this is a mess.

[Alcatraz]

Free to Air sport is inevitably doomed. And to think its thanks to the company currently embroiled in one of the biggest political scandals of the last 25 years

[Gre]

Terrible decision by whoever made it. Whether that's Bernie, the BBC or whoever. Viewing figures will absolutely plummet. Hate the positive spin that Jake Humphrey has tried to put on this too.

Surely Sky won't be stupid enough to put advert breaks in? I accept there will have to be adverts during the race, but still keep the action in a quarter screen or something? I know other countries do that for football.

We actually have Sky Sports at our house, so it won't massively affect me, but I'm still pissed off.

[lost]

strange decision all round?! Can't see it helping F1 in this country.. are the beeb struggling to make savings on the back of the licence fee being freezed or a case of washington monument syndrome?

[Uncle Liam]

Its not great is it?

I'm with Gre in the sense it wont massively effect me, I dont have a Sky Sports Subscription at the moment but I'll take one next year as I think I can finally justify paying the money.

Whilst I wanted it to stay on the BBC, (the coverage is exceptional) it was always inevitable that it wasnt going to stay a BBC exclusive. Thankfully it didnt end up on Five or back on ITV, and Sky have said there wont be ads during the races, which is correct if you are subscribing for it.

I always thought a happy medium would've been to give it to Channel 4, who would then offer the races like ITV used to with breaks, an then offer a 'premium' service alongside (I know they tried this a few years ago, but it was Sky and ITV and having two different providers it was never going to work) where you could get the race, qualifying, practice plus extra content (past races for example) ad free for say £60 a season (upfront) or a fiver per race. Or something like that. Alas not.

[Kowalski]

I have sky but still thnik it's f**king stupid..

[sifi]

The amount the BBC save is roughly the same as Graham Norton, Anne Robinson and Fiona Bruce's salary.

Edited July 31, 2011 by sifi

[sifi]

Enjoyable race yesterday. Thought Hamilton's stop-go adhered to the letter if not the spirit of the law - personally I'd like to have seen some discretion used by the stewards ; he probably should have waited until the track was clear until spinnig the car around knowing that he'd be subjected to the full force of the law as he's LH.

Great shenninigans between the McLaren drivers up until that point, swapping the lead every couple of corners.

Still don't like the "turbo boost" that the DRS provides. Seems more and more contrived with every passing race.

[Gre]

The amount the BBC save is roughly the same as Graham Norton, Anne Robinson and Fiona Bruce's salary.