Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[McCoy]

Well then...

BBC wise Legard and/or James Allen are tipped to return:

Legard, who was the BBC's main F1 television commentator until he was replaced by Brundle at the beginning of this year, and former ITV F1 commentator Allen are the early frontrunners to fill the void.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/07/f1-bbc-team-sky?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

And it looks like Eddie is staying:

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We are really pleased to have kept our existing, award-winning presenting team of Jake Humphrey, Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard. We will be making further announcements on our talent in due course."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/08/bbc-f1-commentary-tv-radio

And from the same article:

The BBC considered a radical overhaul of its Formula One coverage that would have seen the same commentary used across TV and radio in a bid to save money.

The plan, which would have been hugely controversial and unprecedented in the corporation's long history of live sports coverage, is understood to have been put forward by the BBC in-house sport department.

Management rejected the idea and the contract to produce F1 coverage for BBC Radio 5 Live was re-awarded to independent production company USP, which first produced it in 2006.

But it is a sign of the pressures that BBC Sport is under to save money that the plan was considered at all.

The BBC's chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, said the joint deal had saved the corporation as much money as if it had closed BBC4, and said it had to be "ruthless" in the way it chooses sports rights in the future.

[Dudley]

USP have of course lost their entire presenting staff too.

[Rattlehead.ie]

I'm a bit worried for Sky F1 when they find 17 yr old news worthy of tweeting about

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/7362401/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[SMD]

yes, Schumacher was better than Verstappen just because of driver aids.

[Sidewaysbob]

Lets hope the sky coverage isn't all about raking up old stories, and sticking the knife in.

How long before we have a "Hamilton phone tapped" story i wounder

[Eighthours]

I've they give Legard anything i'll run a bloody mile from the BBC.

ON A CHAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGEEEEEE!!!!!!

AND THIS IS CRUCIAL!!!!!!

[myoozikk]

I also miss my Legard drinking game apart for the listening to Legard bit.

[ryodi]

Was speaking to a mate of mine that works in broadcasting. According to him the cuts to the F1 coverage have basically saved an entire channel, in terms of cost savings. I feel less bad about it all now. Unless he was talking about BBC3.

According to the Guardian the cuts in the F1 budget were enough to keep BBC4 going. I don't believe anything can kill BBC3.

[davius]

AND THIS IS CRUCIAL!!!!!!

And..."IS ON THE BUBBLE!!!!!"

[zxcvbnm]

According to the Guardian the cuts in the F1 budget were enough to keep BBC4 going. I don't believe anything can kill BBC3.

Unfortunately.

[SF-02]

Lets hope the sky coverage isn't all about raking up old stories, and sticking the knife in.

How long before we have a "Hamilton phone tapped" story i wounder

Sky rely on manufactured soap operas in sport. Expect a huge increase in soap opera type guff in The Sun (e.g Hamilton says red bull is illegal/ Vettel overated etc), which sky will use as a springboard for endless rubbish and pointless debate on their 24 hr F1 channel, feeding back promos and other nonsense to The Sun in a continual News Corp wankathon.

[esar]

BBC wise Legard and/or James Allen are tipped to return

Argh, I cannot stand either of them, but mostly Legard. Does anyone know who is going to replace Crofty on the radio?

[dayte]

The most cringeworthy quote was Abu Dhabi in 2010:

Legarse: TRULLI IS MISSING HIS FRONT WING!!!

Martin: Rear wing, actually.

Legarse: Well either way... it's a wing!

Martin: ....

Legarse: *snorts over his own stupidity*

[dayte]

Well either way, it's a tree!

[Agent L]

Grosjean has got the second Lotus seat next year. Does that mean Petrov is out of a drive altogether?

[kiroquai]

I am a bit too, although if given the choice of him and Grosjean I would have done what Renault have done and gone for the latter. He dug pretty deep in going back down the ladder after 2009 and was pretty ace in GP2 last season.

This means Petrov and his money are free. HRT, anyone?

[Agent L]

Ah, I'd forgotten about Senna, that's a shame. I quite like Petrov too so I hope they both get a seat somewhere.

[Dudley]

yes, Schumacher was better than Verstappen just because of driver aids.

Exactly, which is why Verstappen's career hit such heights after he left.

[Sidewaysbob]

Williams must be looking at petrov rather than sutil now. I can see sutil without a drive next year

[kiroquai]

There's currently an odd rumour going around that Ferrari are trying to lever Jules Bianchi into the second Sauber alongside Perez (what with them supplying Sauber with engines etc), and that Kobayashi could then transfer over to Williams.

[gospvg]

Driver merry go round in full swing - can someone please knock Trulli out of his Lotus !!

Surely Senna, Sutil or Petrov can take that seat.

[mexos]

Driver merry go round in full swing - can someone please knock Trulli out of his Lotus !!

Surely Senna, Sutil or Petrov can take that seat.

Yeah, it's sure to happen. Too much quality without a drive. If Sutil doesn't get the Williams seat it's a bloody crime.

[Sidewaysbob]

I'm pretty sure Ricciardo has got the caterham seat and trulli's been given a managment role.

As for Senna, i don't really think he lived up the the name if i'm being honest. Nice bloke and all, but what did he do of note against petrov ?

[mexos]

Exactly, which is why Verstappen's career hit such heights after he left.

**Paging Meerman to the thread**

[mexos]

Anyone else going to Milton Keynes tomorrow?

I'm not sure when to turn up, it's going to be packed. Guessing i'll need to be there a good 2 or 3 hours early.

http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Visit_us/Sports_and_activities/red_bull_racing_milton_keynes_2011

[wev]

I'm hoping to take my daughter

[myoozikk]

I'm away but would have been tempted to go & boo them.

[Cheeko]

Makes me laugh when on the TV the last race of the season finishes and they say 'Well, the drivers can enjoy a well earned holiday now until next year' no they don't, they're constantly doing stuff.

[zxcvbnm]

So has Rubens been relegated to pipe & slippers duty now?

[gospvg]

So has Rubens been relegated to pipe & slippers duty now?

Almost guaranteed now with Sutil, Petrov & Senna on the market