Felipe Massa - classic F1

He's come up with the best list we've seen in a while.

A nice mixture of races from his childhood and in his own career - nice choice Felipe!

It would have been even better though if we got long highlights of one of the 3 Senna Races - perhaps Interlagos 91? not sure if it has had long highlights before. I'm pretty certain we haven't had long highlights for Monaco 92 but to be honest, until the last laps, it didn't appear to be a 'classic'. Anyway...

swrcsky, Interlagos 91 has had the full Grand Prix programme from that race shown before, though Monaco 92 has only had short highlights. Good choices by Felipe though. Ok the 2 involving himself may not be classics as such, but it's understandable him choosing them.

Poignant selection of Massa for this race following his accident here two years ago. Good selection of races from Felipe as well.

Great Selection.

Not a I did well here selection.

A good list from Felipe, although I have to admit I found the language in a couple of your sentences a bit dubious, Andrew.

Take your analysis of his 2006 Turkish Grand Prix for example. You start of saying it was dominant, and then backtrack to say it wasn't because he wouldn't even have been on pole *if* Schumacher hadn't made a mistake, and that he wouldn't have won *if* Ferrari hadn't had to double up in the pits. It does Massa a disservice here. Maybe Schumacher would have taken pole had it not been for a mistake, but then maybe Massa would have set an even better time had he not missed an apex or braking point on his way round, and might beaten Schumacher regardless.

I guess my point is that you can't deal with non-events - you can only look at the facts. We'll never know whether Schumi would have gotten pole, or whether Massa would have won the world championship had his engine not blown, because events conspired to not make that the case.

It is pure speculation to suggest otherwise, and only serves to take the shine off a race win from Massa and a WDC for Hamilton by saying "well, they wouldn't have won it if...".

Anyway, good list. I'll watch the highlights over the next couple of days.

A good opportunity to show us full 1992 Monaco highlights, regrettably missed.

Excellent choices Felipe! Looking forward to seeing them

Great selection here by Felipe Baby! Someone get him a clear visor!

Andrew, I asked you on twitter but I'm not sure whether you'll get it. How come it says this article was posted at 7.25am this morning yet I've only been able to see it from about 2.30 onwards? Is this a problem my end or your end? I only ask as I normally enjoy these races before I start work at 10oclock on Wednesdays.

Loving the series and the fact you've sticked with it even though you have received some criticism, including myself. The choices are getting better and better and love the further insight you bring to them.

Yes, I should add (after my post #6) that I do enjoy this feature and am glad the format hasn't been dropped due to some of the criticism it has received. I think it gives us a good insight into how some of these drivers think based on their selections!

Talk about a number two driver. Even in Massa's Classic F1 selection on the BBC Alonso appears to be the centrepiece. 'Fernando is more recognisable than you.'
(I refer to the graphic that clearly shows Alonso in his Renault at the 2006 Brazilian GP, as part of the highlights)

Logic would suggest that it a nice graphic of Massa would have been a more apt choice. Afterall it was his first home victory and it is his Classic selection. Poor Massa - he must see Alonso as a persistent thorn in his side.

It's a good choice from Massa though. Shame he had to miss out on the title in 2008 (although as a Hamilton fan I mustn't quibble too much). That victory would surely have made it into his selection.

Hi Andrew

Good selection from Felipe, but is there a link to the 'long highlights' package of last year's Hungarian Grand Prix?

Hi Andrew

I am glad you point out that Schumacher had more fuel than Massa in Turkey 2006; many ignore this and just say how wonderful Massa was, which annoys me! Good work!!

I am not sure why he didnt choose Brazil 2008?

Now this is the best selection so far this year. But why should Alonso have to look as though he is the main reason for the races being selected by Felipe. Oh yeah sorry Andrew I forgot you're his biggest fan. Ok yes 06 Brazil was title day but it really was Ferrari mania day. Felipe's first home race in a Ferrari which he won great but Scumachers great drive back to 4th and yet Alonso only had little to be mentioned about in one sentence of the whole blog instead it was half a blog. Thank heavens Felipe chose races Alonso no had connection to cos he was only in junior school that age.

