And some of it isn’t scream-till-you’re-hoarse hyperbole – there are some great pieces, especially in The Times and The Guardian.

What a contrast it makes with the trash that was written after Monaco. Here are some of the highlights:

“Watching Hamilton as he set about driving away from the best gave me the same feeling as I got when watching [Ayrton] Senna – a sense of man utterly serene in his sense of his own destiny, a certainty that victory is inevitable, that life really can’t work itself out in any other way.” Simon Barnes, The Times

“The grandson of an immigrant from Grenada stood on the threshold of becoming a 21st century icon.” Tony Brooks, Daily Express

“They say after a first win the floodgates open. Lewis Hamilton’s rivals had better man the lifeboats.” Kevin Garside, The Daily Telegraph

“The national anthem blared and tears were wept as Lewis Hamilton drove into history.” Jonathan McEvoy, Daily Mail

“Hamilton drove serenely on in pursuit of his odyssey, and he did so under the presiding ghost of Gilles Villeneuve, the most iconic and possibly the fastest racing driver of all, to take an eight-point lead in the drivers’ championship.” Paul Weaver, The Guardian

“Hamilton drove with metronomic consistency.” James Allen, The Financial Times

“The Hamilton Express has arrived and Andy Murray is going to to have to win Wimbledon to displace him as Britain’s sporting sensation of the year.” Edward Gorman, The Times

“Like such great champions as Juan Manuel Fangio and Jim Clark, in whose tyre tracks he appears destined to follow, he has clearly decided that the least problematic way to win a race is from the front.” Richard Williams, The Guardian

“Super Brit Hamilton, 22, clinched victory in an incident-packed Canadian Grand Prix — and immediately set his sights on the world title.” Michael Spearman, The Sun

“It took Tony Brooks four races to win a grand prix, Jackie Stewart eight. And now, Lewis Hamilton six. Assuredly, this is only the start for the new world championship leader.” David Tremayne, The Independent.

“ITV1′s failure to cover qualifying live suggests their commitment to Hamilton and sport is as paper thing as a piece of paper bearing the latest ratings.” Alan Fraser, Daily Mail

Related links

• Canadian Grand Prix 2007 review – Hamilton wins in Canadian carnage
• Outrage over McLaren ‘team orders’
• ITV lying about Lewis
• Our Lewis

Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport

Michael Schumacher won admirers among even his sternest critics for his measured response to a heartbreaking late retirement. But quite a few sources have attested to how many people in the media centre were cheering when his Ferrari began belching smoke.

Find out more about what the papers said in this week’s media review.

Headline	Smoke signals pointing in Alonso’s direction Schumacher focuses energies on constructors’ title
They say	“Fernando Alonso has been through a lot in the past four months and he must have wondered whether the gods had it in for him.”
We say	Missing from several analyses of the race was how Alonso had suffered plenty of misfortune in past races this year.
Verdict

Headline	‘Content’ Schumacher concedes title to Alonso after engine failure From hero to zero, Schumacher’s hopes are suddenly blown Brawn bemoans luck as inquest into Ferrari engine failure begins Interlagos scrapyard offers German a shred of chance
They say	“Interlagos is bumpy, ill-kempt and rather shabby… deep down Schumacher will know he still has an outside chance.”
We say	Quite a few writers picked up on the Brazilian circuit’s reputation for unreliability and used it to underline the fact that the championship isn’t over.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher ready to concede title after Japan blow-up McLaren test Hamilton for Brazil GP
They say	“Alonso took a big risk overtaking Jarno Trulli’s Toyota at the first corner, and later the Renault driver outfoxed Trulli’s team mate Ralf Schumacher.”
We say	Not that viewers saw the latter move live because the TV director senselessly cut away. The Times had some words to say about the fact that ITV missed the Schumacher retirement too.”
Verdict

Headline	Honour in defeat for Schumacher Alonso soars to deserved break Brazil just the place for talea of the unexpected Fisichella mourns his closest friend
They say	“Michael Schumacher undid a thousand wrongs in Japan yesterday by accepting the cruellest of fates in a manner that would have done a Corinthian proud.”
We say	He was gracious – but has he really given up on the title? Don’t be so sure…
Verdict

