In the round-up: Lotus bolster their technical team by hiring John Iley.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
“Team Lotus has today confirmed that John Iley, one of the leading aerodynamicists in global motorsport, has joined the team as performance director, heading up all aerodynamics, CFD and related activity for the team and reforming the successful partnership he previously enjoyed with Mike Gascoyne at Jordan and Renault F1.”
Brundle switch to Sky Sports ‘not for money’ (The Independent)
“Martin Brundle yesterday said that money “is not the driver” for his move from the BBC to Sky Sports next season.”
“Truly sorry if you can’t or don’t want to follow me to Sky. I’ll miss you. Today I’m absolutely sure I’ve made right decision for my career.”
BBC considered using same F1 commentary on TV and radio (The Guardian)
“The plan, which would have been hugely controversial and unprecedented in the corporation’s long history of live sports coverage, is understood to have been put forward by the BBC in-house sport department.”
“Many have asked for my opinion on the recent Verstappen article. I’m not really sure I can add anything that hasn’t been said before. I worked with Jos throughout his time at Benetton, strapped him into the B194 for every practice and qualifying session, every race. I enjoyed working with him very much indeed. As to his recent words, when comparing the F1 careers of Schumacher and Verstappen I wonder if the simple explanation for any speed differential twixt the two is merely that Michael was/is the better, more complete driver?”
“Also very sad to see that Romain Grosjean’s chances for F1 is getting worse. He if anyone deserves a F1 race seat!”
Formula One Fantasy – Renault’s Bruno Senna (F1)
“Q: If you could choose one former world champion as your team mate, who would you choose and why?
BS: I would choose my uncle Ayrton [Senna] and try to learn as much as possible from him, as well as drooling a bit over what he could achieve in a qualifying lap.”
Tamara Ecclestone: Formula One heiress calls in police over ‘blackmail plot’ (Daily Telegraph)
“Scotland Yard detectives have launched an investigation into claims the 27 year-old received threats over details relating to her personal life.”
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Comment of the day
Silverkeg on Lotus’s performance this year:
I honestly do not believe we could have expected much more from Lotus this year. They made a dramatic improvement from last year and had a large gap over both Virgin and HRT.
Although they weren’t able to snatch any points and were not competitve with the midfield, there progress and development was strong.
I thing people sometimes forget just how hard it is to be even competitve in F1 these days when they go criticising them for there lack of pace.
Silverkeg
From the forum
- Figuring out the cheapest deal for Sky’s F1 channel in 2012
- Updated list of 2012 IndyCar drivers, teams and engines
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Myles Woerner!
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On this day in F1
The non-championship Rand Grand Prix was held at Kyalami 50 years ago today, and won by Jim Clark.
He pipped Lotus team mate Trevor Taylor by a tenth of a second, with Jo Bonnier completing the podium for Porsche.
James (@jamesf1)
9th December 2011, 0:07
I cant see how in times of cost cutting and money saving that have a dual serving commentary team would be controversial for the BBC? If anything, I’m suprised they didnt do it in 2009 when they first took it on.
Why fly out two commentary teams, with a pit reporter for each (at least), producers and technical teams when you can do the same job with half the people at half the price? It’s common sense. It would have saved a lot of money over the last three years, and perhaps F1 might have been looked on more favourably in the budget reviews at Beeb?
I say do it. It’s common sense. Oh hang on, the Beeb lack that…
Estesark (@estesark)
9th December 2011, 0:36
I disagree – I think there is a need for separate commentary teams. The styles of presentation for radio and television are completely different, and as that Guardian article mentioned, a joint commentary team would either be too descriptive for television, not descriptive enough for radio, or an awkward compromise.
I would say common sense has actually prevailed!
bosyber (@bosyber)
9th December 2011, 10:46
But during the race, the role of pit reporter is audio-only both for radio and for tv, giving extra information on issues that appear, or having interviews with DNF drivers, so there at least it would make sense, to me.
Estesark (@estesark)
9th December 2011, 14:09
Ted Kravitz did report for both radio and TV this season, though both sides additionally employed someone else, respectively Natalie Pinkham and Lee McKenzie.
sato113 (@sato113)
9th December 2011, 12:03
simply fly out one commentary team with one extra commentator who solely does the radio side in a different room. everytime the main commentary team goes live to the pit reporter, the radio commentator does too.