What? No Brazil 2008? Can't think why :)

Love the choices especially Monaco 1992 but the Hungarian 2010 long highlights aren't there. Is it possible to get them???

Good choice FM.

Love the choices from Massa, looking forward to seeing the recovery drive from Schumacher again as well as the entertaining races involving Senna.

Better selection from Massa compared with recent choices, but I must agree with post #7 Incast. Why hasn't one of the older races been given the full highlights. We haven't had any full programmes from 1992 so far. A shame.

Good choices from Phil. Looks like he's picked a few from when he was a bit younger and a fan of the sport.

Freeview coverage too. Can't fault it.

Well done Andrew for your continued work on this feature

One of the best lists we've seen on this but honestly, some of the people who comment on this website need to take a long look at their lives. "the picture has Alonso in, not Massa..." get a life! This is a free service, and a fantastic one at that. People working at the BBC shouldn't have to take time out of their lives to 'fix' something like that because of somebody whinging on here.

Great selection this week.

Great not to see senna27 complaining for once!

Best selection by the drivers so far.

@ #2

Heres the link for the 91 Brazil race: https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9146979.stm

#3 Stevvy1986 and #24 Sparckus - cheers thanks

Can anyone explain why we can now hear James Allen in some of the clips when in the past it was either Radio 5 Live or Legard 'reporting' it?

@26 FoxesofNuneaton I do believe it is because Martin Brundle is now main commentator and it would be an insult to have to ask Martin to talk over his own commentary brilliance. We should get the proper tv commentary back for the highlights so far if I am honest, as we get to hear James Allen asking the questions these days in the press conferences after qualifying and the race.

@27 - Not James asking the questions, that's 5 Live's Crofty.

Is there any particular reason why full highlights of the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix are not available? I think it is pretty clear from the comments that the people want to see the full highlights of that race, rather than the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hi Andrew, why are Brazil 1991 and Monaco 1992 not available on the red button and why has there not been more "extended highlights" on the red button?

P.S. from my last post. Andrew, you and the whole of the BBC F1 team do a great job and hope F1 stays on the BBC forever.

@26 and @27, it's nothing to do with Brundle talking over his own commentary, it's to save money on editing (particularly the editing of for example 5 Live commentary instead of James Allen), so rather than wasting money on that, they've thrown their old "if they aren't/weren't a BBC employee we refuse to use that persons commentary" rule out of the window, while saving money, and so for races that haven't been shown before, which have James Allen commentating, they've left the original commentary by Allen in.

Felipe... Fernando, is faster than you!

I do feel a bit bad for Massa, I still have not decided in my mind whether he's one of this generation's true greats, he's running out of time to prove it though - he really needs to take the fight to Alonso the rest of this season, assuming his contract/the team permits it (which they probably wont!).

Also, as irritating as he was to many, please dont try to pretend that James Allen didnt commentate! We all know he covered that period so just use the highlights with his commentary please!

@28. 27 is correct- James Allen does do post race interviews sometimes. You are correct too, Crofty does it sometimes as well

@34 d23qnq Thank you for supporting my fact about James asking questions. I think they take it in turns each race weekend as to who gets the questions in.

Lewis Hamilton should have picked at least 1 of those 3 senna legendary GPs. SURELY.

slightly off-topic..

Andrew

Tomorrow it's Fernando Alonso's 30th birthday, and as it happened, he'll be celebrating it once again in Budapest, exactly where Fernando got his first F1 win and at the time, became the youngest F1 GP winner in 2003..

I wonder if the BBC might do a small feature on his career and achievements to date..

I do hope Fernando will give himself and his devoted fans another victory this weekend as a birthday present.

Felicidades Fernando!

Hey no complaints about the choices - mind you @senna27 is conspicuous by their absence so far!!

Nice mix of choices and some good Senna action to watch.

Here's hoping for a nice cool weekend in Hungary!!

Hi Andrew,

Like everyone else, I think these are good choices (by Massa). They are not repetitive like some other race weekends.

Perhaps next year you could choose a specific year (eg Nigel Mansell's 1992) and each race weekend you could show extended highlights for the equivalent 1992 race- ie we could go through the 1992 season (example: At the British grand prix you could show the 1992 British grand prix etc)

I know this may be difficult as 92 had Mexico, South Africa, Portugal etc and today we have China, Malayasia etc. Plus there were only 16 races back then...

