I take it that woooo is for Jake Humphrey
I wonder if he knows that much about F1 as all the work I have seen him do, apart from Children's TV, is football related.I'll be interested in how this pans out, only 122 days to go.
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2009 Formula One Thread
- Thread starter R.Youden
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I take it that woooo is for Jake Humphrey
I wonder if he knows that much about F1 as all the work I have seen him do, apart from Children's TV, is football related.I'll be interested in how this pans out, only 122 days to go.
I take it that woooo is for Jake Humphrey
When the F1 contract here in the States went to FOX Sports Network, they hired Mike Joy who did the NASCAR races on The Nashville Network (TNN). But that man studied the sport and the drivers and while he wasn't Bob Varsha, he acquitted himself exceptionally well, IMO. I think he also has a great "reporting voice" in the vein of Bob so it was fine. Alas, while Derek Bell might have been a more successful driver then David Hobbes, he was a terrible color commentator so I was happy to have the old ESPN/ESPN2 team back when the contract went to SPEED.
I take it that woooo is for Jake Humphrey
I'll be interested in how this pans out, only 122 days to go.
Jake Humphrey? I had to Google images to confirm my worst fears. The bleedin' CBBC Sportsround presenter? What a loada rubbish. And no Louise Goodman either - she of former Jordan F1 publicist fame. I liked ITV's coverage despite the ads and occasional James Allen faux pas - at least they could present the same thing. Humphrey's can't even make the footie sound interesting - God help is as he tries to keeps us interested for an hour prior to the race.
That sounds nice, I always like to hear commentary from someone who KNOWS how the F1 car works, Coulthard is perfect because he's been there for so long and retired just last season, so he's up to date on the technical stuff. I just hope he can actually commentate well.
For me, Martin Brundle, James Allen, Louise Goodman, and Ted Kravitz was a great combination. I'm one of the few who loved James Allen's loud commentary
Wasn't the Speedvision team Hobbs, Matchett, and Sam Posey? I also don't ever recall ESPN having the F1 contract, aside from a couple years were FOM exercised their option to have up to 4 races on broadcast TV (ABC in this case, with Jason Priestly in the pitlane
).
I started watching regularly around 1990 and at that time, ESPN sent Bob and David to the actual tracks around the world. Around mid-decade, the contract moved to ESPN2 and Bob and David were only sent to the North and South American races. All (or at least most of) the Asian and European races were broadcast from a US studio ala SPEED.
ESPN2 eventually gave up around the turn of the decade and it went to FOX Sports Network (which then was mostly regional cable channels - F1 was not broadcast on the corporate FOX network affiliates) with Mike and Derek. NASCAR had signed their "super contract" with the main networks which cut out The Nashville Network (which changed into first The National Network and then SPIKE TV) and Mike Joy went to FOX Sports to cover Formula One before it went to SPEED. Bob Varsha stayed with ESPN/ESPN2, but he now covered Champ Cart (CART) racing until 1999 when he went to Speedvision (which I think might have had the CART broadcast contract).
I should note I'm going from memory here, and memory can be faulty. So some specifics might be off, but I think it's all pretty close.
ESPN2 eventually gave up around the turn of the decade and it went to FOX Sports Network (which then was mostly regional cable channels - F1 was not broadcast on the corporate FOX network affiliates) with Mike and Derek. NASCAR had signed their "super contract" with the main networks which cut out The Nashville Network (which changed into first The National Network and then SPIKE TV) and Mike Joy went to FOX Sports to cover Formula One before it went to SPEED. Bob Varsha stayed with ESPN/ESPN2, but he now covered Champ Cart (CART) racing until 1999 when he went to Speedvision (which I think might have had the CART broadcast contract).
I should note I'm going from memory here, and memory can be faulty. So some specifics might be off, but I think it's all pretty close.
Well Alonso has stated that he'll think of retiring if the same engine rule is applied. (In attempts to cut costs, one of the options is to use the same engine for all teams)
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I really doubt Formula 1, the "pinnacle" of motor racing, would ever see that day.
