Formula 1 just got interesting

[ltd]

This is taken from the Daily Mail in the UK.

Top Gear favourite Richard Hammond is in pole position to become the face of Formula One for the BBC.

It comes after the corporation paid around £200million for the rights to screen motor racing - £50million more than ITV paid for its current deal - despite having no rival bidders.

Hammond, known as The Hamster, is said to be favourite as insiders believe he has a special affinity with drivers after surviving a high-speed crash in 2006.

Coverage will take on the style of Top Gear, with co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May also involved.

Dominic Coles, BBC Director of Sport Rights, said: "When Lewis Hamilton did a test lap on Top Gear it got more viewers than the Brazilian Grand Prix.

"Bernie [Ecclestone] was very impressed with the Top Gear proposition and there will be cross-fertilisation between the show and the races."


Full article here. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

Whilst I generally enjoy Martin Brundle and James Allen, I think Hammond, May and Clarkson would make it alot more fun. Since Murray Walker left the commentary whilst thorough just hasn't been as exciting. Hopefully the Top Gear boys get to have a lot of input.

[MethodX]

As long as they dont talk about Lewish hamilton all the time, should be great.

[Yaw]

I agree with you. F1 has not had the same excitment and lustre since Murray Walker left. Murray taught me about F1 and he is the reason I am in Murray's own words an "enthusiastic enthusiast". I set my alarm to get up in the early hours of a monday morning to watch Formula 1. I hope his Top Gear link will help bring back the same sort of commentating that Murray did.

On a side note if anyone wants a laugh check out this massive list of "Walkerisims"

http://www.worldmotorsport.com/murray/

[Jack91]

So Clarkson, May and Hammond will be commentating through the race? That'd be funny.

[Ives]

Awesome, I cant wait. Is it gonna air here in Australia though?

[the_scotsman]

I very much doubt they would have them commentating...only presenting...surely they'd have other already commentators....F1 commentating is not something that should be made "humorous" by the Top Gear boys...

[DJM83]

F1 was already interesting enough with the removal of the driver aids, having someone like him on the team it surely can only get better

[ltd]

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

I very much doubt they would have them commentating...only presenting...surely they'd have other already commentators....F1 commentating is not something that should be made "humorous" by the Top Gear boys...

Not sure. Martin Brundle and James Allen have done the international broadcast for ITV for many years, but they're on a rival network and I think Bernie likes the idea of livening up the broadcast as it has become boring and numbers have dwindled. The fact that Top Gear averages a world audience much greater than formula 1 is what has them as the front runners for this exercise. I think you'd probably see Richard being serious and Clarkson being a bit of a joker. If they did do it I'm sure channel 10 would see the light and use their broadcast as opposed to Neil Crompton who doesn't have much of a clue.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by ltd

Not sure. Martin Brundle and James Allen have done the international broadcast for ITV for many years, but they're on a rival network and I think Bernie likes the idea of livening up the broadcast as it has become boring and numbers have dwindled. The fact that Top Gear averages a world audience much greater than formula 1 is what has them as the front runners for this exercise. I think you'd probably see Richard being serious and Clarkson being a bit of a joker. If they did do it I'm sure channel 10 would see the light and use their broadcast as opposed to Neil Crompton who doesn't have much of a clue.

i'm with the_scotsman on this one. the top gear crew don't know enough about the technical side of f1 to do it justice. they've never been in the sport or raced the cars and can't give that sort of feedback. i actually like brundle as commentator.

murray walker on the other hand was a goose. he was forever being corrected and trying to get excited just for the sake of it.

[Perana]

AS long as its not the Lewis Hamilton show that it currently is im happy!

It's almost sickening

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by ltd

Not sure. Martin Brundle and James Allen have done the international broadcast for ITV for many years, but they're on a rival network and I think Bernie likes the idea of livening up the broadcast as it has become boring and numbers have dwindled.

Typical Burnie, thinking the numbers have dropped off because the broadcast has become boring, maybe he should use his money to buy a clue and realize its the racing that has become boring.

Doesn't Clarkson hate F1?

[XR8putts]

The Stig to be pit reporter?

I can see it now, Clarkson introduces the Stig like he always does, they cut to the Stig who just walks around and shoves a microphone infront of angry drivers and lets them vent. The Stig just nods. Whilst the drivers' still venting, Stiggy jumps in the car and breaks the lap reccord, comes back into pit lane, parks it and then dissapears back into a nearby forrest.

[rodderz]

I wonder if they will introduce a Top Gear F1 challenge and have the boys drive 1960's F1 cars with faulty spoilers, 4 wheel drum brakes and overheating engines to see which one 1st completes a journey from London to Silverstone and do 20 laps?

[blue sleeper]

Originally Posted by MethodX

As long as they dont talk about Lewish hamilton all the time, should be great.

