Formula One 2012

[Ozexpat]

If it were my choice i'd take Senna and drop Rubens and keep Sutil.

Interesting James, that you see Sutil as being a better prospect than Rubens ? Sutil wasn't a very good development driver nor was he an outstanding racer. Rubens is a proven race winner, albeit in superior machinery, and is a great development driver. He has been portrayed as "old school" and is certainly limited as far as age is concerned. But Sutil has peaked, according to those who know. Where's the potential ? Steady or proven ?

Really though Sutil, who is average at best, over Barrichello ?

[hifiwigwam]

Spose so.

Makes no odds though, they won;t win anything at all.

[Lokes]

F1 coverage is excellent as it is,
when ITV had the contract they used BBC facilities and crews,
with Sky you'll be paying to watch adverts, nice
The BBC are bolloxed, they've effectively had their funding cut with the freeze on
the license fee, at least they've struck a deal where BBC viewers will still get
a good chunk of the coverage.

What does everyone have against Sky . Every sport I have seen sky do (Football, Cricket, Dart, American Football.....) they have improved the viewing pleasure. They will do the same with F1 (bound to show more of the paddock babes if nothing else )

[Ozexpat]

Spose so.

Makes no odds though, they won;t win anything at all.

I am afraid you might be right.

[Tons of Fun]

with Sky you'll be paying to watch adverts,

In the same way that there isn't a single advert during play on a $ky Sports football match, there isn't going to be a single ad during a race, qualifying session or practice. Those being the practices that will now be broadcast.

[hifiwigwam]

In the same way that there isn't a single advert during play on a $ky Sports football match, there isn't going to be a single ad during a race, qualifying session or practice. Those being the practices that will now be broadcast.

Yep, no ads during the races, and a full channel dedicated to F1. All highlights still on BBC1 and many races on BBC1 in full.

If Sky don't do a catholic on us and pull out at the last minute on the "Free to all HD users" deal, it will be rather good I think.

Oh and no EJ on either side. so we won;t have to watch the interviews through the gaps in our fingers..

[Howlindawg]

Oh and no EJ on either side. so we won;t have to watch the interviews through the gaps in our fingers..

I thought EJ was staying as part of the BBC team.

[Sheva]

Yep, alas he's still on the BBC coverage.

[freefallrob]

Oh you lot.....Eddie is great TV

[Ozexpat]

Oh you lot.....Eddie is great TV

I guess if you mean that because he garners a reaction, this is good TV, then fair enough.

[freefallrob]

So you do think we will see Jarno Trulli on the grid next year (a Mike Gascoigne fave) or will he be wine making a bit more than usual.....?

[Craig]

Really though Sutil, who is average at best, over Barrichello ?

That's a bit harsh - he ripped Di Resta a new one in the second half of the season. He's reputedly dog muck at development, but if the car's balanced he seems well capabale of ringing it's neck (I'll set em up, you knock em down, Oz)

I think Trulli's a gonner at Caterham - Petrov's brining so much dosh with him that he's the new Diniz - just about fast enough, and way too rich to say no to.

[Ozexpat]

I think Trulli has been lucky to retain his seat for as long as he has. Gone are the days when he could qualify his car beyond it's capabilities, and let's be honest he wasn't the greatest racer either. Regardless of machinery. I think he just lacked that last bit of motivation once the top teams lost interest. He was a "head" driver like Fisichella. He had to feel wanted to get his head straight. Can't really blame him for that but that isn't how F1 works.

As for Sutil, so he beat his much less experience, rookie teammate. So he should have done but from the beginning of the season not when it suited him. That's one of the reasons why the team didn't want to retain him (Plus his pending court appearance). Sutil's a good driver, a safe pair of hands, but he has plateaued. At his age he should still be moving forward, learning. He has peaked and while he will hold his own, nobody can see him giving much more. Hence the options not existing for him.

[earlofsodbury]

Barichello made a huge mistake not announcing his retirement at the end of the 2011 season - he is, by F1 standards, all too clearly ready to be put out to pasture, and if Williams could have afforded/negotiated it, he should have been looking at 2012 as test pilot only... Who to replace him with? Well Bruno "Senna" is a high-risk strategy, but better that than guaranteed mediocrity from tired old Rubenzzz. For Bruno Psenna - by surname alone it doesn't matter what he does, he'll keep the sponsors happy by getting their names where they want them.

IMVHO of course!

[freefallrob]

I see Damon Hill has joined in the fun at Sky F1.......

Kimi has been out playing with new black and gold toys, and finding going, stopping and turning 'okay I guess'.

[s2000db]

I see that the 'mysterious' ride height contraptions, that Lotus and Ferrari were trying to use this year have bee banned...

Apparently it was masquerading as an aerodynamic aid... (who'd of guessed that..)

Anyone reckon the new aero rules and exhaust regs will slow down the Red Bulls this year??

[Craig]

I see that the 'mysterious' ride height contraptions, that Lotus and Ferrari were trying to use this year have bee banned...

Apparently it was masquerading as an aerodynamic aid... (who'd of guessed that..)

Anyone reckon the new aero rules and exhaust regs will slow down the Red Bulls this year??

There's an intersting podcast this month on motorsport mag, where they have a good interview with Pat Symonds - he gives a good overview of what to expect on the techincal side.

(When I say interesting, it's the content which is interesting: they are all as dull as ditchwater to listen to.)

[Cable Monkey]

Anyone reckon the new aero rules and exhaust regs will slow down the Red Bulls this year??

If the car and Vettel get on, I doubt it'll make much difference.

[s2000db]

If the car and Vettel get on, I doubt it'll make much difference.

I suspect we'll all know by the end of the first official race qualifying, and seeing what the grid will be...

[Cable Monkey]

Virgin Media are carrying the Sky Sports F1 channel. It will be added to the sports package or sport and movie package at no extra cost (but you will not be able to have it as a standalone package). It will be standard definition only via Virgin, Sky are obviously choosing to keep the HD version in house in the short term.