European Grand Prix 2010 and Fox TV

I’ve moaned before about Fox TVs inability to schedule Formula 1 motorsport in a reasonable manner.  Looks like they’ve done it again…

For those wondering, the European Grand Prix will be aired as follows:

• on Fox and not Speed TV.
• at 12 Noon, and not either live or at a more traditional 1pm.
• clashing with the end of the England vs Germany world cup knockout game, which since most F1 fans are expats from Europe, and this is a world cup grudge match of two well known European nations I’d expect a small dent in viewing figures!
• with continual distractions and animated pools of vomit across the lower third of the screen for Fox shows you don’t want to watch, which will invariably obscure the telemetry or driver information at a critical moment.

So all I need to do now is avoid all media sources until noon…

Complaining about F1 on Fox again

Yet again I find myself sat on a Sunday morning excited for the 2009 Formula 1 Grand Prix from Germany, and yet again the schedulers at Fox TV have decided to bring their own twisted logic into play.

There are a few expected behaviours for television companies showing Formula One racing:

1. Live is better than time delayed.
2. If you want to schedule for a better “local” viewing time, then races start at 1pm.
3. If you schedule a “local” time, also show the race live for the real fans!
4. Don’t cut to commercials in the last third of the race.
5. Don’t let the regular commentator talk over the motorsport specialists.
6. Pre-race is important, show the pre-race walk of the grid.
7. Post-race is important, show the interviews in full.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Fox got that memo.

Today’s German Grand Prix is showing at 3pm EST on Fox (Channel 5 for those with Cox Cable).  There was no live broadcast of the race, and they couldn’t even fit it in at a more reasonable start time of 1pm because they need to show a rerun of Monk!

So come on BBC Worldwide, pull yer finger out and get the iPlayer working for everyone.  I’d have paid to watch this morning’s race live via the BBC, and after a quick poll of both expats and American F1 fans I’m not the only one who’d shell out to alleviate the annoyance of Fox’s poor scheduling and badly timed commercial breaks.

Austrailian GP 2009 – Go Brawn Go!

Congratulations to Jenson Button and the Brawn GP team for managing not just an inspiring pole position on their debut race, but also the amazing final result of first and second place on the podium.  This was a great start to a new season of Formula 1. (BBC News – Button seals dream Australia win, Telegraph – Button wins in Australia)

However as I watched the race a few thoughts crossed my mind;

Formula 1 in 2009

Okay, before I begin, watch this:

Now, most of this looks like exciting stuff.  More down-force on the nose for better handling, plus slicks to give better grip and hopefully the end of the stupid “must use both compounds” rules.  Narrower cars, with less fins and boards, so lighter, faster, slipperier cars.  High rear wings in clearer air, hopefully this will allow the grip to be put down, whilst still enhancing the slippery aerodynamics.

Wait a minute though, have Berni and Max been playing the Xbox too much during the off season?  DId I hear Vittel say they were getting a BOOST BUTTON???  Now I agree that Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems sound like a great idea, and will hopefully allow for more advanced technology to be developed and hopefully silence the smug Prius owners in their boring cars. However, did they have to call it a BOOST BUTTON???  Maybe it is just me, but I reckon this will make the sport more exciting, but at the same time make the commentary sound like a group of gamers.  Just imagine….

Oh no, he’s not braked enough to build up his boost and now he just can’t sprint to the line in time.

Next thing you know they’ll be introducing time attack checkpoints!

2009, a quiet year for motorsport

The casualties so far:

Suzuki and Subaru have pulled out of the World Rally Championship, leaving just Ford and Citroen for 2009 season

Honda has pulled out of Formula 1, and Max Mosely has proposed a raft of cost-cutting measures (BBC Sport – The Battle to Save Formula One).

Jaguar has been in  discussion with the British government looking for state aid (BBC News – Government confirms Jaguar talks) but don’t worry it has been overseen by Business Secretary Lord (Peter) Mandelson and he’s never had any problems with cah donations!  Even George Bush has stated that he will not allow a disorderly collapse of the US car industry (BBC News – No ‘disorderly’ US Car Collapse).  Yes, in his last 32 days of power any collapse will be very orderly and well organised.  Somehow Bush’s statement doesn’t fill me with cheer!

Of course we’ve also got Berni Ecclestone announcing he wants to change how the drivers championship is scored in Formula 1, replacing points with medals, but will that matter as more and more teams have to pull out to cut costs, and when the sponsorship dries up as all the investment banks battle to stay afloat.

I’m quietly optomistic.  The next few years will be very hard on motorsport, but I think it will bounce back better than ever.  Looking back over the years I’ve watched racing and the highlights for me were in the slow growth years immediately after hard times.  The early 80′s, the early 90′s.  In recent years the sport has become too fat at the highest levels, with F1 being endlessly manipulated for money by it’s Machiavellian management. A1GP failed to make a huge impression on the global media, but could become more of a shining light since it is insulated from some of the development and money issues of F1.  Best of all the more grass-roots levels of racing will gain in popularity as people look for a budget racing experience.  The important, but under invested, classes like touring car and karting will hopefully gain from the loss of the upper eschelons and in three to five years time this grass roots investment will pay dividends.  All we’ve got to do is wait!