+1

Hamilton didn't even win it last year for crying out loud...

By the way is there a coincidence that english sports stars have a disposition to choke....

[nommic]

Another rumor I heard was that Coulthard might be enticed into adding a more technical side to the commentary - sort of Brundle's role at the moment. Frankly I would be happy with anyone buy James Allen.

I watched a few races on SpeedTV last year, I found their commentary to be much more entertaining and balanced. It wasn't "LEWIS, LEWIS OH GOD LEWIS" every five seconds.

[ELtim]

Formula 1 just got interesting

NO WAY!

[ingall9]

Why is everyone down on Hamilton? He breathed life into F1 last year, after the farce of a race in the US a couple if years back when only 6 cars started and the procession it had turned into people lost interest in the sport. For Hamilton to come out in his first year in F1 and not finish off the podium for the first half dozen races and then only loose the championship in his rookie year by 1 point he deserves to have the spot light, he is a true champion, and i for one wish that cheating mongrel shoomaker (i know its spelt wrong) was still in the championship so Hamilton could show the guy how to drive like a true sportsman.

He cemented his true talent as a driver when he outclassed the field at Melbourne as the rest of the feild fell appart because they didnt have traction aids and gizmos to drive for them.

As for the topic, i reckon an F1 telecast would be worth watching regardless of the racing if Hamilton and the guys were commentating.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by ingall9

Why is everyone down on Hamilton? He breathed life into F1 last year, after the farce of a race in the US a couple if years back when only 6 cars started and the procession it had turned into people lost interest in the sport. For Hamilton to come out in his first year in F1 and not finish off the podium for the first half dozen races and then only loose the championship in his rookie year by 1 point he deserves to have the spot light, he is a true champion, and i for one wish that cheating mongrel shoomaker (i know its spelt wrong) was still in the championship so Hamilton could show the guy how to drive like a true sportsman.

He cemented his true talent as a driver when he outclassed the field at Melbourne as the rest of the feild fell appart because they didnt have traction aids and gizmos to drive for them.

As for the topic, i reckon an F1 telecast would be worth watching regardless of the racing if Hamilton and the guys were commentating.

Noone disputes that Hamilton is not a great steerer and maybe a potential future champion.
He isnt a world champion yet so comparing him to champions like Senna, Prost and Schumacher is a bit premature.

Lewis drove for a cheating team last year and got immunity for telling the FIA what he knew, so whos the cheat then?
lol

[ltd]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Noone disputes that Hamilton is not a great steerer and maybe a potential future champion.
He isnt a world champion yet so comparing him to champions like Senna, Prost and Schumacher is a bit premature.

Lewis drove for a cheating team last year and got immunity for telling the FIA what he knew, so whos the cheat then?
lol

I like Lewis Hamilton but agree that it shouldn't just be a Lewis Hamilton show. I also think clarkson said he started watching it again last year when Hamilton came on the scene. Perhaps that's an ominous sign of where it would go. As for Martin Brundle, I do think he is great to listen to as he knows all the ins and outs, and I don't even mind James Allen as he seems to have learnt alot. He was brilliant in the pits all those years ago. As for Murray Walker; I loved his passion. You sort of felt that it was the pinnacle motorsport just by hos commentary and infectious "go, go, go" at the beginning of each race.

As for drivers, I think Schumacher will be revered for a long time as the best regardless of what his fans and detractors think. I agree in 94 when he took out Damon Hill he was a hothead, but I also think he was following team orders. In his later years he seems to have mellowed.
Finally, I'm looking forward to the top gear team doing it; it should be brilliant.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by ltd

As for drivers, I think Schumacher will be revered for a long time as the best .

hear hear!!

you don't win 7 titles from being a just a good driver.

there are a couple of races in recent times that really stand out for me.

imola 04 or 5 i think when the ferrari was ordinary, he was languishing back in the pack stuck behind traffic and seemingly destined for a poor race. they all pitted leaving him with clear track and he demonstrated then regardless of the car, how good he was. at 1-2 seconds per lap quicker than anyone else he made up enough time to be fighting with alonso for the win by the end of the race. awesome race.

the other was his final race at brazil in 06 after having a shocker of a start (well a brilliant start and then a puncture etc etc) he proceeded to once again lap his ferrari 2 sec a lap quicker than the next best. great to watch and even though he didn't win he went out in style.

i can't picture clarkson being serious enough for f1 commentary unless its a separate show.

[russellw]

Originally Posted by ltd

If they did do it I'm sure channel 10 would see the light and use their broadcast as opposed to Neil Crompton who doesn't have much of a clue.

Someone hasn't watched F1 for awhile - given that Cam McConville replaced Cromley some time ago.