Headline	It’s Al yours Waster Kimi rapped
They say	“Frank Williams… wants Raikkonen to learn lifestyle lessons from family man Michael Schumacher when he replaces the seven-time world champion next season and cut out the partying.”
We say	I see his point, but really, I don’t think Raikkonen needs to be any more boring…
Verdict

Headline	Alonso’s title as Schuey goes up in smoke Over to you, mate
They say	“Alonso turned up for the Japanese Grand Prix complaining the entire world – including his own team – were out to stop him.”
We say	I wasn’t convinced by those stories..
Verdict

Headline	It’s over, says Schu
They say	“The serial winner, ultimate racer and pantomime villain simply said: ‘For me, the drivers’ championship is over.’ Simple arithmetic tells you that it is not.”
We say	Except that with a pantomime villain the crowd always shouts, “he’s behind you”…
Verdict

Headline	Schu is happy to admit defeat
They say	“Michael Schumacher finally achieved grace at the most painful point of his career.”
We say	More A1 Grand Prix coverage in the Express this week as well.
Verdict

Headline	All yours Fernando Renault taste Flavio of justice
They say	“Schumacher will almost certainly carry with him memories of the bitterest disappointment of 11 years at Maranello.”
We say	He’ll pull out all the stops to avoid that in Interlagos.
Verdict

Headline	My title bid is finished – Schuey Button: We’re a fourth to be reckoned with Alonso thanks his lucky stars Smoke signals end for Schumacher Ferrari to fight on
They say	“Schumacher can only steal the title if he takes the chequered flag at Suzuka and Alonso fails to score.”
We say	It would be the closest championship finish ever if he did. A similar situation occured in the Indy Racing League this year, so it’s not impossible.
Verdict

Related links

• More ‘spin’ off the track for Alonso
• Japanese Grand Prix 2006 review
• Motor Racing Journal: Justice (external)

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Headline	Schumacher a master in the art of revival Button proves his prowess in the wet with bold finish
They say	“The race had earlier witnessed an impressive exhibition of seat-of-the-pants driving by Kimi Raikkonen.”
We say	Good to see Raikkonen get a rare mention.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher rolls on as tyre trouble weakens Alonso’ grip on title Teutonic sense of humour leaves rivals looking glum
They say	“Michael Schumacher deployed every ounce of his genius and commitment to draw level with Alonso in the battle for the World Champoinship.”
We say	Strangely, the guy who dropped one of Alonso’s wheel nuts didn’t merit a mention.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher in pole position as Alonso runs into trouble
They say	“If Giancarlo Fisichella’s performance in China yesterday was a guide, Renault are going to be in trouble in 2007.”
We say	Too right. Not that Felipe Massa was necessarily any better, though.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher on the verge of history Renault error opens door for Schumacher Alonso’s team still confident of victory
They say	“Renault team principal Flavio Briatore raged at the gods and the officials in Italy three weeks agoat the treatment handed down to his team by fate and the stewards..”
We say	The irony was lost on no-one.
Verdict

Headline	“I’m the oldest driver in F1 but fortunately I’m not the slowest” Honda ‘fix’ fury
They say	“Move of race: Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher cut it fine as he took to the grass to overtake Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella on lap 41.”
We say	Nah – some of Robert Kubica’s were much better. Fisichella couldn’t have made it much easier for Schumacher.
Verdict

Headline	Lead role for Schu as Alonso fluffs his title lines
They say	“Was this the day the champion’s dream of a second title slipped away?”
We say	Alonso fluffed nothing – it was his pit crew.
Verdict

Headline	Schu just over the moon
They say	“‘I had a moment,’ said Fisichella, ‘It was difficult at turn one.’ Big wages, big experience, big mistake!”
We say	Thumbs up for covering the A1 Grand Prix season-opener too.
Verdict

Headline	Schu’s gotta lotta bottle Honda silence the Chinese whispers
They say	“To be fair to the Spaniard there was only one type of weather – drying track – that favoured Schumacher’s tyres and the gods delivered it yesterday,.”
We say	Who’s to say Schumacher didn’t have more dry-weather pace and wasn’t just coasting his Ferrari home?
Verdict

