2014 Formula 1 Thread

[Don't panic]

What a **** show.

My impatience got the best of me. I'm NEVER watching a NBC Sports Network race again. I will wait for SkyTV from here on out.

The announcers and commercials SUCK.

*SPOILER LINK* Ricciardo got boned.

Hmmmm, kind of liked the race. Bad luck for Hamilton, Ferrari didn't seem to show up. How bout Keith Magnussen! Nico had a very good car and a great result. Finger Boy, too bad. The sound of the v6's just isn't right....no screaming, sad. The nose treatments look awful. Could be an interesting year though with new, young guns winning. BTW, the only coverage I can get is NBC and I thought it was good....when is Varsha coming back or over???? Cheers

I am with spencers.
I thought it was dreadful.
i watched it live, and i will again because i am a sucker, but boy was it bad.

the amount and length of ads was absolutely unbearable. I think there was more time on commercials than on the actual race.
And the commentator were way off their game. they just kept blabbering about immaterial stuff while completely missing essential parts of the races and a number of key passes (mostly occurring during commercial breaks), without bothering to go back and a) showing the pass and b) updating about what happened.
the entire first round of tyre changes, during bottas safety car, was basically unnoticed during a commercial break. they didn't mention it occurred (let alone discussing tyre strategy). I noticed because positions had changed after the break and i was WTF happened. then a graph came up with the infos about the stops and i realized.

 

[smithrh]

I suppose if you're coming from someplace without any ads, ads would be considered jarring.

I've always DVRed the sessions, and watched when I had time, skipping through the ads. In an odd sort of way, having more ads (and they were for more mainstream things this time) is a sign of higher ratings, which is good overall.

I did watch the BBC summary, and yeah, it's different, but not necessarily heads-and-shoulders better. Looks like they have access to a few camera views that the world feed does not, but other than that, it's basically the same thing that Speed/Fox/NBCSports puts on.

 

[Gav2k]

How would someone go about getting Sky or BBC F1 coverage in the states? BBC seems to have some sort of odd partial coverage... .

Bbc lost the rights to broadcast the races live and have a limited contract now. There are 9 live races they have paid for the right to broadcast. The rest are just highlight shows of 120 minutes. You get 15-20 minutes build up then the race then the drivers press conference at the end.

Live races...

30 March: Malaysia
11 May: Spain
8 June: Canada
6 July: Britain
24 August: Belgium
7 September: Italy
5 October: Japan
12 October: Russia
23 November: Abu Dhabi

 

[Apple fanboy]

Being in the UK, I watch the BBC version (because I'm too tight to pay sky!).
I like the general feel of the coverage, but do miss when they are not showing the events live. I literally have to avoid my iPhone in case one of my mates with sky texts me results etc.

 

[smithrh]

Being in the states it's unfortunately pretty easy to avoid F1 results before I watch... :^( :^) Besides Canada and the US, typically the races are in the middle of the night anyways - even Brazil is pretty early here.

One nice thing about the NBC coverage, we did get FP1 and FP2 for this last race. I hope that keeps up but we'll see. I'm liking the option of the BBC summaries as well as NBC - I have fast internet and a good VPN so I can watch in HD pretty easily. Sky seems out of reach though, it's not offered where I am.

WRT RBR's DQ - I read the findings, they shot themselves in the foot big time, totally self-inflicted. They were told during the race how to get in line, they declined. No other teams followed RBR's tack of ignoring the FIA on this issue (possibly inaccurate fuel flow readings). They made themselves the nail that stood out, the FIA hammered them down, and rightly so.

 

[randian]

WRT RBR's DQ - I read the findings, they shot themselves in the foot big time, totally self-inflicted. They were told during the race how to get in line, they declined. No other teams followed RBR's tack of ignoring the FIA on this issue (possibly inaccurate fuel flow readings). They made themselves the nail that stood out, the FIA hammered them down, and rightly so.

What I don't understand is why F1 has both a fuel flow and a fuel weight restriction. They are redundant. If you had only a flow restriction, you don't need a weight restriction because the teams will naturally carry as little fuel as they can get away with. If the reverse, you shouldn't care what flow rate the teams use because they'll just run out of fuel before the end of the race.

For the record, I don't like making F1 a fuel-economy series like they were with the '80s turbos. Stupid then, stupid now. If I wanted any kind of "relevance" I'd watch DTM or stock cars.

