F1 2011

[RichC]

It was a great race in the end, I was tearing my hair out with the safety cars and red flag. Let's just hope the stewards don't wreck the race after everyone's packed up like they did with Belgium a I also hope this prompts Hamilton to have a long, hard look at himself. He had a ****ing entourage in the pits with him. He's dazzled with celeb culture just now. Button was like that all through his 20's, but he grew up. Time for Lewis to do the same (and drop that dodgy bird of his...)

yeah you can see him giving her the elbow can't you

Button was superb, forced the error from Vettel in the last lap and well deserved the win - ****ing brilliant.

Lewis was unlucky today, he pushes the limit too much and needs to learn when to wait his time a bit more but good to see him clapping and appreciating the Button win.

[mick the click]

JB had an inspiring race. An outrageous win.

Hamilton needs to sort his head out. Senna and Schumy were both bullies (and the best) and took people out to make a point - but Hamilton's beginning to look like a prat.

[BobTheCharmer]

very good win for button. but drs ruins is for me. schumacher is in 3rd and driving the arse off the car and is powerless to stop webber overtaking. so the better faster car gets by oh so easily whilst the skill of the driver is nulified. I accept DRS has helped at some venues to eject excitement but it wasn't required today.

[Assassin]

LAUDA FEARS HAMILTON TRAGEDY


Three-times Formula One world champion Niki Lauda believes Lewis Hamilton will end up killing someone on a race track if he does not calm down.

As in the Monaco Grand Prix a fortnight ago, Hamilton was involved in two accidents in Sunday's rain-hit Canadian Grand Prix.

In wet conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, after running into Mark Webber and sending the Australian spinning, Hamilton then collided with McLaren team-mate Jenson Button.

It was the first serious incident between the duo, with Hamilton attempting to overtake Button around the outside along the start-finish straight heading into lap eight.

Button, however, took the racing line and squeezed Hamilton against the pit wall, resulting in a puncture to the left-rear tyre and eventual retirement.

The stewards are due to investigate the incident after the race, which will be Hamilton's sixth visit to the four-man panel in seven races.

For the safety of other drivers, Lauda believes the FIA have to punish Hamilton to teach him a lesson.

Speaking on German television station RTL during his commentary, Lauda said: "What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries.

"He is completely mad. If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more.

"At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this as it will result in someone getting killed."

[Buzzo]

Absolutely stunning race, it had everything.

Was totally made up it was delayed as I thought I would miss it due to taking the family round to my folks for dinner. Sunday night 8-10 is the perfect time for sport!!!

Amazing driving from Button and Webber, both of whom had to do some proper racing to get themselves on the podium. Also, first sign of a crack from Vettell who under some serious pressure from Button finally showed some nerves. Just awesome form Button, coming from P21 to win was fantastic to watch - as stated for me these 2 are the most exciting drivers in the field.

Hamilton: agree with everything posted here, he needs to stop acting like the big I am, and get back to concentrating on his driving. He is driving badly just now and seems to need to concentrate on the fundamentals. Needs a boot up his arse...

[Kenneth]

LAUDA FEARS HAMILTON TRAGEDY


Three-times Formula One world champion Niki Lauda believes Lewis Hamilton will end up killing someone on a race track if he does not calm down.

As in the Monaco Grand Prix a fortnight ago, Hamilton was involved in two accidents in Sunday's rain-hit Canadian Grand Prix.

In wet conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, after running into Mark Webber and sending the Australian spinning, Hamilton then collided with McLaren team-mate Jenson Button.

It was the first serious incident between the duo, with Hamilton attempting to overtake Button around the outside along the start-finish straight heading into lap eight.

Button, however, took the racing line and squeezed Hamilton against the pit wall, resulting in a puncture to the left-rear tyre and eventual retirement.

The stewards are due to investigate the incident after the race, which will be Hamilton's sixth visit to the four-man panel in seven races.

For the safety of other drivers, Lauda believes the FIA have to punish Hamilton to teach him a lesson.

Speaking on German television station RTL during his commentary, Lauda said: "What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries.

"He is completely mad. If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more.

"At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this as it will result in someone getting killed."

Absolute bull**** there from Lauda.

[G]

It was a great race,really loving this season.Delighted for Button,he's a proper racer and a sound bloke too it would appear.Fantastic drive from him,Webber and Schumi,wouldve have liked to see him on the podium but wasnt to be.

Lewis reckons he was at least half way up the inside of Button which is bull****,the same failings hit him again,we like aggression but he's missing the controlled bit these days.He needs a long hard look in the mirror and could do worse than look across his garage to see what a model pro looks like

[Leyton388]

LAUDA FEARS HAMILTON TRAGEDY


Three-times Formula One world champion Niki Lauda believes Lewis Hamilton will end up killing someone on a race track if he does not calm down.

As in the Monaco Grand Prix a fortnight ago, Hamilton was involved in two accidents in Sunday's rain-hit Canadian Grand Prix.

In wet conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, after running into Mark Webber and sending the Australian spinning, Hamilton then collided with McLaren team-mate Jenson Button.