The rather more interesting part of this is to see a taxpayer funded broadcaster tossing in such a large amount of money to win the right to broadcast F1 which has been suffereing declining audiences for the last few years anyway.

Personally I don't care who they have doing it as long as they retain someone from the ex driving ranks who has half a clue about driving the cars.

Cheers
Russ

[prydey]

i wonder if brundle and co are part of itv or f1. if f1 changes broadcasters will they follow a la cromley with the v8's. if so you will probably find it will be similar to here where the local commentary only hosts the start of the show and when itv are on ad breaks and allother times we cross to the live itv commentary.

[the_scotsman]

nah..they are contracted to ITV...would be up to the BBC if they wanted to take them across...I doubt they will though...even though they should...


What it does mean though is (hopefully) the return of the BBC F1 theme song (an excerpt from The Chain by Fleetwood Mac).

F1 wasn't F1 without it...anyone living in the UK while F1 was on the BBC will know what I mean!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JEP8vYDPy7A (damn the memories!!! Hill/Schumacher!)

They were even using it in the 70s! http://youtube.com/watch?v=duf21pPIET8

[ingall9]

Originally Posted by prydey

hear hear!!

you don't win 7 titles from being a just a good driver.

there are a couple of races in recent times that really stand out for me.

imola 04 or 5 i think when the ferrari was ordinary, he was languishing back in the pack stuck behind traffic and seemingly destined for a poor race. they all pitted leaving him with clear track and he demonstrated then regardless of the car, how good he was. at 1-2 seconds per lap quicker than anyone else he made up enough time to be fighting with alonso for the win by the end of the race. awesome race.

the other was his final race at brazil in 06 after having a shocker of a start (well a brilliant start and then a puncture etc etc) he proceeded to once again lap his ferrari 2 sec a lap quicker than the next best. great to watch and even though he didn't win he went out in style.

i can't picture clarkson being serious enough for f1 commentary unless its a separate show.

I dont dispute the fact that he is a good driver as you say you dont win 7 titles in the highest category in world motorsport unless you are good, but unlike hamilton (whos team was cheating behind the scenes) Michael sometimes resorted to dirty tactics to hinder his fellow drivers.

The one i most remember was back at the last event held at Adelaide before the AGP moved to Melbourne when he and Damon Hill were separated by like one point, it had basically come down to who ever won the race would win the title. Michael was leading with Damon in second, Michael drifted wide and hit the wall he moved over to the left of the circuit and was heading off into the run off area to park it when Hill appear behind him as hill went to pass on the right to take the next right hander Michael swirved the car into him ending both their races, Michael won that year. The incident was reviewed and nothing was done, but it was obvious what had happened.

Then a year or two later when he and Jaques Villeneuve (spelling?) were in the same sittuation Michael tried the same again, but missed Jaques suspension and his his radiator, jacques managed to finish the race and win the title.

Then there was monaco where he pretended to stop at the last hair pin and stall the car as to have Qualifying red flagged and stopping anyone else putting in a quicker lap than his, this he was penalised for.

Sure the man was a great driver and had imense skill, but he was a sore looser and a poor sportsman, which makes it hard for me to respect the man, regardless of his acheivements. I dont know the full details of the Hamilton and Mclaren affair from last year, but Maclaren paid the masive penalty and Lewis lost because of a couple of mistakes, it appears he is on form this year and will be good to see if he has matured that little bit to make him sometimes concede defeat and take points as opposed to pushing it to hard.

This year will be a good year for F1, the racing will be closer and if Hammond and the boys get involved it will be good entertainment value. matt

[Yaw]

Originally Posted by ingall9

I dont know the full details of the Hamilton and Mclaren affair from last year, but Maclaren paid the masive penalty and Lewis lost because of a couple of mistakes, it appears he is on form this year

The cheating behind the scenes that Mclaren was penalised for in the millions of dollars, i don't recall if the fine was 10 million or 100 million, it was one of the 2 figures, either way a massive amount. But this had NO bearing what so ever on the race car. The whole thing was over intelctual property when they (Mclaren) employed a rivals Engineer who was caught with documents from the rival's areo package (the front wing). This information was never used on the mclaren cars (which in itself is evidint from the fact the front wing was different) The whole thing was that Mclaren was alledged to have used espeonage tacticts to get the info.
My whole point is the cheating you speak of had no bearing on the racing that happened.

[EDIT] I found this new story;
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/motors...mclaren14.html

McLaren fine: $100 million
Spying costs F1 team cash and points
By ROB MURRAY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS -- The McLaren team was fined $100 million and stripped of its points in the constructors' standings Thursday in the spying scandal that has rocked the sport.

McLaren, which leads the current drivers' and constructors' standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari.

Team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, currently 1-2 in the championship standings, were not punished and can continue to compete for the season title.

"Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged," the Italian team said in a statement.

The $100 million penalty includes McLaren's expected loss of income, and McLaren still could be penalized for the 2008 championship, FIA said in a statement after a hearing.

"We have never denied that the information from Ferrari was in the personal possession of one of our employees at his home," McLaren team chief Ron Dennis said. "The issue is: Was this information used by McLaren? This is not the case and has not been proven today."

McLaren escaped the harshest possible penalty, as FIA could have kicked the team and its drivers out of the 2007 and 2008 championships. In December, FIA will decide on any possible sanctions against McLaren for the 2008 season.

FIA said it did not penalize McLaren's drivers "due to exceptional circumstances" because they provided evidence in exchange for immunity.

"We believe we have grounds for appeal," team chief Ron Dennis said. "But of course we are going to wait for the findings of the FIA, which are going to be published. The most important thing is that we go motor racing this weekend, the rest of the season and next season."

The case broke open in July when a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan, who later was suspended. Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired.

Rookie English driver Hamilton leads the standings with 92 points, followed by two-time F1 champion Alonso of Spain with 89. Ferrari teammates Kimi Raikkonen (74) and Felipe Massa (69) are third and fourth. Four races remain in the season.

Alonso and Hamilton finished 1-2 in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix to extend McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship to 23 points. McLaren had 166, Ferrari 143.

Under Thursday's ruling, McLaren loses all its constructors' points and is ineligible to score any more in the season's final races.

The World Motor Sport Council ruled in July that McLaren was guilty of fraudulent conduct for possessing the Ferrari documents, but did not punish the team because there was insufficient evidence the material was misused. However, the council warned that McLaren could be kicked out of the 2007 and 2008 series if it is found in the future that the information has been used "to the detriment of the championship."

[nommic]

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by ingall9

I dont dispute the fact that he is a good driver as you say you dont win 7 titles in the highest category in world motorsport unless you are good, but unlike hamilton (whos team was cheating behind the scenes) Michael sometimes resorted to dirty tactics to hinder his fellow drivers.

The one i most remember was back at the last event held at Adelaide before the AGP moved to Melbourne when he and Damon Hill were separated by like one point, it had basically come down to who ever won the race would win the title. Michael was leading with Damon in second, Michael drifted wide and hit the wall he moved over to the left of the circuit and was heading off into the run off area to park it when Hill appear behind him as hill went to pass on the right to take the next right hander Michael swirved the car into him ending both their races, Michael won that year. The incident was reviewed and nothing was done, but it was obvious what had happened.

Then a year or two later when he and Jaques Villeneuve (spelling?) were in the same sittuation Michael tried the same again, but missed Jaques suspension and his his radiator, jacques managed to finish the race and win the title.

Then there was monaco where he pretended to stop at the last hair pin and stall the car as to have Qualifying red flagged and stopping anyone else putting in a quicker lap than his, this he was penalised for.

Sure the man was a great driver and had imense skill, but he was a sore looser and a poor sportsman, which makes it hard for me to respect the man, regardless of his acheivements. I dont know the full details of the Hamilton and Mclaren affair from last year, but Maclaren paid the masive penalty and Lewis lost because of a couple of mistakes, it appears he is on form this year and will be good to see if he has matured that little bit to make him sometimes concede defeat and take points as opposed to pushing it to hard.

This year will be a good year for F1, the racing will be closer and if Hammond and the boys get involved it will be good entertainment value. matt

All champions are cut throat, they have to be.
Senna was the same.

[the_scotsman]

I was watching Youtube clips of the Hill/Schumacher era last night...Adelaide 94 was disgusting...I still remember it like it was yesterday...the dirty bar-steward knew he was screwed and took out Hill...seeing Hill sitting in the pits shaking his head...I felt so damn sorry for the poor bugger....and that dirty kraut got the championship by default...

That was the first (and worst) of many...more than I can recall any other "champion" doing...he's just a filthy driver...admittedly with a lot of talent.

[ingall9]

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

I was watching Youtube clips of the Hill/Schumacher era last night...Adelaide 94 was disgusting...I still remember it like it was yesterday...the dirty bar-steward knew he was screwed and took out Hill...seeing Hill sitting in the pits shaking his head...I felt so damn sorry for the poor bugger....and that dirty kraut got the championship by default...

That was the first (and worst) of many...more than I can recall any other "champion" doing...he's just a filthy driver...admittedly with a lot of talent.

thats it, i was so ****ed cause Damon should have taken that one. I agree as above you need to be cut throat but in the light of good sportsmanship a true champion should be fair. If they need to cheat to win they arent a champion in my eyes.

[MRJUCY]

And here is me thinking this was a thread about Max Mosley's latest escapades.