 

[spencers]

I suppose if you're coming from someplace without any ads, ads would be considered jarring.

I've always DVRed the sessions, and watched when I had time, skipping through the ads. In an odd sort of way, having more ads (and they were for more mainstream things this time) is a sign of higher ratings, which is good overall.

I did watch the BBC summary, and yeah, it's different, but not necessarily heads-and-shoulders better. Looks like they have access to a few camera views that the world feed does not, but other than that, it's basically the same thing that Speed/Fox/NBCSports puts on.

SkyTV blows all broadcasts out of the water. See if you can hunt around to watch it sometime. Commentary is amazing; the guys know their stuff. See here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jkrbBFL9t3c

For the record, I don't like making F1 a fuel-economy series like they were with the '80s turbos. Stupid then, stupid now. If I wanted any kind of "relevance" I'd watch DTM or stock cars.

DTM is still fun to watch!

 

[randian]

DTM is still fun to watch!

Plus it's not infected with politically correct grandstanding like F1. If that's so important you have to bastardize the technical regulations to demonstrate your moral purity you should shut down the entire enterprise of F1 as violating it.

 

[Don't panic]

've always DVRed the sessions, and watched when I had time, skipping through the ads. In an odd sort of way, having more ads (and they were for more mainstream things this time) is a sign of higher ratings, which is good overall.

in this case, you'd end up with a 20 min highlight program, minus the highlights

 

[smithrh]

in this case, you'd end up with a 20 min highlight program, minus the highlights

I see your emoticon indicating mirth, but look, it's not true and I think you know it.

Would I like no ads? Yep.

Not going to happen, realistically.

 

[BenTrovato]

F1 needed this change-up in the regulations but obviously with the sound they have lost what motor racing is all about. I doubt people will get used to it. I'll find out in June when the Canadian grand prix takes place how bad it really is but if it doesn't rattle the bones, that would suck. It was interesting hearing the squeal of tyres locking up for the first time on TV because the engine noise was so low.

I like that there are fuel flow regulations but how they do it is messed up. In the 80's, you would hear Alain Prost on how he would have to mentally calculate how much fuel he had left so he knew when to push and when to conserve. Now someone comes on over the headset telling the driver what to do. That is what takes away from the sport because it is no longer the best driver winning but the best team, strategist, factory, etc.

It was more exciting when the team did everything they could behind the scenes but on track it was all up to the driver - that's where the magic happens. That's why people don't really like Vettel - sure he's a pud with that #1 finger but everyone knows he has the best package and that's boring. If Vettel was actually the best driver, people would love him and that's why the crowd roared when he didn't make the top 10 in Australia. I'm not concluding that he is or isn't the best driver but it just seems like the best package is far too great an advantage nowadays versus the driver making the biggest difference.

F1 needed the shake-up, but they have a long way to go to improve motor racing.

 

[Don't panic]

I see your emoticon indicating mirth, but look, it's not true and I think you know it.

Would I like no ads? Yep.

Not going to happen, realistically.

oh, i do know ads are unavoidable here, but the amount in the last GP was just too much. i don't think we ever got more than 2 laps in a row during the race and breaks would last an equal amount of time, if not more. it was really egregious. AND they didn't replay what they missed for the most part

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F1 needed this change-up in the regulations but obviously with the sound they have lost what motor racing is all about. I doubt people will get used to it. I'll find out in June when the Canadian grand prix takes place how bad it really is but if it doesn't rattle the bones, that would suck.

I like that there are fuel flow regulations but how they do it is messed up. In the 80's, you would hear Alain Prost on how he would have to mentally calculate how much fuel he had left so he knew when to push and when to conserve. Now someone comes on over the headset telling the driver what to do. That is what takes away from the sport because it is no longer the best driver winning but the best team, strategist, factory, etc.

It was more exciting when the team did everything they could behind the scenes but on track it was all up to the driver - that's where the magic happens. That's why people don't really like Vettel - sure he's a pud with that #1 finger but everyone knows he has the best package and that's boring. If Vettel was actually the best driver, people would love him and that's why the crowd roared when he didn't make the top 10. F1 needed the shake-up, but they have a long way to go to improve motor racing.

it was always the best package. if anything all the current gimmicks are designed to reduce the differences between cars, and re-emphasize the drivers more.
there is no easy solution. the only way to have it to be a driver-determined series is by putting more and more limits on the cars, which a lot of people do not like at all.