Anyway, just an idea and I am sure you could work around the mentioned problems

Can we have the '91 Brazil and the '92 Monaco highlights on Freeview? They wern't included in the Wednesday night showing.

Gutted, just heard about the Beeb losing the exclusive rights to show F1. Enjoy these highlights guys - I fear their days are numbered. Which is a real shame as the reason the BBC's coverage of F1 is so excellent is not only down to Jake, DC, MB and TH but also the excellent web content that Andrew, Sarah et al put out. Sad day for F1 in my opinion :(

Aside from the missing Monaco & Brazil races - what about the missing 10+ races from 2012 onwards we've just been dumped with???? (https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9550930.stm%29 A very dark day indeed for F1 fans, and a dark few years too. I for one won't be filling the Merde-dock empire's pockets for the privilege....

I guess this blog is about to blow up.

Dark days indeed. How are FOM going to justify this when the viewing figures are going to show a HUGE discrepancy between Sky events and BBC events?

Sky, what's the point? If you don't have Sky you won't be able to go to the pub to watch the race because everywhere will be showing the football..

After last week-PROUD TO BE BRITISH WITH A PROPER RACE- shows Vettel is good if he has pole and does not have to do a proper race - even better that our LEWIS won on Vettels home ground.Elated !! until a few minutes ago when with disappointment I find the Bernie and his mates have sole out to Sky and the BBC licence payer are getting half the races. Sky getting them all - as I understand it.
VERY DISAPPOINTED -YET AGAIN MONEY TALKS -Bernie and Co - should hang their heads in shame-but they more likely to fill their wallets and ignore us -BBC if you did not spend so much on RUBBISH you would have enought money to do all the races.

Even less point in watching the rest of this season seeing as F1 is over for half of us.

155 licence fee, 4-6 million viewers, and 3mill a race... that is a pound each a race, even 2 pound a race if you put 2-3 viewers in each household. F1 was fully paid for by its viewers with still 120-135 pounds for the BBC to squander on other rubbish. The Antiques roadshow viewers didn't spend a penny on F1. The consistent regular watchers of F1 had paid it up fully, and let the Beeb know they didn't want it messed up by Sky or other PPV channels.

Won't be watching F1 anymore due to bernie and his quest for cash.

Quote from author
"The points from that win would have made the Brazilian world champion that year, rather than Hamilton."

Silly comment - what about Lewis getting stripped of his victory in SPA
FIA make new rule up then take points of him

Blown engines are part of the parcel sunshine.

Now the BBC really have wasted money on F1...doing every 2nd race is just being a Sky puppet advertising Sky all year long...

hey watch F1, you like, well to watch the next race phone 0800 0000000, or go to sky.com...just ridiculous. Now I can't advocate the BBC spending a penny on a deal like that...Sky should have paid you? did they? Thought BBC didn't advertise? Would be better if you did traditional adverts than that...

What was the other deal you considered, just show the first half of every race, with a message to watch the end tune into Sky sports.

Can we get a name of the people in the BBC that made this clever idea happen.

Next year, can we have drivers favourite GP2 races?

Oh and start broadcasting that too. Should be cheaper for licensing, and than sky sports.

I can't believe that the BBC have done this to their loyal fans... The viewing figures have been going through the roof (2nd to the world cup) but still they don't want it. But what about FOTA and the FIA? Don't they have something to say about this? I thought both said that the sport should remain free to view in the UK otherwise it would upset their sponsors? Everyone in F1 should hang their heads in shame for not stopping this (which included the teams, FOM and FIA). Finally my wife has her wish (she hates F1 and wanted me to stop watching) as I can't afford Sky and half the races / highlight has no appeal to me... Shame...

#49 > "Can we get a name of the people in the BBC that made this clever idea happen."
Bernie Ecclestone...?

One rule I have had for many years - the moment F1 goes on Sky, I switch off. The news has ruined the weekend for me. Stupid idea watching half a race.