The FIA has really hurt F1 lately, as Alonso stated, from V10 engines with 1000 horsepower to V8. From super grip and super downforce to none.
Teams should just be allowed to push further and further in development.
Maybe the little teams can't make it under these regulations (open development). But honestly, can they really be competitive in the newer cost friendly regulations? To me, the goal of Force India and Super Aguri (now gone) are/were to be fast billboard space.
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I really doubt Formula 1, the "pinnacle" of motor racing, would ever see that day.
The FIA has really hurt F1 lately, as Alonso stated, from V10 engines with 1000 horsepower to V8. From super grip and super downforce to none.
Teams should just be allowed to push further and further in development.
Maybe the little teams can't make it under these regulations (open development). But honestly, can they really be competitive in the newer cost friendly regulations? To me, the goal of Force India and Super Aguri (now gone) are/were to be fast billboard space.
I finid it interesting that F1 was the innovation leader that led to advances in road cars, and now Eccelstone is trying to bring the road car into F1.
I have heard (and now seen on GrandPrix.com) that Honda are in real trouble. Apparently they had a big management meeting today and they have requested extra security for tomorrow at the Brackley site. Also a lot of large teams have received applications for jobs from Honda employees over the last day or so
I have heard (and now seen on GrandPrix.com) that Honda are in real trouble. Apparently they had a big management meeting today and they have requested extra security for tomorrow at the Brackley site. Also a lot of large teams have received applications for jobs from Honda employees over the last day or so
Is this really a surprise given Honda's (like Toyota's) approach to F1?
No more Button in F1??? Hmmmmm... every cloud does have a silver lining.
No more Button in F1??? Hmmmmm... every cloud does have a silver lining.
You dislike him that much? I read somewhere Sato is back, which will worry those who don't qualify in the top 10.
Well Honda has always prided themselves on their engineering, so with F1 moving to a spec series, I could certainly understand if they no longer wish to sink hundreds of millions a year into a faltering program that will just be a rolling advertisement (if anyone but regular fans will even notice that much).
Not to mention they're already doing great with a much smaller investment as the engine provider in a spec series - IndyCar - and I believe the IRL is opening up the engine competition which would appeal to Honda to show off their engineering.
And with Toyota finally winning in NASCAR, Honda might want to become the second Japanese manufacturer to enter there.
I still think the real way to make F1 competitive is to ban non-GP weekend track testing and test teams. Those along eat up nine figures worth of budget for the largest teams and the smaller one's inability to fund any testing outside of "official test days" means they are forever on the back foot.
I do understand why the FIA is so worried about costs in Formula One. I was a huge FIA Group C fan, but top-league Sports Car road racing has always lived and died from the manufacturers who campaigned in it, and eventually the price became so high that nobody could afford it or you get into situations like Le Mans the past decade or so where one manufacturer comes in, drops a billion on the program, and wins it all two or three times in a row to make their point and then pulls out, leaving a huge void.
So by trying to make it cheaper for the manufacturers to stay in, they are hoping to keep them around longer - though Honda's latest withdrawl has likely thrown a spanner in that one. And, in a way, the current allowance of "customer engines" and "customer chassis" made F1 somewhat of a "spec series", anyway, in the lower levels.
Some things like traction control and ABS I can understand banning because the World Driving Championship should go to the best driver, not the best computer programmer or engineer. That's what the Constructor's Championship is for.
Not to mention they're already doing great with a much smaller investment as the engine provider in a spec series - IndyCar - and I believe the IRL is opening up the engine competition which would appeal to Honda to show off their engineering.
And with Toyota finally winning in NASCAR, Honda might want to become the second Japanese manufacturer to enter there.
I still think the real way to make F1 competitive is to ban non-GP weekend track testing and test teams. Those along eat up nine figures worth of budget for the largest teams and the smaller one's inability to fund any testing outside of "official test days" means they are forever on the back foot.
