Formula One

[Ibbie]

If Hamilton had any balls, in view of his stances on many fronts, he would refuse to drive his Merc until they remove the clading company advertising.

[CharlieOneSix]

In the UK Channel 4 will now cover the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live from 1255 Sunday.

[OFSO]

Is it just me or are the commentators on UK TV becoming more and more hysterical? I was hoping yesterday that they have their man-Pampers on.

[Pinky the pilot]

OFSO; The commentators everywhere are becoming more hysterical to the point where, one day one of them in working himself (or herself) into a lather describing the scene in way-over-the-top superlatives, will have a massive Coronary!

For those Aussies reading who may remember the old Hardie Ferodo Bathurst 1000 finish where Alan Moffatt and teammate Colin Bond ran the last lap down Con-Rod straight side by side, can you remember the calm, dulcet tone of commentator Evan Green along with Will Hagon in describing the scene?

I wonder how the hysterical mob would do it now?

Btw; Hope the visiting Cat will be ok. I feel kinda sorry for it.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Is it just me or are the commentators on UK TV becoming more and more hysterical? I was hoping yesterday that they have their man-Pampers on.

I find the current crop of presenters from all channels, in the modern era, either banal or irritating. David Coulthard and Mark Webber (he is not a well known make of barbecue) are particularly egregious, being both boring and self-satisfied!

Looking back at the past, Murray Walker had a pants on fire style, and became genuinely excited, but he was never hysterical and was extremely knowledgeable. I know I am showing my age but I enjoyed Walker and Hunt who were the perfect foils for each other. RIP both!




The truth is that Murray was a genuine enthusiast of all kinds of motor racing...

[Pontius Navigator]

The ability to raise your voice, speak rapidly and talk bollocks.

[4mastacker]

Is it just me or are the commentators on UK TV becoming more and more hysterical? I was hoping yesterday that they have their man-Pampers on.

Not only that but there seems to be an increasing number who can't speak properly and keep dropping letters off the beginning/end of the words they are uttering - kickin', runnin', 'igher, etc. There was some bint on Football Focus yesterday who was talking like that - Fara somebody or other trying to copy the other woman footballer box ticker Alex Scott.

[Boac]

Yes, Sir. Bring back 2LO (857 kHz) and bow-ties.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Yes, Sir. Bring back 2LO (857 kHz) and bow-ties.

Goodness gracious Boac! Are you really that old?

I agree that the deletion of the voiceless glottal fricative, or "h dropping" is to be abhorred! Raymond Baxter didn't do it and nor should anybody else!

[G-CPTN]

Well that was a controversial finish.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Well that was a controversial finish.

Indeed!

[Boac]

Goodness gracious Boac! Are you really that old?

Do you mean -"Were you known as the 'Cat's Whisker'"?

[TheGreenGoblin]

Goodness gracious Boac! Are you really that old?

Do you mean -"Were you known as the 'Cat's Whisker'"?

I think that you are is "crystal clear!"

[Groundgripper]

who can't speak properly and keep dropping letters off the beginning/end of the words they are uttering - kickin', runnin', 'igher, etc.

Generally referred to as 'Estuary English', I believe, as to be heard in the area of the Thames Estuary along with that other favourite, the 'glottal stop'.

GG

[PHXPhlyer]

Quite the shocking start and finish!

PP

[Boac]

An amazing season and I think the whole 'running' of F1 needs looking at, particularly in the 'race direction' box.

The problem, as I see it, of any Mercedes appeal is that if the 'win' by Verstappen is declared null and void because of the Safety Car fandango, then they go back to equal points, when Verstappen wins the WC as the holder of more race victories. Well!!

I think the only fair solution would be to declare the race 'ended' at the Safety Car when it all went 'bizarre'.

[CharlieOneSix]

If Latifi hadn't crashed then Hamilton would have won. Before the accident Verstappen wasn't catching Hamilton fast enough to overtake him in the remaining laps. What followed was a farce. They need to change the rules so the pit lane is closed whilst a safety car is deployed plus back runners should not be allowed to overtake the safety car. Just what did the latter achieve apart from a farce of a victory for Verstappen. The moment a safety car is actioned should result in a freezing of track position until the safety car leaves the track. Simples!

[PHXPhlyer]

Agreed.

PP

[Boac]

Yes, but the idea of allowing lapped cars to clear is so that on restart the leaders do not have a mass of slow moving metal in front of them so they can 'race'. I'd go with pit lane closure.

The only other option I see is to allow 'blue flag' overtakes under the safety car, but that could get mighty confusing. The way the R Director conducted this SC was bizarre! It looks as if Mercedes had calculated that clearance of the wreckage AND unlapping the cars would take until the end of the race thereby giving Hamilton the win, to be buggered by the RD's strange reversal of rules.

[CharlieOneSix]

Mercedes appeals rejected. Verstappen confirmed as World Champion.