My wife has yelled at me for years about spending entire weekends watching P1, P2, P3, Qual and Race + red button. Looks like my DIY skills will be coming back next year.

Well done the powers that be for upsetting a lot of people - selling out to Pay TV was supposed to be off the agenda. Sorry BBC, looks like you've been done over by Bernie's greed - again.

Could well be my last post here, I seem to have lost interest in this weekends happenings - bad taste in the mouth or something.

Apologies to those wanting to discuss this feature, but this seems to be the best place to air our feedback on this Mornings news.

I've been a dedicated follower of F1 for 20 years, watching every race live getting up at 5 am etc.. its been a part of my life.

Lets get this Straight BBC, this is not good news for F1 fans, this is Appalling!!!! your coverage has been exemplary and you have played your part in bringing F1 to a massive audience of new fans. Now you have decided to turn your back on them???.

I feel betrayed by this decision to sell off F1 to a vacuous company like sky with morally questionable management. Murdoch will not be getting my money....

BBC, Sky & FOM thanks for RUINING F1 for me :(

I think the whole situation is a real shame. Murdock wins again.
Bernie is far too greedy. The sooner he hands F1 over to someone younger with greater aspirations other than money the better.
As I see it, having only half the races shown by the BBC will make me wonder whether its worth watching those races at all?! I will be out of sync with the season, or will I?! As I will have the pleasure of highlights, woo hoo.
The people who watch the races on Sky will watch all the races on Sky to keep with the continuity that they will prove from race to race.
BBC, say goodbye to those viewing figures you've been relishing in as they will dwindle beyond your wildest beliefs.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to make a sneaky post during work. Apologies though Andrew, I will be hijacking the Classic blog to vent my opinion on the recent revelation about F1 on the BBC. I don't know how to look at it but I am edging toward a glass half full view. If we look at what could have lay in store. The BBC contract was due to end at the end of the 2013 season. With what has been said recently about the BBC making cut-backs and the fact that the F1 contract was very expensive, I doubt it would've been renewed beyond 2013. But although we are only getting half the races each year at least F1 will be on the BBC until 2018. So surely this is better. Instead of just two more years on the BBC, F1 will be on the BBC for the next seven years at least.

cont.

Considering how great the BBC team is there does seem to be more of a future of F1 on the BBC now which I am highly grateful for. But at the same time the Mr Greedy in me wants all races on the BBC. But I guess the deal with Sky is the price to pay to keep the BBC onboard. Of course I say all of this knowing that I am a Sky subscriber so I will still be able to see all the races. But I will definitely be watching half of them on the BBC (even if Sky have no adverts). Here's hoping that there is not too much trouble ahead for your good self Andrew and the rest of the BBC F1 team. I know it won't be as good as it has been. But at least it won't be gone altogther. Little consolation I suppose for you and the team though.

Well I think it is quite clear that this is due to Mark Thompson making a very bad deal over the licence fee. I thought channel 4 was interested but I expect they wanted exclusive rights. Only transmiting half the races on the BBC is a very odd arrangement as I guess it will reduce the BBC audiance.

I only subscribe to Sky Sports in the premiership season so it looks as though I will have to pay more. The plus side is that I should get the practices in HD.

BBC has lost my vote for the F1 - they will spend millions on the olympics - not interested (in fact with a year to go, sick of it already). they spend millions on football (obscene wages etc in the game - not interested.
The BBC is effectively a forced pay to view service - the big difference is if they don't show what we like, they still charge and we can do nothing!

another one bitterly disappointed with this news - and the BBC spokesperson trying to spin to as good news for F1 fans - OH NO IT ISN'T! Much like Cricket's move to Sky the result will be less people watching

Maybe a boycott of all BBC coverage from now - yes now!
That way the Beeb would see the drop in figures and realise how much they have angered the loyal fans who pay their wages!

At the moment, this is the only forum on the BBC F1 website where I can vent my anger at this morning's tragic news.

I've been an avid viewer of F1 now for over 20 years and the best of those years have been the last 3, after the BBC re-secured its rights (I won't even waste my time here airing my thoughts about ITV). I was under the impression that the BBC had an exclusive contract until the end of the 2013 season, and now we're told that it will be sharing rights with Sky from 2012 onwards....that's next year.....surely this is a breach of contract? Once again, Sky parachute in and grab the glory of a broadcaster which has provided great value to the viewer (thanks to Jake, MB, DC, EJ and all the production crew).