Headline	Frustrated Alonso let down by tyres Masterly Schuey’s class act in China Button happy with late charge
They say	“Takuma Sato was disqualified following the Chinese Grand Prix after ignoring blue flags and blocking faster cars during the race.”
We say	Ironically, given the accusations of collusion between Super Aguri and Honda, this story was illustrated with a picture of Sato from last year, when he raced for Honda…
Verdict

Formula One should get this much coverage every Grand Prix weekend…

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Headline	Schumacher pulls over for charity Schumacher walks away with win Schumacher heads for the exit with one last drivers’ title in his sights Schumacher legend will be tainted by mistakes No sport has seen a harder worker than man who got Ferrari in shape
They say	“He has kept celebrity magazines at arm’s length and his donations would have gone almost unnoticed but for research by BusinessF1 magazine. They found that Schumacher had contributed to the building of hospitals, orphanages and schools.”
We say	James Allen concludes his piece: “Will history revere his prowess or judge his harshly for his weaknesses? I think the former.”
Verdict

Headline	World championship fixed, say Briatore Schumacher win brings eighth and final title closer New role at Ferrari in the offing Virtuoso and villain, this champion combined cheap tactics with raw genius
They say	“He overstayed his welcome by a year, maybe two.”
We say	The Guardian gave prominence to the Renault backlash
Verdict

Headline	Flawed genius Schumacher calls yime on brilliant career Alonso’s grip on title weakened after Ferrari win Gifted and ruthless soulf of Formula One, where winning, fair or foul, is everything ‘He’s been the author of a unique chapter in the history of Formula One’
They say	“There was a subtle but perceptible cooling of Schumacher’s elation when he was embraced by the Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo. This inevitably triggered fresh suspicion that Schumacher had been made fretful by the Italian team’s rush to sign Kimi Raikkonen.”
We say	It has a credible ring, but it will be some time before anyone knows if it is true. He certainly had no compunction about snuggling up to Raikkonen on the podium.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher exits at peak of his powers Tifosi pay homage to their German master Hamilton on course for F1
They say	“Even in his home town of Krakow, Kubica’s momentous performance was a footnote on a day as portentous as this.”
We say	As the old generation departs, the new breed take over.
Verdict

Headline	A golden goodbye Lewis passes toughest test Row
They say	“The hottest talent in motorsport picked up £66,000 after becoming the first Brit since Justin Wilson in 2001 to win the F1 feeder series crown.”
We say	That’s not Fernando Alonso or Michael Schumacher, of course – That’s Lewis Hamilton.
Verdict

Headline	Schuey quits in triumph
They say	“Schumacher said he took the decision to retire after winning at Indianapolis in July.”
We say	Intriguingly, that was when he first looked like winning the title…
Verdict

Headline	Goodbye from him Triumphant to the last Hamilton lined up to partner Alonso
They say	“The Spaniard, who retired with an engine failure, said: ‘I don’t consider Formula One to be a sport any longer’. On another day, that would have been some story.”
We say	It was no fit of pique though – he was standing by his remarks this morning.
Verdict

Headline	Schuey to go out at top Emotions spill over for Schuey “Winning here was amazing” Hamilton waiting
They say	“His desire to win has always been chased closely by a fear of losing and a love of his family.”
We say	The Express gave it the most meagre coverage – one page, scarcely any more than usual.
Verdict

Headline	Bubbly & strife Walker: he is great survivor
They say	“In reality the German was undecided and Ferrari railroaded him into a decision by signing Kimi Raikkonen.”
We say	The Mirror ‘predicted’ Shumacher’s retirement on September 7th.
Verdict

Headline	Now is the right time to go, says Schuey Schuey: I can’t be another also-ran Briatore fumes at ‘fixed title race’
They say	“Ninety wins into his career, Micael Schumacher has decide to quit.”
We say	I always thought he’d make it past one hundred. But for 2005, he probably would have.
Verdict

