The F1 Thread

[Nando]

Anybody going to Silverstone this year?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think I will be on hols that weekend. What are the bargain prices this year?

 

[jlo]

Nope, too expensive although I have been in the past.

 

[Nando]

It's shockingly expensive, but I've not been to the whole weekend for 5 years now. Should be good fun.

 

[Law's Bus]

I haven't been to Silverstone since 2001 - preferring to go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed instead. I've been every time before that since 1977 though.

 

[ROVERT47]

Not that much of a fan of Formula 1 myself but is this a cause for concern for those who are?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13274848.stm

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It would probably mean the end of F1 on free to view channels with the exception of the British GP, which is in the crown jewels list.

So yes, moderately concerned.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It would probably mean the end of F1 on free to view channels

I very much doubt that.

They would keep Ecclestone on for his knowledge, experience and connections. He knows first hand what a failure F1+ was on Sky a decade or so ago. F1 won't attract viewers on a PPV or subscription basis. It's only just recovering from the stigma of being boring and there being no overtaking, in the public psyche.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Maybe, but what is the desire of Newscorp to get involved if it isn't going onto Sky? I struggle to understand their motives.

 

[jlo]

If it ended up on Sky, it would be a disaster for the sport IMO. Viewing figures would drop through the roof.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Why try to buy Man Utd when the collective arrangement wouldn't have allowed them to shift their games away from "mainstream" broadcasting? Because they could make money from it. Look at how much the Glazers paid seven years later compared to what they were offering. Similarly, they can make money out of F1 just by owning it. If I had a spare few million, I'd be buying up cheap business property in Dublin right now, knowing that at some point I could sell it at a huge profit. Doesn't matter if I use it or not in the meantime.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yes maybe - it is just that the advertising revenue through Sky would be seen as another revenue stream and I would be surprised if they didn't at least look at trying to exploit it.

Reading the whole article there seem to be quite a few major hurdles anyway. Exor is owned by Fiat who also own Ferrari and there appear to be rules against a team owning the sport. Ecclestone doesn't think CVC would be interested in selling. The concord agreement would mean that all the teams would have to agree, and I can't see McLaren allowing it through with the Exor involvement.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Sky could quite easily set it up on a FTA channel. Sky News for instance. It won't go subscription only.

 

[manhattan project]

Sky have the Indy Car series, the Indy 500, and Nascar. If they could get F1, that would be the icing on the cake for them

 

[The Bear]

Sky could quite easily set it up on a FTA channel. Sky News for instance. It won't go subscription only.

Plus I've read on Joe Saward's blog that a FTA broadcast clause existing in the Concorde Agreement isn't true anyway. That it's something agreed between the FIA and FOM (who own the broadcast rights), so even if the sport was sold those two would still have control over that aspect.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/formula-one-and-news-corporation/

 

[Psychowolf]

If it ends up going to Sky then I guess my F1 viewing would be limited to my trips to Silverstone. Massively disappointed if it goes that way.

Can't see how it wouldn't be in the CA though as FTA is surely to be considered amongst the commercial success in which the teams take a share in and is the whole purpose of the CA?.
If it is part of the CA, this blog ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/04/will_f1_go_pay-per-view.html ) from a couple weeks ago at least gives some positive idea that it will stay FTA as a small team like Virgin see the sport better off that way regardless of the short term money boost they could receive.

To the racing side of things, the DRS zone for Turkey was confirmed yesterday and will be shortly before turn 11 heading onto the straight where the Red Bulls came together last year.

Also Bruno Senna has uploaded a video of him testing at Spa for Renault. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7v4UUaML0. Great stuff.

 

[The Bear]

The tyre compounds for this GP are Hard and Soft again and as mentioned the DRS zone will be between turn 9 and 12 towards the end of the lap:

http://thef1times.com/news/display/03210

Also, Red Bull's Helmut Marko reckons they have fixed their KERS issues:

http://thef1times.com/news/display/03221

 

[Kenny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13307427.stm

 

[Nando]

Too easy for Vettel.

Great drive by Alonso, only 70s clear of his team mate.

 

[The Bear]

I've not long finished watching it. Plenty of action again. Vettel had it pretty easy.

That DRS zone was far too easy for overtaking. First mistake with it on the FIA's part.