Hungarian Grand Prix low down.

Here we are again, the last race before the summer break is now over and we have an agonising wait till the Belgium GP at the end of August. That’s right no F1 or MotoGP for the next few weeks (though MotoGP will be back in Brno 12-14 August.)

This weekend we’ve seem many celebrations including: Jenson Button’s 200^th race start, Nico Rosberg’s 100^th and Scuderia Toro Rosso’s 100^th GP start – congrats boys!!

Qualifying saw another exciting battle for pole with Lewis Hamilton setting an early benchmark of 1:19.978. With the likes of Alonso and Button unable to match the pace of the McLaren driver it was down to one young German to snatch pole, Sebastian Vettel did just that pipping Hamilton on his last lap after the flag had dropped. 

With an impressive Felipe Massa out qualifying his teammate for the first time this year and despite Mark Webber having KERS difficulties, the top 6 on the grid qualified with just over half a second between them.

F1 teams and personnel waking up in Budapest had a fairly unexpected surprise in the form of water falling from the sky (opps, best not mention that word!) to add to the mix of what was set to be a thriller of a race.

Many driver’s including Jenson Button were reporting ”very slippery” conditions, intermediates were put on, the gird was cleared and the light’s went green for a crucial first lap.

It was very evident the conditions were treturous, the track resembled an ice rink on tarmac for the first 8 or so laps.

With early slip up’s (no pun intended) from Alonso running wide and Massa running off into the barrier just saving his back end and rear wing from any major damage, there was plenty of over taking, from the battle for 1^st with both McLaren’s and Sebastian Vettel sliding their way past each other like grease in a pan, the change of position’s continued with some great over takes all the way through the field to the back of the grid, for the pride of being at the front of the new teams. 

Lap 10 and we saw the first to blink – Webber and Massa boxed for super-soft tyres as the racing line was rapidly drying up however off the line and it wasn’t so pleasant. With most drivers changing to slicks soon after, like ever, there was no margin for error. 

Several retirements took place throughout the race; Jarno Trulli was the first to go on Lap 20 followed by the explosive Renault of Nick Heidfeld that probes questions as to how safe the car is with this being his second fire of the season, luckily no harm was caused to either the driver or the marshals that reacted swiftly in the situation. Michael Schumacher wasn’t far behind him in the Mercedes retiring out of the race on lap 29, along with Heikki Kovalainen being the last of the non-finishers; a disappointing day for Lotus.

The McLaren drivers repeatedly took the lead from each other, both hung(a)ry for 1^st. The fans soon lost hope of a 1,2 finish when Lewis Hamilton was handed a drive through penalty for ‘forcing another driver [Paul di Resta] to leave the circuit’ making sure his chances of a podium less likely. 

Button made sure he kept Vettel behind him and took the win of 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix, a well-deserved 1^st place for his 200^th GP! Congratulations JB!

Meanwhile, Sebastian took a respectable 2^nd extending his Championship lead over the pack. Fernando Alonso came 3^rd giving himself and the Ferrari team some much needed points before the summer break. At the back of the grid Daniel Ricciardo finished in 18^th ahead of his more experienced teammate Tonio Liuzzi as well as Jerome d’Ambrosio in the Marussia Virgin racing car.

RACE RESULT'S:

We’ll be seeing Formula 1 at the end of August for the Belgium Grand Prix, which could possibly be another corker like the previous few races as the Championship hot’s up!

[McLaren post-race celebrations]

F1 2012 coverage.

By now if you’re an F1 fan and reside in the UK then you’ll no doubt know that next year the F1 coverage will be a lot different.
I’ve seen hundreds of shocked, angry and upset messages from dedicated fans, that from 2012 will have to PAY to watch Formula 1.
This morning it was revealed that Sky Sports will be broadcasting half the races from the 2012 season; the BBC will broadcast the other 10 races.
The difference? We’ve been enjoying the BBC coverage of F1 for a few seasons now after moving over to the channel from ITV. It’s seen Formula 1 grow as a sport with more and more fans enjoying the Grand Prix weekends, the Canadian Grand Prix is a prime example – more than 8 Million+ of us watched the GP, one of the highest viewing ratings F1 has seen in a long time!
It’s not just the fact that the BBC’s award winning Formula 1 coverage is moving channels, it’s moving to a pay channel. The one thing Bernie Ecclestone said would NOT be happening on the show last week. It would be okay if it was a free to air channel such as ITV, Channel 4 or 5, so why is it going to be on Sky?
To put it in perspective, with the yearly amount I’d have to pay for Sky I would be able to attend Silverstone. With the same amount I’d be able to go to all the BTCC races next year.


The teams and sponsors don’t do so well in all of this either but the sport as a whole will be affected too.
Britain may be one of many countries that revel in F1 but 47%, half of the national television audience was watching the BBC last weekend, that is impressive by any standards.
This is the home of motorsport, the home of Formula 1. Casual fans will lose interest if they don’t have Sky, loyal fans that can’t afford to pay for the channel will only be able to watch 10 race’s on the ever-growing calendar, and the worst of all? Some fans will now lose interest all together. It’s a shame but it’s a fact.
Not to mention the recent events involving Rupert Murdoch (BSKYB owner) where people have unsubscribed and rid themselves of Sky over the appalling hacking scandal. Is that what Formula 1 really wants to be apart of?!


I’ll personally miss the team, Jake Humphrey, Eddie Jordan, David Coulthard, Martin Brundle, Ted Kravitz and Lee McKenzie. They’ve done such a great job, through the tough times and the great times, always providing a lot of laughs bringing us closer than ever to the Formula 1 lifestyle, no not just EJ’s ridiculous shirts (which I know we’ll all miss very much!) but I’ll reminisce at the end of the season.


Unfortunately there is not much we can do and it will be going ahead even though the majority of fans don’t like the proposal but on the bright side the 2011 championship season is still in full swing to enjoy on the BBC and the BBC only with Jake Humphrey and the team!


BBC - F1 website with more information.

Welcome along to my second blog!
To put it lightly, i am one motorsport obsessed petrol head and i wouldn't have it any other way. Mainly Formula 1 and MotoGP classes i must admit, but the odd BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) and WRC (World Rally Championship) race's don't go a miss... along with anything else that has an engine attached.
 Other than that i am an all round sport fanatic from the Olympics (on year to go till London 2012, it's gone quick!) to keeping up to date with the Tennis.


This blog though will consist of my main love Formula 1, of course, and my side salad love MotoGP with topping's of 125cc and Moto2 classes. No Tiramisu for Sebastian Vettel, apparently he ate it before a race once and it didn't go down so well....


Not long to go before the Hungarian Grand Prix gets under way!


[Blog header photo is my own.]