More on the biggest F1 story for the nationals this year in our media review.
Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Headline	113th time lucky for the boy racer (cover) Button ends long wait to find formula for success Swashbuckling Briton breaks his duck in breathtaking style Unfulfilled talent finally manages to silence his critics
They say	“A superb demonstration of seat-of-the-pants driving in dangerous and difficult conditions where Button’s skill was for once more important than the relative speed of his car.”
We say	Formula One must give drivers to demonstrate those skills in every race.
Verdict

Headline	Victory for Button (cover) Button holds nerve to win first Grand Prix Button’s classical style comes to the front at last Schumacher edges closer in weekend of drama
They say	“Now the pressure – to repeat the win on a day when his rivals do not play into his hands.”
We say	And to do everything in his power to ensure that next year’s Honda is not a lemon.
Verdict

Headline	Button shines to beat ifs, buts and all-comers
They say	“It was a goulash of a race that Fernando Alonso should have, and Pedro de la Rosa might have won.”
We say	What about Kimi Raikkonen, Giancarlo Fisichella or Rubens Barrichello? But bonus point for unconventional use of the word’ goulash’.
Verdict

Headline	113th time lucky Button savours the ‘wow factor’ of first win Wet weather and tyre tactics dictate an extaordinary race Talent finally given its due as tears flow
They say	“Just as Heidfeld finally appeared to have made a move stick, however, Schumacher slowed. ‘A track rod broke as Heidfeld went past,’ he said, as though it were a product of divine intervention rather than collateral damage.”
We say	Couldn’t help laughing at that!
Verdict

Headline	Jenson on the Button at last I’m so numb with joy
They say	“He’s already an 8-1 shot to be voted the BBC’s sports personality of the year.”
We say	Call me cynical but I don’t think it wuld be the highlight of his year.
Verdict

Headline	After 112 races and six years of failure… Jenson’s done it! Wonderboy a winner Now we can all fall in love with playboy Jenson Moment of glory brings out the cowgirl in Louise
They say	“Anthony Hamilton, the Honda test driver and team-mate of Button, added his slant on proceedings. ‘Yes, yes, yes, ‘ he declared. ‘I can’t believe I was in the commentary box for this. Martin Brundle, what have you done?’”
We say	Anthony Hamilton? And ‘Six years of failure’?
Verdict

Headline	After 113 races, six and a half years, 17,681, 5,836 laps… I’VE WON Well done my Jenson Button long wait over Partying with tea in China The tradition of great Brits
They say	“While the other drivers had their dramas, Button was flawless, faultless and utterly brilliant.”
We say	Nice headline – not that they’ve been counting or anything…
Verdict

Headline	On the Button Button has extra hoarse power Dream some true for the eight year-old Jenson: At last I’ve won
They say	“Schumacher got the last laugh after driving brilliantly when his tyres were worn smooth at the end. And it was only a broken part which made the Ferrari undriveable.”
We say	Think the Telegraph (above) saw through that one…
Verdict

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Headline	Schumacher hands out fresh blow to Alonso
They say	“The day could have turned out a lot better for [Raikkonen] had not a jammed rear wheel nut delayed his first stop”
We say	I don’t think he could have challenged the Ferraris.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher takes his title challenge up a gear as chapion falters
They say	“Both title contenders were wrong-footed in their attempts to take the top spot on the starting grid. Raikkonen, his silver McLaren dancing from kerb to kerb, came from nowhere to finish 0.2s faster than Schumacher.”
We say	But that was down to nothing but Raikkonen having ten laps’ less fuel on board than Schumacher – qualifying was entertaining but somewhat contrived.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher win leaves worried Alonso looking in rear-view window
They say	“At this rate Michael Schumacher and Ferrari will be heading the world championships by their home race in Monza in September.”
We say	If not sooner.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher accelerates his retirement chase Button finds cure in racy sojourn
They say	“Button even pledged to shed the beard he has been cultivating… no bad thing.”
We say	Hear, hear.
Verdict

Headline	It’s a Schu in Button at the front
They say	“Button, 26, dropped from fourth to sixth at the start but powered his way past BOTH Renault drivers.”
We say	Not that we saw much of that on ITV, but more of that later.
Verdict