I can't even imagine what sort of shape next year's coverage will take (Andrew, could you provide any insight?), will the BBC still retain its own personnel, or will they have to share resources with Sky, resulting in its usual tacky take on sport?

As usual, this all boils down to money, the perception that the BBC cannot afford the rights because the licence fee has been frozen, etc. But the BBC are not at fault here, instead it's the greed of Ecclestone's FOM. I'd feel slightly happier about this agreement if some of this revenue went to the teams, or the grass-roots of motor sport in general, but I suspect this money is going straight into the pockets of Ecclestone and CVC.

And another point, I recall reading one of these articles which suggested that under the Concorde agreement, all F1 races must be shown free to air, i.e. on terrestrial channels?

A betrayal.

I can't believe this news, what a monumental disappointment. I have followed F1 all my life, and I have only missed 1 or 2 races in 30 years. I certainly won't be lining Murdoch's pockets, so what am I supposed to do? Highlights for half the races? - not interested. I am absoutely dismayed. Ecclestone is entirely uninterested in the fans, that make this sport what it is. I hope the viewing figures plummet - it would teach him a lesson.

I know that the BBC is under budget restrains, but why sell the crown jewels?
The F1 coverage on the BBC was one of the Unique Selling Points of the BBC, and should have been protected from the cuts.
It is my opinion that the BBC made a big mistake on this decision.

A move abroad sounds like an idea to me.
This country is a farse anyway.
Boycott England, boycott BSkyB, boycott ppv F1!

People are saying elsewhere that they can't wait to see Sky's take on F1 as they provide the 'best' sports coverage around. In my opinion, Sky's sports coverage is crass and extremely americanised. I don't want that. I want British-esque coverage, because I am British and I live in England. I suppose if I can't have that, I'll have to go elsewhere.

Hello Canada.

@61. I thought F1 had to be free to air as well. Obviously they must get around that with crap highlights.

Long time reader, first time poster.
As I understand, at least the BBC keep hold of the radio rights.
I also think that in Germany the races will still be broadcast on RTL, so I guess I'll be watching in German (with adverts) and listening to 5Live. (Like I have done with Champions League for a few years)

This reminds of when Channel 4 used to show the test matches, but for one match each series, it was shown exclusively live on Sky only. It was rubbish then, and the idea is still rubbish now. The attempts to spin it as being great news for everybody is laughable and gives the impression they think the viewing public who enjoy watching F1 on the BBC are stupid, or a few cylinders short of a full engine.

What are people like my mum, who enjoys watching F1 a lot, meant to do when they want to watch for example, the Hungarian Grand Prix next year, and find they can't? Why should people who love a sport, be forced to pay for something they might not be able to afford in order to carry on watching it? Heaven only knows who'll end up presenting Sky's coverage! Their cricket people are excellent by and large, but their golf coverage is utterly appalling! Their Ryder Cup coverage was unwatchable with hardly any live coverage and just terrible commentators.

As per usual, the sports fans have been sold out once again by the corporations, and people whose sole concern is about how much more money they can line their pockets with. Some up-front honesty from the BBC, Sky, and Ecclestone about this deal would be nice. Instead you have the BBC and Sky saying how great it is, and Bernie saying it's nothing to do with him regarding F1 ending up on PPV.

Quelle surprise that on the live text updates on F1 this morning that any negative comments don't appear to have been put up so far.

Viewing figures are bound to plummet next season for two main reasons. One, people will miss races because they won't know whether it's on the BBC or Sky only. Second, some people will feel there is no point in watching half a product/season and think why bother?

Ultimately, the BBC have successfully alienated several million license fee payers who will no doubt be left wondering why they should pay a tax to watching programmes they don't want to watch while the things they do want to watch are allowed to drift onto Sky/ESPN. What would it take for people in charge to give a damn about the viewers/fans? Probably a frontal lobotomy...