1 team +1 extra
James (@jamesf1)
9th December 2011, 14:35
When watching free practice sessions this year I didnt have any issues with the 5live commentary. Some people during the races and qualifying even switch to 5live commentary. Not only true for this season, but even during the ITV days.
So much money could be saved in personnel and logistical costs here.
You’re right about the styles of presentation, but if it means the viewer having a more detailed explanation, they’re hardly losing out are they?
Icthyes (@icthyes)
9th December 2011, 11:02
Should have gone even further and had the same TV commentary team as Sky, it was theirs to begin with anyway! The way the BBC has approached this (and then squandered their savings) would really baffle me except, you know, it’s the BBC. Absurd and magnificent, rarely in the middle.
egsgeg
10th December 2011, 11:39
I doubt Sky would have let the BBC use their team. Sky need to really dry the BBC out in order to force people to buy Sky.
celeste (@celeste)
9th December 2011, 0:12
Dear Steve Matchett, I think I´m in love with you… or at least with the way you answer questions… @Girlz love is in the air ;)
bosyber (@bosyber)
9th December 2011, 10:50
Yes, a very nice answer, I laughed when I read it. Entirely honest? Well, he always claimed everything was peachy at Benetton when he worked there, I think, so why change now.
Sri
9th December 2011, 0:12
I wonder how comfortably people are sitting at McLaren with key people in design roles leaving at once. Not that it will affect the car in the coming year, but will most certainly have them reeling in may be 2013 (if their luck really sucks)-14(very likely).
Estesark (@estesark)
9th December 2011, 0:26
I think Bruno might regret picking Ayrton as his team-mate after the first race.
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 0:56
Tip to tamara don’t sleep around or break the law and you can’t be blackmailed I guess some things just run in the family…
Oblong_Cheese (@oblong_cheese)
9th December 2011, 3:33
Nothing wrong with sleeping around.
Breaking the law is something else entirely.
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 4:14
Funny for me the prioritys are the otherway round.
James_mc (@james_mc)
9th December 2011, 1:03
I don’t really see the issue with the dual commentary team. Well I do actually. I remember the dislike of Legard’s “x-from-y-from-z” which comes from having to describe what was going on.
However, I remember for years (and I still do it on occasion), watching the 5 (as it was then, now 6) Nations on the television, BBC coverage and muting the TV and turning the radio on as the radio coverage was generally better than the TV. Perhaps because it was more attuned to the serious fan?
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 1:29
I love the way grosjean shows his commitment to f1. Well you know i can take it or leave it, just what i’d expect after 2009. During every f1 race he took part in he started smiling the moment he got…. out of the car that’s the wrong way round…. He spent the build up to his 2009 drive and the winter afterward working in his fathers bank, he doesn’t lack dedication to f1 he lacks dedication to racing entirely he brings shame on the names of prost panis the country of france and all his fans.
John H (@john-h)
9th December 2011, 8:47
Well, I’m guessing at the time he knew something you didn’t.
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 11:58
about accounting? probably doesn’t make him a good driver though
George (@george)
9th December 2011, 17:51
So he lacks dedication, but is still one of the best drivers in the world not in F1. I’d say it’s our loss.
George (@george)
9th December 2011, 17:52
And I really should have read the next article title before I posted that.
I guess it’s our gain :D
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
9th December 2011, 2:22
One of the biggest problem these days are that there are too many good drivers with less money & there are some average drivers with more money,& money is something everyone needs.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
9th December 2011, 22:32
@wasiF1 True. Unfortunately the majority of the talent comes from western Europe where the drivers themselves dilute the market by being too good!
Silverkeg (@silverkeg)
9th December 2011, 2:37
OMG OMG OMG!!! MY first comment of the day…
I would like to thank My family, Formula 1 and of course the fabulous Keith Collantine for this fantastic website.
I believe Martin Brundle when he says it wasn’t about the money, he just doesn’t seem like that kind of guy.
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 2:49
Gratz on the COTD Silver.
Not sure what I make of brundle though the ultimate blame lays at the bbcs feet but he’s been saying some strange things the past week.
Mike (@mike)
9th December 2011, 3:16
Brundle for what its worth, I think honestly cares about us, the fans. For me, he really is gaining the same sort of affection I have for Murry Walker.
It’s nice to have a commentator that really cares about the sport.
