Formula 1 2018

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Fernando Alonso Video Tweet]

 

Dear F1 .....

 

Fernando announces that there are 'other bigger challenges' than Formula 1 can offer.

[Norphy]

I find it hard to blame him really. McLaren bodged it with Honda and they haven’t improved enough with Renault. I think I’d probably do the same in his position.

 

I would say that he deserves better, his talent certainly does, but I can understand why the other teams wouldn’t want to touch him with a bargepole.

[bald_pig]

From the beeb... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45188028

 

It's sad to see him go, but he won't be the first to move to Indycar. I can see him returning after a few seasons there.

[mikeprice]

Pity he's going but no surprise - he has been wandering round unable to compete properly for years

 

only fun he got in many races was messing up Vettel at every opportunity - gotta respect him for that!!!

 

His talent is obvious - any series that he goes to will be lucky to get him!

[FN-GM]

It's a shame he is going. I have stopped watching it really. It was much better before they banned re-fuling.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

What would have/could have been had he stayed at Ferrari.. I mean he lost out to Vettel by 4 points in 2010 and then 3 points in 2012 and at Mclaren during Lewis's 1st year he lost out by 1 point to Kimi in 2007. Realistically he could have been a 5 times F1 World Champ and if he'd stayed at Ferrari instead of switching back to Mclaren he'd have been in with a chance last year and this year. I look forward to watching him in Indy Cars though.

[mikeprice]

Just heard on the Channel 4 Qual coverage

 

F! 2019 will still be covered by Channel 4 - but 20 highlights programmes and 1 live - Silverstone

 

Announced as a great thing - actually a downward step from the current 10 live to only 1 live!

[6Foot2]

Just heard on the Channel 4 Qual coverage

 

F! 2019 will still be covered by Channel 4 - but 20 highlights programmes and 1 live - Silverstone

 

Announced as a great thing - actually a downward step from the current 10 live to only 1 live!

Not sure how else they might announce it. But yeah, not good news.

 

[mikeprice]

Also noted that is seems to be an agreement for 2019

no mention of a 5 year deal or anything - so it may be the start of a slow decline to force people over to Sky

[6Foot2]

...so it may be the start of a slow decline to force people over to Sky

Nope. Not free to air, or part of my tv/phone/broadband/media package? Not watching it.

 

Clarification: We just take a simple TV package deal from Virgin, no special interest channels, no movie packages etc.

[jmak]

I'm interested - I like the speed, the skill and the technology - but don't very often find the races engaging enough to watch all the way through. I find the "official" YouTube highlights enough - usually about 10 minutes long. Definitely not worth paying a subscription for.

[mikeprice]

Like most things - once you watch it for a while it become a bit like a Coronation Street - you can see the characters come out and you see nuances that you missed before - then it becomes more interesting even if a race is a bit processional

 

I find the same with the Tour De France - I can even watch most of the 6 hour live version and be interested and that can be even more processional as once a breakaway has left the main field then nothing chances for the next 4 hours!!

 

maybe I'm just weird

[tg12]

Just heard on the Channel 4 Qual coverage

 

F! 2019 will still be covered by Channel 4 - but 20 highlights programmes and 1 live - Silverstone

 

Announced as a great thing - actually a downward step from the current 10 live to only 1 live!

 

In fairness, I think it’s being promoted as a good thing because Channel 4’s contract with F1 ends at the end of 2018, so this is more than they were originally going to have. Sounds like Sky have cut them a deal.

[mikeprice]

I'm just worried as F1 is the only thing on Sky Sports that I would want - and I don't want to pay for all the other stuff when I don't want it

 

Still - I like the C4 shows better than Sky and that with highlights is still better than sky

[bald_pig]

We're looking at now TV for just the F1 weekends, but tbh I'm fine with the highlights.

[mikeprice]

The only problem with the highlights shows is the last of practice on TV

 

TBH - reducing the practice to just maybe highlights would be fine by me - pictures fo an empty track for 20 mins is not gripping viewing - but I would still like to see something

 

- oh - and - can you get sky sports on Now TV??

(yes - I know - but I've not really looked at Now much)

[bald_pig]

The only problem with the highlights shows is the last of practice on TV

 

TBH - reducing the practice to just maybe highlights would be fine by me - pictures fo an empty track for 20 mins is not gripping viewing - but I would still like to see something

 

- oh - and - can you get sky sports on Now TV??

(yes - I know - but I've not really looked at Now much)

 

Yup, not particularly cheap though!

https://www.nowtv.com/watch-sky-sports-online

[Spookyville]

Refuse to pay sky's extortionate fees. This year I have tried cherry picking the non live races and utilising some free NOW TV passes we acquired during recent promotions such as the Pringles one or the McD's Monopoly. Not sure I'll be able to find 20 free passes for next year!

[mikeprice]

Refuse to pay sky's extortionate fees. This year I have tried cherry picking the non live races and utilising some free NOW TV passes we acquired during recent promotions such as the Pringles one or the McD's Monopoly. Not sure I'll be able to find 20 free passes for next year!

 

Hmmm

 

so - eat Pringles and McDonalds and get free live F1

 

sounds like a plan

[Spookyville]

Sure was. Not ideal for everyone granted. The Pringle offer was in Tesco when it was running - 2 tubes of offer marked tubes ( £1 per tube) = Now TV Pass of your choosing. So a massive saving on Sky. No doubt with the price Comcast are paying prices are only going to up further.

[jthompson]

I'll wait until a first-party streaming service becomes available in the UK before considering spending any money to watch it. I fully expect such a service to start out as pretty dire, though. I've watched F1 for years, but not prepared to get Sky.

 

A month of Eurosport Player each June just to get Le Mans is good value for money and works really well. I'd welcome an equivalent proposition for F1.

[sonofsanta]

Well this is exciting. I was a big fan of Kubica first time round, and reckon he could have been a world champion at Ferrari if things had gone another path.

 

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/kubica-williams-race-deal-2019/4301134/

[bald_pig]

I've posted a poll ahead of the 2019 fantasy f1:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/behind-red-door/204538-f1-2019-fantasy-league-vote.html

[bald_pig]

2019 thread:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/204539-formula-1-2019-a.html

[bald_pig]

Voting for this years league closes tomorrow:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/behind-red-door/204538-f1-2019-fantasy-league-vote.html