Anyone else watching F1 on Sky?

The Lounge General Discussion
#1

Is it me or does Brundle get worse with each race? The guy’s got an ego the size of your average f1 team budget. There was a small piece ostensibly about commemorating the death of Ayrton Senna. It was the most sickening ‘look at me, aren’t I great’ piece of self promotion I’ve seen in a while. I don’t understand what broadcasters see in him? Okay, he sets himself up as a technical expert in a sport that’s crammed full of technical experts. His F1 career isn’t laughable…he never won a race. Give me DC’s analysis any day of the week.

Rant over…

#2

Over here in the US, we got F1 on NBC Sports until this year. Now we get a broadcast from Sky sports on ESPN. Major downgrade in terms of coverage, to me. Of course, part of that is me being used to my usual crew. The bigger issue to me is that the sport itself has gotten incredibly stale. It’s gotten to the point where you need only ask which Mercedes won this week. Ferrari can’t keep up, Red Bull can’t, the rest are just there to fill out the field. Sad also, the utter collapse of Williams. I was hoping Monaco would be more interesting, considering how unique it is, but Lewis was forced to hold everything up and complain about his tires the whole time.

I probably won’t watch for a while. My time is better spent learning Octatrack anyway!

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#3

I stopped watching F1 when they started restricting the engines. Its an elite sport. Coulthard has a semi permanent address in Monaco to avoid paying tax. Hes no better than Blundell.

#4

Similar position here in the UK in that Channel 4, a terrestrial channel used to show a number of the races live and extended highlights of the other races. Sky have had live coverage of all races for a few seasons I think on their dedicated channel. This season Sky have exclusive rights with C4 only showing the British GP live. I preferred the C4 team and their coverage. Sadly Eddie Jordan keeps popping up too.

As to the formula itself I can see why people have fallen out of love with it over time. It’s not my favourite televised motorsport (touring cars and the support races on ITV4🙂) but I still get excited about race weekend. Personal taste I guess?

We used to get regular highlights programmes of Irish Clubman Rallying, possibly on Men and Motors or something similar. Not high budget TV but wow!.. The cars!!! And the driving!

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#5

…and Murray Walker saying its all over…:laughing:

#6

never liked watching F1 on tv but I have been to a few F1 events and its amazing the power that they produce even when sitting far away from the track. WRC is more my thing to watch on tv.

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#7

I’ve not been to an F1 race but I have been to Le Mans and the start was something to behold, sat in the grandstand! Arnage isn’t too shabby either. Corporate Utd and that was 2003.
Can’t see it’s any better for the plebs these days but it was one on the bucket list and I’m glad I did it, road trip with the chaps and all.

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#8

Brundle doesn’t rub me the wrong way, and I don’t think he needed to win a race to be an expert.

But I know what it is like when a commentator just grinds your gears.
Eddie Cheever on the ABC/ESPN IndyCar broadcasts drove me nuts for years.
I am so happy that NBC got exclusive rights to IndyCar, as Towsend Bell and Paul Tracy are far more insightful and accurate in their observations. No more “wife cam” at the 500 this year either. It’s like a new age. :upside_down_face:

Overall, though, F1 in the turbo hybrid era could certainly use more excitement, no matter who is on the mic.

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#9

This is my kind of driving in my all time, closest to my heart car, the MK2 Ford Escort, in my kind of racing class.

Oh, and the soundtrack is pure music. To my ears at least.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pYw1UzIoHHw#fauxfullscreen

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#10

It’s cool to see that others here are into motorsport. I’m mostly an IMSA/ALMS/WEC guy and have been to a number of races in that realm. I’ve known some successful drivers in spec series and Daytona 24. The vintage enduros are great fun to watch as well. I’ve met Brian Johnson and David Hobbs, both very cool gents. Brian in particular is top shelf, willing to lend assistance to other drivers and then hang out after hours. I’ve also attended NASCAR races and top fuel drag races. Seeing a car with 6000HP travel 1000 feet and hit 300MPH in 3 seconds is mind-blowing.

To do: Le Mans, Monaco, Bathurst, Pebble Beach and Goodwood.

Wife and I daily an MX-5 and an Audi. These decisions may have been infuenced by club racing and Group B…

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#11

We get a few shows a year from goodwood from different meetings on itv that you might be able to find. The Revival and the Festival Of Speed spring to mind. Usually one or two full races broadcast.

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#12

I follow IMSA, ARA Rally, IndyCar, and (frustratingly) F1.

Living in Indianapolis, we have a lot of motorsports. One place I’ve been going to since I was a pre-schooler is this short oval called Speedrome. The weekend warriors there do Figure 8s, Late models, Modifieds, etc.
Very exhilarating!

Loved NASCAR as a kid until my hero, Davey Allison, died.

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#13

What is perhaps surprising is how small the scene is. I know a CEO of a tech firm that got his start by cold calling Roger Penske decades ago. Another guy we know has an uncle recognized as a hall of famer on a world class track. I’ve had pit passes because of professional relationships, etc. A business partner just returned from the Indy 500. It is an oddly small world.

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#14

I personally like sky’s F1 coverage and especially brundle, his grid walks are my favourite part. Bear in mind he had a lot of races in F1 and never had a top car, he was also Senna’s main rival in F3. About 5 years ago my brother in law convinced me to go to the Belgian gp at Spa. 5 of us travelled from the UK for the full race weekend Thursday to Sunday. The circuit is in the middle of nowhere in a deep valley surrounded by forrests. We drove and camped at the official camp site next to the track. Unfortunately there were criminal gangs operating in the campsite especially at night, I saw some of them sneaking around one night when I needed the toilet. On the morning of the race the guy and his wife in the next tent to us were distraught, he had put his passport and tickets etc in a bag and slept on it under his pillow, during the night someone went in his tent and got the bag while he was asleep and stole the lot, he never felt it, put me off going again, not sure if this kind of thing goes on at the other circuits , security was non existent !!!

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#15

Isle of Man TT coverage on ITV4. 600cc supersport race highlights. Looks like they’re showing all the races each night.

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#16

As is typical in the US, nobody carries a Le Mans 24hr feed. I do not understand why it is so damn difficult to watch these races.

The Ford team is streaming in car for free, at least, otherwise, you need to sign up for the Motortrend subscription.

#17

Are you able to get Eurosport? They’re showing the full race online but thats subscription only although without adverts.

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#18

MotorTrend channel has it, which is part of the YouTubeTV cable subscription.

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#19

Got it, thanks.

#20

I wish. Thanks anyway.