I do understand why the FIA is so worried about costs in Formula One. I was a huge FIA Group C fan, but top-league Sports Car road racing has always lived and died from the manufacturers who campaigned in it, and eventually the price became so high that nobody could afford it or you get into situations like Le Mans the past decade or so where one manufacturer comes in, drops a billion on the program, and wins it all two or three times in a row to make their point and then pulls out, leaving a huge void.
So by trying to make it cheaper for the manufacturers to stay in, they are hoping to keep them around longer - though Honda's latest withdrawl has likely thrown a spanner in that one. And, in a way, the current allowance of "customer engines" and "customer chassis" made F1 somewhat of a "spec series", anyway, in the lower levels.
Some things like traction control and ABS I can understand banning because the World Driving Championship should go to the best driver, not the best computer programmer or engineer. That's what the Constructor's Championship is for.
Honda quitting is REALLY shocking!!!
it was so sudden, I doubt anyone saw it coming. Max Mosely did mention earlier that one of the major teams might quit. I thought one of the major little companies, but HONDA?! I thought there would be noway, bringing in Ross Brawn and then deciding to quit is just stupid, unless they already saw Honda's 2009 spec cars.
Barichello is definitely retiring.
What about Jenson? I know iGav can't stand him But I still believe in him, I really hopes he finds a seat quick. Can someone list the available seats in F1 next season?
it was so sudden, I doubt anyone saw it coming. Max Mosely did mention earlier that one of the major teams might quit. I thought one of the major little companies, but HONDA?! I thought there would be noway, bringing in Ross Brawn and then deciding to quit is just stupid, unless they already saw Honda's 2009 spec cars.
Barichello is definitely retiring.
What about Jenson? I know iGav can't stand him
But I still believe in him, I really hopes he finds a seat quick. Can someone list the available seats in F1 next season?
Toyota might not have much to prove in F1 if Honda is gone. Their goal was to be better than Honda, they've never aimed for Ferrari or McLaren.
This really sucks. I hope somebody comes in to buy the team to enable 20 cars for Australia.
Also, I read somewhere there was a rule requiring at least 20 cars, but Honda's exit would leave 18. Is there any truth to that?
Just think there were 22 2 years ago.
Maybe somebody like Audi would come in to compete with Merc and BMW?
Also, I read somewhere there was a rule requiring at least 20 cars, but Honda's exit would leave 18. Is there any truth to that?
Just think there were 22 2 years ago.
Maybe somebody like Audi would come in to compete with Merc and BMW?
Not everyone can be a Schumacher, some are not even a Barrichello.
I think they'll follow Honda to be honest... perhaps not before the 2009 season, but unless there's either a global economic recovery within the next year (unlikely) or they actually perform at a level relative to their budget (even more unlikely) then I expect a similar statement from them around the same time next year, if not sooner.
Of course it's unfortunate that the grid for next season could be further reduced, but... perhaps we should ask ourselves what exactly have either Honda or Toyota actually contributed F1?
Not really, given their participation pre-dated the Honda works effort by several years. Toyota's goal was to succeed. They haven't. They wouldn't be missed for any other reason than the grid would be 2 cars smaller.
I believe that used to be the case. If the grids are smaller than 20 I believe either teams (manufacturer) are required to field a 3rd car, or Bernie is required to compensate promotors.
Unlikely, given they neither have a F1 heritage (Auto Union doesn't count) and they're withdrawing from next seasons ALMS as well.
Maybe GM or Ford could buy the Honda team. I read somewhere that it's only going for about one pound stirling.
Fox
Fox
SLightly off topic, but I just read that Audi will debut the R15 at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March, but other than that Audio Sport North America has withdrawn form the ALMS. Audi will only race the LMS and DTM series in Europe in 09.
That's a shame. Audi has been a big draw at ALMS races. Another big draw has been Corvette Racing. I've heard the Pratt & Miller Corvette Racing program will continue in ALMS (in GT2 after the 24 Hours of Le Mans), but who knows with GM's fate.
That's a shame. Audi has been a big draw at ALMS races. Another big draw has been Corvette Racing. I've heard the Pratt & Miller Corvette Racing program will continue in ALMS (in GT2 after the 24 Hours of Le Mans), but who knows with GM's fate.