RTL start there grid and pit walk more than half an hour before the race started.  I lost count of the number of drivers they spoke to.  The German audience was treated to an instant translation for non german speaking drivers.  The presenters are also multi-lingual.  RTL post race ‘sum-up’ went on for at least an hour after the race.  Again they spoke to so many drivers and team bosses I could not keep tally.  I only wished I could speak German because I felt I was missing out on a lot.  I could go on and on about other things they did but I won’t.

Regarding the ITV race production, one of my biggest bug bears is split screen technology.  Example, when ITV cuts away to speak to a driver who has crashed out of the race, this should be presented as a small screen in the top corner with never a moment taken away from the racing.  I have been screeming about this for years.  I notice RTL does this.

Richard Hammond would be absolutely terrible.  He would be a disaster.  Those that vote for him will deeply regret it before the first race broadcast is over, mark my words.  Not least the silly and corny remarks will no doubt have the viewers complaints jamming the BBC’s switchboard.  F1 is not Top Gears folks.

Personally, I look forward to watching F1 on the BBC next year.  I desperatly hope the BBC bosses seriously up their game though.  Viewers demand much more these days.  I hope the BBC execs look at the production values of all the big F1 motor  racing countries and take the best parts of what they offer for themselves.

Finally, if the BBC has any sense, Martin Brundle should most definately be retained.  He is brilliant and gives an insight from th drivers perspective that many of us will never truly comprehend or even have a clue about.  Perhaps Damon Hill will join him behind the microphone.  I sincerely hope Murray Walker remains retired as he was absolutely useless and had no clue about racing.

Currently, with ITV the whole race experience can be ruined while fans are watching ads. Do they ever cut from an ad to come straight back….I think not…..

I am soooo happy that it is going back to the Beeb, I just hope that ALL the presenters currently on ITV are going to join the dole queue.

I recall Brundle claiming at the Malysian GP that Hamilton was doing a short middle stint…..how wrong he was, it was clear to see, he was not!

Bring it on BBC, you really cannot do any worse!

I did think, "gosh haven’t we come a long way". But even though I hadn’t seen the race for years that was all I needed to get me back into the moment. I can’t see that style bringing new fans in the door though, but it worked for me.

The ITV broadcasting team goes to every single GP, while the guys commenting for the SPEED channel (bar Peter Windsor, of course) watch the races on the F1 feed from a studio in North Carolina. Not only are they half-way around the world, the network is so uncooperative, American fans get 1/2 an hour of pre- and (if we’re lucky) 10 minutes of post-race coverage. Whenever I watch the American coverage, I know that Bob Varsha, Steve Matchett, and David Hobbes are doing the very best they can given such limited resources. When I watch ITV, I can’t help but think that that SPEED’s guys would cover races so much better if they had the ITV budget at their disposal.

On an even more immature note, here’s Photoshop at its best showing James Allen at the Job Centre – http://www.sniffpetrol.com/2008/03/25/back-with-another-one-of-those-cock-stoppin-beebs/

Exactly. Why more people have not said/cannot see this, I really don’t know.