@64 - you can forget canada - TSN only show the briefest parts of the race from the BBC feed - no intro, gridwalk, or post race analysis but they do show adverts - randomly all the way through. Deep joy!!!!!!!!!!

All those countries who use BBC commentary (Martin Brundle and DC)... do they still get F1 for free??

what we need is the British drivers to do something. They are on millions of pounds each year because of the loyal fans. They will still get their millions and we get nothing!

To quote Barbara Slater

"With this new deal not only have we delivered significant savings but we have also ensured that through our live and extended highlights coverage all the action continues to be available to licence-fee payers"

Barbara- although I like the "extended highlights" I would much rather watch the 2 hour race and having nothing after that. This would have saved a lot of money!

Barbara Slater also says "we are absolutely delighted"

Barbara- delighted at what?? There is nothing to be delighted about. You may as well get rid of it all! I am not going to watch half of an F1 season. These are such stupid comments by you, they really are!

Made me smile, but only briefly. Just saw the closing frame of FP1 with the large banner reading: "THIS BROADCAST HAS ENDED" - I guess the BBC will be using this quite a bit in future ;,-(
@65, at least RTL continue to show the race in a split screen during adverts - ITV never got their head round such an obvious solution "and you rejoin us just after the most amazing.....!!!"

THIS IS A COMPLETE DISGRACE HOW ON EARTH CAN THE BBC JUSTIFY THIS?
THEY GET MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE PROGRAMME MORE THAN ALL OF THE REPEATS OF RUBBISH SHOWS THEY ALWAYS SHOW AND NOW MR MURDOCH GETS HIS OWN WAY AGAIN CHEERS BERNIE YOU MONEY GRABBING LITTLE PIXIE. YOUV'E RUINED THE SHOW FOR ALL TRUE F1 FANS AT LEATS WHEN IT WAS ON ITV I COULD PUT UP WITH THE ADVERTS BECAUSE ITS FREE

AS MUCH AS THE BBC COVERAGE ANNOYS ME SOMETIMES IT WILL BE TWENTY TIMES BETTER THAN SKY OVER EXCITED IDIOTS ON COMMENTARY WORDS CAN'T DESCRIBE HOW ANNOYED I AM AT THIS HOWEVER CAPITAL LETTERS WILL LOL

Disappointed.

I don't think I can say more than that, that hasn't already been said.

But I'll echo the views that my licence fee seems to go towards programmes I don't want to watch, while the ones I do want to watch are either shunted over to other channels, or are of terrible quality and put on when everyone else has gone to bed (see the Football League show).

Extremely disappointed. Slow-clap BBC.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

There's a petition here:

https://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/keepf1onthebbc

Also, someone's already mentioned above, the British drivers could really do something, they have a lot of influence, and presumably have fond memories of watching F1 themselves. Come on Hamilton, Button, Di Resta! Speak out for the fans!!

The F1 Forum will be interesting on Sunday. I wonder how many texts/tweets/emails will be filtered out of the coverage regarding this issue? All that goodwill has gone up in flames. People wanting to watch now have to pay twice - once the License Tax (fee) and then to Sky.

Off the live text updates...

There is, of course, another piece of important news doing the rounds today - the BBC and Sky Sports will broadcast Formula 1 in the UK between 2012 and 2018 under a new rights deal. As I'm sure you will understand, I have to deal with the subject fairly sensitively in this live text commentary. Which is why I haven't been able to include as many tweets and texts as normal. But make sure you keep them coming and I'll include as many as I can once FP2 gets up and running. Deal? Great stuff.

I don't think people will understand actually!

As I'm sure you will understand, I have to deal with the subject fairly sensitively in this live text commentary.

@73 - Signed, and got a whole bunch of mates to do the same - thanks for the link, fingers crossed or ready to be raised!!

@73 signed and uplinked to facebook everyone do the same please

https://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/keepf1onthebbc

whats up with my comments? care to explain BBC? sign the petition

Let's be fair....it doesn't appear to be Bernie directly.....the BBC has decided that for the cost of it's most popular output, it can subsidise the Asian Network (was to be scrapped), Radio 6 and BBC4 (I hope you like arts and morris dancing)

looks like il make your day a misery moderators cant even let an opinion get in the way of mr murdoch

B€rni€ €cc£€$ton€ and the $cumbag Murdoch$.