Headline	It’s time for Schu final lap
They say	“Michael Schumacher’s manager last night insisted he should quite Formula One if he ends the season with an eighth drivers’ title.”
We say	So that’s what the headline meant.
Verdict

Headline	Super Schu hot on Alonso’s tail Oops! German TV takes finger off the Button.
They say	“Britain’s much-maligned finest deserves some sympathy that on a day when he fund himself whizzing past just about everyone… ITV missed most of what could have become rare footage.”
We say	The race direction (which isn’t ITV’s responsibility, as the article later states) wasn’t great. As for Button being ‘much-maligned’ – that’s mainly in the pages of the Mail!
Verdict

Headline	Schuey’s going to win the title then quit F1 Button’s back in business
They say	“This was another victory for a man with a superior car and a team mate, Felipe Massa, who has already admitted it is his job to finish second.”
We say	When you put it that way, it doesn’t make F1 look very good.
Verdict

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Headline	No face lane in Schumacher show
They say	“A consummate display [by Schumacher] at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, abetted by the canniness of Massa.”
We say	Canniness? Servitude.
Verdict

Headline	Button’s nightmare continues as Ferrari dominate
They say	“The race proved to be a demonstration run for the two Ferraris… [the] event only marginally less processional than the six car fiasco which was dominated with similar ease by the famous Italian team 12 months ago.”
We say	This piece was particularly difficult to find among the football coverage.
Verdict

Headline	Perfect weekend for football fan Schumacher
They say	“It was clear all weekend that Bridgestone had the stronger tyre.”
We say	The championship hinges on whether it was a one-off or a turning point.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher in the picture again after Alonso trails in
They say	“When the force is with him, Michael Schumacher proved as adept as Zinedine Zidane.”
We say	The Telegraph reached for the football analogies last week too!
Verdict

Headline	Schuey ain’t finished yet
They say	“Red Bull gives you wings… Red Bull’s Christian Klien takes flight during the first-corner shunt.”
We say	I wonder if they ration how often they let themselves use that pun.
Verdict

Headline	Schuey cuts to the chase
They say	“[Schumacher's] hopes of a repeat victory were looking dodgy as Massa continued to hold him off.”
We say	Yeah. Right.
Verdict

Headline	High-five Schu back on track
They say	“Nothing could match the significance of an incident-strewn afternoon in helping to sell Formula One to the mega-money market place of America.”
We say	Really most of the race was quite dull and uneventful.
Verdict

Headline	Schu’s catching up
They say	“Publicly, Michelin denied adopting a conservative approach this year but few doubted Bridgestone and Ferrari came to Indy with moe scope to push the envelope.”
We say	That was they key to the race.
Verdict

Headline	A schu-nited states win!
They say	“The first bend resembled a wreckers yard.”
We say	Not much to report on from this disappointingly brief piece.
Verdict

Headline	Schumacher holds his nerve as first-lap crash wipes out field
They say	“Massa, celebrating his best result in Formula One, led until the first set of pit stops.”
We say	Another short piece – thoroughly relegated to second place by their coverage of the Donington Park Moto GP.
Verdict

So what did we think of the little there was? Read on to find out.

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport

Headline	Peerless Alonso proves streets ahead yet again
They say	“Alonso did not even require the help of Giancarlo Fisichella, his Renault team-mate, who had been expected to hold up the field while the reigning world champion shot off from pole, only to make a complete hash of Flavio Briatore’s plan at the first available opportunity. But then Alonso is so good that he does not need favours from friends.”
We say	Sounds like a guarded stab at Schumacher
Verdict

Headline	Alonso holds off Schumacher in tough battle
They say	“The first safety car came after Juan Pablo Montoya tipped rookie Nico Rosberg into a shunt on the second lap.”
We say	Couldn’t disagree more with the placing of blame there.
Verdict

Headline	Alonso wins final sprint to line after crash interrupts Canadrian cruise
They say	“To confound [Kimi Raikkonen]‘s disappointment, MIchael Schumacher forced his Ferrari past the McLaren-Mercedes on the penultimate lap.”
We say	You have to say Raikkonen didn’t seem all that bothered afterwards.
Verdict