 

[CWallace]

One nice thing about the NBC coverage, we did get FP1 and FP2 for this last race. I hope that keeps up but we'll see.

They did that for Australia last year, but only Australia. Going forward, we should just get FP2, Qualifying and the race itself.



And at least NBCSN has "side by side" for a number of the commercial breaks so one can still follow the action.

...Ferrari didn't seem to show up...

Both cars were evidently suffering from electrical issues that impacted performance.

BTW, the only coverage I can get is NBC and I thought it was good....when is Varsha coming back or over????

Unlike the rest, he is still under contract to FOX Sports One. He usually covers for LD when the latter is covering IndyCar (which evidently has first dibs on his services).

HShame on Kamui for taking out Massa on turn 1...

Evidently his Brake-by-Wire system failed so only his front brakes worked.

 

[Apple fanboy]

If you want to see the best driver win, then all the cars need to be identical. They have that in many other forms of motor sport and IMO they don't match up to F1.
To win in F1 you need the best car, best driver and best team. You probably need a clear number one and number two driver if you want to win the drivers championship. Otherwise you end up splitting the points. I worry this might be the case at Mercedes where you have two very talented drivers. This could play right in to RBR hands.

 

[NukeIT]

it was always the best package. if anything all the current gimmicks are designed to reduce the differences between cars, and re-emphasize the drivers more.
there is no easy solution. the only way to have it to be a driver-determined series is by putting more and more limits on the cars, which a lot of people do not like at all.

That's called NASCAR or even worse IRL. Where all the cars are exactly the same, just have different sponsor badging.

F1 is a constructors league. Which allows everyone to seek different solutions to the same problems. One solution is always going to be better then the rest, but that's what makes it exciting. One's faster in the corners, another is faster in the straights, while another is better on a rough track and another is better on a smooth surface.

 

[Don't panic]

That's called NASCAR or even worse IRL. Where all the cars are exactly the same, just have different sponsor badging.

F1 is a constructors league. Which allows everyone to seek different solutions to the same problems. One solution is always going to be better then the rest, but that's what makes it exciting. One's faster in the corners, another is faster in the straights, while another is better on a rough track and another is better on a smooth surface.

yep. that is exactly my point.

 

[BenTrovato]

Pretty good comparison between 2013 and 2014 engine noise. I should probably sell my tickets to the grand prix this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS4Dh_EAfJI

 

[smithrh]

Pretty good comparison between 2013 and 2014 engine noise. I should probably sell my tickets to the grand prix this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS4Dh_EAfJI

I like that people didn't have to wear hearing protection this year.

Really - who the heck wants to have to wear a headset for hours? Been there, done that, won't do it again.

 

[randian]

I like that people didn't have to wear hearing protection this year.

While many didn't, I'm quite certain they should have. Just because it's low frequency doesn't mean it won't harm your hearing, it just won't hurt as much while it's doing it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well first practise tomorrow. Hope we get a dry weekend so we can really see where the teams are in terms of qualifying and race pace.

In other news, Dr Gary Hartstein who used to be the F1 chief medical officer says it's very unlikely that Schumacher will ever make a significant recovery. So sad. He was such a legend and he will be missed around the F1 community.

 

[pachyderm]

Well first practise tomorrow. Hope we get a dry weekend so we can really see where the teams are in terms of qualifying and race pace.

In other news, Dr Gary Hartstein who used to be the F1 chief medical officer says it's very unlikely that Schumacher will ever make a significant recovery. So sad. He was such a legend and he will be missed around the F1 community.

gutted for him and his family.

 

[Apple fanboy]

So I get an early start this weekend to watch qualifying. Hope its worth it. With three different manufacturers at the top it could be good though. Rosberg looks like the man to beat again.

 

[pachyderm]

 

[Gav2k]

Monsoon...wet qualifying should be interesting

 

[Apple fanboy]

Monsoon...wet qualifying should be interesting

Well maybe eventually! Doesn't look like its going to stop anytime soon. For those on watching the BBC coverage it was good to see Mark Webber back doing a piece about driver heat management. If he develops the role as a presenter, it would be funny if he had to interview Vettel.

Yay a car on track (safety car)!