If only they could marry - but preferably without progeny. There's enough evil in the world as it is.

F1 Digital + was one thing, but this is the worst of both worlds. The BBC claiming that this is some kind of triumph is just ludicrous and transparently obvious spin. "Yes I have cut both my legs off with a dull and rusty blade, but this is a good thing because I can save on shoe polish". How stupid does the BBC Press Office think we are?!

This stinks big time.

Good for Martin...

BBC commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle said on Twitter that he was "not impressed" with the deal.

"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," he wrote.

Addendum.

Just read on Autosport that there won't be a ppv option.

So to see the whole season you'll also have to subscribe to wall-to-wall barely literates falling over for 90mins before returning to Cheshire to do each others girlfriends, followed by a bunch of barely verbal ex-fallers over wittering on about how the boy's done good at the end of the day when all's said and done, literally, Dave.

Forget it.

My boyhood hero was Graham Hill. Since 1984 I have kept stats of F1. In 1993 I created a Fantasy F1 game for the 1994 season - one of the first, pre-dating Autosport's - which has introduced new fans to the sport and created social occasions.

Now it's dead.

Thanks.

@82:
Good on you, Martin. Why not get all the F1 drivers (past & present) to sign the petition - that would ruffle a few feathers!

Ecclestone has shot himself in the foot, allowing this to happen. I can't help but wonder whether F1 will suffer the same ultimate fate as A1GP (remember that? I seem to recall it was only on Sky)

Peeps, see here: https://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jul/29/formula-one-sky-deal?CMP=twt_gu

Looks like they' waking up to the sound of falling viewer numbers. Martin Whitmarsh said:
"What we need to understand is whether the large audience we currently enjoy in Formula One will be maintained. I think we also need to understand exactly how this is being done."
And also voiced his concerns re the Concorde Agreement, hinting at a potential breach!!

c'mon guys - wake up and smell the petrol!!

Sorry guys, those of you doing petitions are completely wasting your time. Bernie has got what he wants, Murdoch has got what he wants, BBC directors have got what they want. Tough. Tough for fans and tough for all the brilliant staff at BBC F1, but I had a gut feeling this day was coming (just not so soon...)

I've paid the big bucks to go to Silverstone a few times. I won't be going again and I won't be watching the BBC's coverage. If I can't watch EVERY race I won't watch ANY race. The BBC may as well not bother, because their viewing figures will be decimated.
Not one person (apart from Ecclestone) thinks this is a good thing!

I feel pig sick, i am only a casual F1 fan so this doesn't effect me too much despite being dissapointed. But it's my father that im devastated for...a loyal F1 fan for 40 years and is probably his greatest passion, only recently picked up going to races live the last 5 years because he is in a position to get tickets now me and my sister have left home. And he is too stubborn to pay for Sky Sports (and why shoul he!?). Why will he bother paying 400, 600 or 800 for 2 tickets to go to a race when A. he can no longer watch the whole season on television and B the weaker engines?

It's about time there's some sort of vote of no confidence in that old duffer Bernie Eccleston...hurry up and go to a retirement home and give this series to someone with a passion for the sport and not money...i really wish i could use four letter words on the bbc because there are no clean words that can accurately potray my sheer hatred for the people who let this happen.

85. At 12:07 29th Jul 2011, ConscientiousF1Observer wrote:"And (Martin Whitmarsh) also voiced his concerns re the Concorde Agreement, hinting at a potential breach!!"

I read that too on A/sport.com. I'm part way through writing my pre-event news round-up related to Fantasy Formula One, and with the teams only recently having to underplay stories about FOTA reviving plans to ditch Bernie and Todt, the chances of an F1 breakaway have surely increased. I wasn't happy with the GPWC, as I felt (for all it's problems) the F1 teams were better with the FIA than without. But if the teams decided that this is just one deal too many to line Bernie's voluminous pockets at the expense of their own interests, then I'd be for a split.

Of course, there's the German courts to think about too..

@88
James May applies the term "COCK" on BBC2 well before the 9 o'clock watershed, so I think that this may be an appropriate word?