Headline	Alonso makes it four in a row
They say	“Alonso is as adept as England’s footballers at draping a wet blanket over a spectacle. The difference is in the manner of delivery.”
We say	If Alonso were a football team, he’d be Brazil.
Verdict

Headline	Done ‘n duested: Alonso cleans up again
They say	“Fernando Alonso was gifted victory in the Canadian Grand Prix after Kimi Raikkonen’s pit-stop calamity.”
We say	If Raikkonen had gone into the second stint ahead of Alonso, that would have been some battle.
Verdict

Headline	Alonso so cool
They say	“With his rear-gunner [Fisichella] cut adrift, Alonso was in the sights of Raikkonen.”
We say	Renault had said before the race that their drivers were free to race each other.
Verdict

Headline	Alonso set to join magnificent seven
They say	“So much for Ferrari’s pre-race optimism that they could loosen Renault’s hold on the championship. So much for Michael Schumacher’s record seven victories on this gruelling circuit.So much for any lingering chance of a genuine contest for motor racing’s greatest crown.”
We say	How was that not a genuine contest?
Verdict

Headline	Alonso dirty work keeps him on track
They say	“The Spaniard showed why he and Renault have proved so unbeatable so far this season in stifling heat and atrocious track conditions.”
We say	Strange choice of headline
Verdict

Headline	Alonso holds all aces after another flier
They say	“Button had more bad news when Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn warned the 26-year-old he is three years from reaping the benefit of technical director Geoff Willis being replaced by new man Shuhei Nakamoto.”
We say	I thought that was an odd remark from Brawn – Williams dropped Willis in ’02 and the next year won a brace of races and have been champions. Technical continuity isn’t all down to one man these days.
Verdict

Headline	Alonso is too hot to handle in Montreal
They say	“Fisichella overcame a drive-through penalty to take fourth.”
We say	It seemed to me he was fifth after the penalty, so he didn’t do all that much ‘overcoming’. He was around three-quarters of a second off Alonso’s pace much of the time.
Verdict

Qualifying will be live on digital channel ITV4 at 6pm on Saturday. It will be repeated on ITV1 at 00.45am. The race will be live on digital channel ITV2 at 5pm on Sunday. Only highlights will be shown on ITV1, at 1am on Monday morning. Large number of British television viewers do not have or cannot get digital reception.

Surprisingly the scheduling is nothing to do with the coincidence of the football World Cup. ITV1 are showing news and You’ve Been Framed (a home video clips programme) while the qualifying is on and the 1971 film Fiddler on the Roof during the race – hardly unavoidable clashes.

ITV have repeatedly let British Formula One fans down by missing out several minutes of each race to show advertisements (notoriously during the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix) and often fail to show sessions live (including this year during the Malaysian Grand Prix).

If you would like to complain to ITV you can contact them as follows:

• Telephone: 0870 600 6766
• E-mail: dutyoffice@itv.com
• Post: Duty Office, Gas Street, Birmingham, B1 2JT

Related links

• ITV1 Schedule, 25th June 2006 (external)
• ITV drop live qualifying
• Accolade for ITV’s Brundle
• San Marino Grand Prix 2005 Media Review

Tags f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport / itv / world cup

The Guardian picked Heikki Kovalainen, Renault’s test driver whom Nico Rosberg narrowly beat to the GP2 title last year. Kovalainen’s conventional racing credentials are strong (2004 World Series by Renault Champion, second in GP2 in 2005) but he is also well-remembered for knocking Michael Schumacher out of the 2004 Race of Champions at the Stade de France. “It wasn’t a serious event really, just a fun weekend where some Formula One drivers happened to be around,” he said.

British hope Lewis Hamilton features in the Independent. He is heir to Rosberg’s mantle at the ART team in GP2 and was the darling of the home crowd at Silverstone this year. Not surprisingly for the ‘Indie’, they took a look at motor sports’ admittedly dismal record of participation among non-whites. Both articles are worth a peek.

Related links

• The Guardian: Precocious Finn first in the race to succeed Alonso (external)
• Independent: Will Lewis Hamilton be the next Briton to win the World Drivers’ Championship? (external)

Tags: f1 / formula one / grand prix / motor sport