What on Earth has happened to F1?

To those suggestions I would add taking it off ITV. What joker thought that putting an ad break into one of the most exciting finishes in memory was a good idea? I don't watch footie - do they break for ads 5 min before the final whistle?

Fucking morons.

And ITV have got to get the bloody adverts sorted out
Where was the sense in the timing 4, laps left and they go to a commercial break and then back just in time for the final lap.

Lets hope the BBC offer a sensible ammount when the TV rights are back on the table for bidding.

Also the other plus point would be no more James Allen

quote:

Originally posted by cunningplan:
Also the other plus point would be no more James Allen

If I was the BBC I'd make that the major selling point.

That's got to be the best drive I've seen MS do since Barcelona in the rain. Thrilling. But let's face it, ITV only care that they've got the franchise. They don't give a toss about the actual sport and treat the viewers with greater contempt still. If Bernie doesn't give them a huge kick up the arse for this afternoon's noncence we're screwed - until we can get hold of another feed. RTE's pretty good - but then anything else is.

Cheers

Harry

Pure Fucking Genius. It's a wonder J.A. can see anything with his head so far up MS's arse.

Good race shame Mika could not show what he had, it looked like genuine speed if he was on similar fuel to Wurz.

Howard

Best race for a long time, but as others said how ITV can get away with fucking up probably the most critical and exciting part of the race is beyond me!

Good to see the both Hondas make it home! but has Button got what it takes to win a race?
I think the Jury is out and the pressure is building up..

Hawk

Yeah. In my indignation over the coverage of the last five laps I forgot to rant about how Rakonan (sp?) retired during yet another fuckin ad break.

To miss the action at the front once is careless. To mess it up (and so comprehensively) twice is......

I heard a clip of Murray commentating on Wurtz when he went wheel to wheel with MS in Monaco (before losing most of his wheels on the next lap!). fair brought a tear to my eye and illustrated in the space of about four seconds how utterly crap May is. Yes the legendary Walker was a hard act to follow - but that's no excuse.

Mutter mutter.....

I fear that we are rapidly returning to situation normal with MS towing everyone else round.

Bob

Very possible but too early to say. Only getting one car to the finish doesn't look 100% airtight and Alonso is going to have to put in a string of appualing finishes before MS gets in front and pulls away. And that's discounting Truli, Rakonen and who knows... If the red cars run away from everyone in the next two races then we might have an interesting season is store. I do hope that ITV will allow us to enjoy it - which doesn't look too likely on its record to date.

Cheers

Harry

<ADVERT BREAK>

Just to break up an interesting situation ................

quote:

Originally posted by long-time-dead:
<ADVERT BREAK>

Just to break up an interesting situation ................

Dont forget to drop another one in just towards the end of the thread.. killing the last page should just about do it

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
All they need to do now is sort the aerodynamic rules to allow some sort of overtaking, and it'll be addictive.

For overtaking to be easier what would be needed would be either mismatched cars or mismatched drivers. Do you really want a rule change to force such a thing?

The competition is there to pit car makers and drivers against one another. From the tone of most of the comments on threads about Formula One in the Padded Cell it seems that people assume they have a right to be entertained by racing and that the sport's rules should reflect this right.

Deane

Too right Deane, I propose that we have a competition to come last . That should solve that little problem.

Or better still, eighteen engines on test beds. Last one running wins. That'll solve the safety issues too.

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:

For overtaking to be easier what would be needed would be either mismatched cars or mismatched drivers. Do you really want a rule change to force such a thing?

Schumacher was 2-3 seconds a lap faster than Alonso during the closing stages of the race, is that not mismatched enough? Despite this huge advantage he still found it impossible to pass. Do you really think this is a good thing?
(if you happen to be one of the "don't mention the war" people like one that has posted above, just replace MS in this situation with a driver of your liking.)

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
people assume they have a right to be entertained by racing and that the sport's rules should reflect this right.

Deane

It's a good point Deane, but i suspect that some of the people that have stumped up for the every increasing ticket price might have another take on it. Then there are the big sponsors with their bundles of cash no doubt influencing Mr E!

I agree a race is a race and the constant meddling with rules is not helping. Sadly it shows that its the money that counts most in this particular event.

Hawk

quote:

Schumacher was 2-3 seconds a lap faster than Alonso during the closing stages of the race, is that not mismatched enough?

............. and given MS's less than sparkling qualifying performance, I'd love to know just where that 2 seconds came from?

quote:

I'd love to know just where that 2 seconds came from?

See what happens next GP when he will have to use the 3 litre engine.

Howard

LOL!

But haven't they always said that catching is easier than passing. Plenty of drivers pulled off good moves yesterday - excuse me if I fail to burst into tears because one driver dropped (potentially) two points. But it was thrilling to watch, for which I must again thank ITV - NOT.

The best moment was when Shoomy put the pass on Button. JB looked like a boy on a bike for the first time. I think Shoomy even picked his pocket on the way by. Jens, have you checked for anything missing? Up to that point, James Allan et al where going on typically ad nausium about "this is the day when JB will win his first F1 race" and other "support the British home-boy" bollocks. After the pass, strangely nothing more was said. Perhaps JB learned something about what it takes to become 7 times Weltmeister.

<ADVERT BREAK>

Just to break up an interesting situation ................

quote:

Originally posted by John Sheridan:

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:

For overtaking to be easier what would be needed would be either mismatched cars or mismatched drivers. Do you really want a rule change to force such a thing?

Schumacher was 2-3 seconds a lap faster than Alonso during the closing stages of the race, is that not mismatched enough? Despite this huge advantage he still found it impossible to pass. Do you really think this is a good thing?
(if you happen to be one of the "don't mention the war" people like one that has posted above, just replace MS in this situation with a driver of your liking.)

John

The better lap times of the Ferrari toward the end of the race could have been any number of things combined (including the Ferrari being a better car), aerodynamic setup, tyres, fuel load and brake wear and is not an example of sheer inequality - probably more a reflection on the state of things between the cars during that part of the race.

It has always been said that catching up is one thing; overtaking another. Schumacher put a lot of pressure on and it can be seen that one driver folded under that pressure but a better and more seasoned driver did not.

Deane

It looks like ITV management read the Naim Forum this is from their website

A MESSAGE FROM US
Last Updated: Wednesday, 27, April, 2005, 14:30

ITV-F1 would like to acknowledge all those F1 fans who emailed this site to vent their frustration over the weekend’s ad break placement.

We regret to say that due to the huge number of responses, we won’t be able to answer each message personally.

However the strength of opinion has been registered and this has been communicated to various parties within ITV Sport.

It is ITV1’s firm commitment to continue to bring you the best F1 coverage that we can through the television and the internet.

The last line's a bit depressing.