Am just so gutted at the news that the BBC won't be showing all the races next yaer onwards. I am a avid F1 fan without Sky and I won't bow down and pay through my nose for it. I dont see how you can get the same F1 experience and foolow the story of the season with only half of the races on the BBC so I prob wont follow F1 on the BBC or Sky next year. I think its Moto GP for me until we get that ripped of us for making it too popular. Sorry to all the BBC staff both visible and behind the scenes, I guess you did too good a job and too many people liked watching for Sky and Bernie not to cash in.

hmmm, perhaps Jake and co shouldn't have been so pleased about the growing viewing figures and been so loud about them....all Sky needed to hear was 6million viewers, and in they came.

Reminds me of that old addage about how to make a million as an amater stock-market trader.
Q: How can sky get 6 million F1 viewers in a year?
A: By starting with 12 million! - ta-dah!

For those that questioned why the teams would allow this, it seems they weren't aware until this morning.

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/07/bbc-and-sky-drop-f1-broadcast-bombshell-teams-seek-answers-from-ecclestone/

Daily Telegraph F1 correspondent Tom Cary on Twitter: "Amazing reaction to BBC/Sky F1 news this morning. Overwhelmingly negative it has to be said. Lots of it hysterical."

The point that is missed here is that sports fans in Britain are getting fed up with the gradual and constant eroding of the number of premium events being lost to free-to-air television in the name of MONEY. Motorsport is a very important sport in Britain with so many teams, engineers, drivers and marshals coming from this country. It means a lot to many people, and that's why they're so upset today.

Eddie Jordan if you read any of this, find Bernie and kick him in the nether regions this weekend as it will make everyone's lives complete.

The excuse given for this is that its going to widen the audience and give more choice. Both are utter rubbish, we're not stupid and I'm getting sick of how the media treat viewers as if they can't put their shoes on the right feet.

If it's going on Sky then how is that 'widening' the audience? Football, the most popular sport in the UK only had 1.5 million watching it on the final day of the season. So if F1 is less popular then naturally it will have less audience, less does not mean more Bernie (more money maybe).

If half the races can only be viewed on Sky then how does that improve choice? It only improves choice for 10 races, all of which I'll be watching on the BBC like I always have.

Perhaps it would have been better for the BBC to surrender all the rights to Sky so that it causes F1 to gradually die out in this country, similar to how the WRC (and a few others) has lost most of their audience when dropped from free-to-air. Then the Beeb can take it off Sky when it stops making money for them.

"Money, money, money in Murdoch's wallet" (and Bernie's too).

Off the James Allen website...

James, I read somewhere that the BBC will still be able to broadcast all the races online. Do you know if this is true or just idle/hopeful speculation?

[Reply]

James Allen Reply:
July 29th, 2011 at 11:47 am

Yes I heard that is the case

Not nearly enough Senna for me, I'm afraid.

I recon this will get removed but here goes.
I'm a 50 year old male nearly in tears here at the news i've lost the only sport i care about to the money grabbers, i'm honestly in shock that next year i wont get to see the sport i love!
I can not afford to pay to veiw, i can just about afford to pay my TV liecence so sky sports is way ouit of game for me.
really i am closer to tears to see how Bernie has taken the sport from me for pure greed, my one and only hope is the germans put him away for a LONG time for stabbing us REAL fans in the back!
somone tell Bernie that in the REAL world peopel can not afford to PAY TWICE to watch F1, you sir are a cad, i can think of no other word to describe you and you actions over this.
I'd like to thank the BBC for this year coveradge, it was the best ever and I AM going to miss it (at least half of it) cheers bernie :(

"Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: "This is fantastic news for F1 fans and Sky Sports will be the only place to follow every race live and in HD. "

Thanks for selling us out, BBC. I won't pay to MurdockTV so it won't be fantastic news for me!

Why are the BBC dropping their contract early in any case - if they had an agreement until 2013 why is it changing from next year?


If its about money, why not let Sky do the Olympics broadcasting? Lots of money to be saved by the BBC not having to broadcast any minority sports - and with the money they save they could show all the F1 races (and possibly even some test cricket) live.