Estesark (@estesark)
9th December 2011, 14:14
I also get the impression that Brundle cares about the fans. Whether or not he moved to Sky for the money, I cannot say, but even if he did, I don’t blame him. Considering he was out of contract, he had every right to explore all the options. Given the choice of working for an employer who was making cut-backs and only wanted to fully utilise my work for half of the year, or for an employer who was investing heavily and wanted my full contribution for the whole year, I would choose the latter too. It’s a little disappointing he has gone to Sky, a corporation which doesn’t deserve a lot of affection, but he didn’t have much choice.
Magnificent Geoffrey (@magnificent-geoffrey)
9th December 2011, 8:00
@silverkeg Yeaaah boiiii!
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
9th December 2011, 11:17
And a very worthy COTD, too! :)
Silverkeg (@silverkeg)
9th December 2011, 12:05
If it weren’t for all the spelling mistakes, haha
BasCB (@bascb)
9th December 2011, 20:00
Ha, contratulations with it @silverkeg, you joined a select group of people now!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
9th December 2011, 23:04
@silverkeg Welcome to the club!
I agree, Brundle strikes me as being sincere enough to know where his priorities should lie and I believe that’s with the most consistent coverage. He would simply be wasted at the BBC.
MylesW (@mpw1985)
9th December 2011, 3:01
Yay! Second year in a row I’ve been on the roundup for my birthday. I wait all year to see my name under the “Happy Birthday” section and, admittedly, it feels pretty awesome. Cheers, Keith!
BasCB (@bascb)
9th December 2011, 20:05
Happy Birthday @mpw1985!
Lord Stig (@lord-stig)
9th December 2011, 6:06
I am sure Keith will have an article up shortly but Renault have announced Roman Grosjean will be occupying the second seat. Thus Petrov is out. http://www.lotusrenaultgp.com/8108-Romain-Grosjean-to-race-alongside.html
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 6:32
less than 24 hours after he said he would give up on f1 if no drive this year well done renault you’ve certainly got two “highly motivated” drivers for 2012.
Deurmat (@deurmat)
9th December 2011, 7:06
Goodbye Petrov, Senna sad to see you go. Welcome Grosjean!
celeste (@celeste)
9th December 2011, 7:40
Again…
85q
9th December 2011, 9:46
Brundle will have to change how he works though, he always had a bit of a swagger when on itv/bbc because he was the big cheese in the commentary world.
But Sky is very different, remember the likes of rodney marsh got sacked for saying things not much different martins ‘pikey’ comments.
sky will use him to pull in the viewers then if they feel as such will hang him out to try.
Sky’s race team look sound, all the ex bbc guys. but the presentation team suggest lots of glitz and no substance. They could prove me wrong, but im expecting lots of flashing 3d bars that give next to no information but look pretty.
Funkyf1 (@funkyf1)
9th December 2011, 13:49
Sorry but which one is Team Lotus again??? :)
TheBrav3
9th December 2011, 14:12
Neither of them honestly :P
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
9th December 2011, 15:30
The one in the thumbnail image:
https://www.racefans.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/lotu_kova_suzu_20111-e1323379025369-208×117.jpg
Fixy (@)
9th December 2011, 15:16
Wasn’t Ericsson wrong! Grosjean takes Petrov’s place alogside Raikkonen
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
9th December 2011, 15:29
@Fixy
Indeed! And I notice the copy of Autosport that just landed on my doorstop says “Grosjean prepared to give up on F1 debut”, plus “Vegas track owner expects 2012 race”, when IndyCar have just said it won’t happen.
Not having a go at Autosport, mind, it must be really annoying working on a magazine when a story comes out that contradicts something you’ve already sent to print…
Boomerang
10th December 2011, 16:01
Regardin’ Iley’s departure I’ll say: It’s the best thing for McLaren to happen. They had two seasons in succession when they were troubled by variety of aerodynamics problems at the beggining of the season. It’s difficult not to say that mr. Iley wasn’t responsible for the matter.
Secondly, he left for a team which is no competitor to McLaren at all. Good decision made by Woking guys…
Shimks (@shimks)
11th December 2011, 23:52
Why is John Iley only starting work at Caterham in June 2012? Is he taking a sabbatical?
Sorry if this was previously answered. I don’t have time to read the previous comments today.