It was the first serious incident between the duo, with Hamilton attempting to overtake Button around the outside along the start-finish straight heading into lap eight.

Button, however, took the racing line and squeezed Hamilton against the pit wall, resulting in a puncture to the left-rear tyre and eventual retirement.

The stewards are due to investigate the incident after the race, which will be Hamilton's sixth visit to the four-man panel in seven races.

For the safety of other drivers, Lauda believes the FIA have to punish Hamilton to teach him a lesson.

Speaking on German television station RTL during his commentary, Lauda said: "What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries.

"He is completely mad. If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more.

"At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this as it will result in someone getting killed."

Biggest load of **** i have read in a long time.

[Kenneth]

It is.The only driver I have thought was really dangerous in recent times was Montoya.

People were saying similar about vettel at this point last year when he was making mistakes. Michael was more aggressive in his day. Lewis is a special talent, no niceties, his mind set is a winner's one. Maybe he's taking time to adapt to the change this year but I for one don't want to watch drivers playing for percentages. Button's response was spot on.

[Leyton388]

It is.The ony drier I have thought was really dangerous in recent times was Montoya.

People were saying similar about vettel at this point last year when he was making mistakes. Michael was more aggressive in his day. Lewis is a special talent, no niceties, he mind set is a winner's one. Maybe he's taking time to adapt to the change this year but I for one don't want to watch drivers playing for percentages. Button's response was spot on.

You only get a few drivers that are willing to push it to the limit and Lewis is one of them as was Michael in his prime. Senna was another one.

[Gaz]

The changes that have been made this year have definitely given viewers more exciting races, the McLarens seem to be gaining a bit of an upper hand on the Red Bulls in race trim hopefully the season carries on in this same kind of form

[Chazza]

BBC set to axe hugely popular Formula 1 coverage to keep niche digital programmes such as Come Clog Dancing

F1's £60m annual cost targeted in 20% budget cuts
8million people watched British Grand Prix

Cost-cutting BBC chiefs are considering axing Formula One motor racing so it can keep niche progammes such as Come Clog Dancing on its digital channels.

Mandarins are believed to have identified both F1 and even its Wimbledon coverage as potential sports which may have to be dumped as it slashes 20 per cent from its budgets by 2014.

The BBC paid £300million to screen F1 in a five-year deal which runs until 2013.

But at almost £3million a race, it costs more each hour than the most expensive dramas like the lavish Cranford and Dr Who.

The yearly cost of covering F1 is more than the entire budget for BBC4 which has won critical acclaim for its biopics of Enid Blyton, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Williams and Margot Fonteyn.

However, it has also featured such minority appeal shows as Come Clog Dancing: Treasures of English Folk Dance, a documentary about a flashmob staging a mass clog dance in Newcastle.

BBC4 programmes have also included The Joy Of Stats, Caravans: A British Love Affair and The Secret Life Of the Motorway.

This week's BBC4 schedule includes The Beauty of Maps, The Wonder Of Weeds and Apples: British To The Core.

The viewing figures for BBC4 last month showed it had just 0.7 per cent of the total viewing time, with the average weekly viewing time per person standing at just 11 minutes.

Lord Patten, incoming chairman of the BBC Trust has warned BBC4 could be closed if savings targets are to be reached because of the TV licence freeze until 2017.

But senior sources have told the Sunday Times that the channel may be spared if the £60 million annual cost of covering 19 Grand Prix around the world is saved.

Most F1 races attract between two and four million viewers except the British Grand Prix.

Last Sunday more than eight million tuned in to see Jenson Button's British triumph in Canada, but the BBC sparked controversy by cancelling Antiques Roadshow to stay with the rain-hit race after it was delayed for more than two hours.

Seven hundred furious fans complaining to the BBC after the hit-show was axed.

The programme, which has been running for 32 years, was due to follow the conclusion of the Montreal race.

A package of money-savings proposals will be put to the BBC Trust in the autumn, which will include a reduction in daytime programmes.

If F1 was axed the BBC would be able to keep Wimbledon and renew its contract with the All England Club which runs out in 2014.

Its popular football highlights programmes like Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 on Sundays is not thought to be under threat.

A BBC spokesman said: 'This is speculation. We are not going to get drawn into a running commentary - no decisions have been taken and therefore these claims remain speculation.

'Any decisions coming out of the process would be subject to approval by the BBC Trust.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...g-Dancing.html

[G]

Quite a stir this story has caused. A newscorp paper printing a story full of inaccuracies about the beeb dropping f1. The murdoch machine starting to grind for its own ends. Would hate to see f1 on sky. Love the BBC coverage and hope they can keep it. The itv coverage was woeful in comparison, ad breaks did my head in

[Daniel 7]

BBC has remade F1 for me. Their coverage has been second to none. If it goes, I'll be annoyed, irritated and it might just prompt me to write another angry letter to "Call Me Dave" Cameron.

[Leyton388]

I remember when F1 was on sky a few years back. They charged PPV service to watch the race even though it was on ITV for free.