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No room on Freeview? Why, because you're doing that 'exciting' and 'fascinating' Cricket again? Very poor treatment for us Freeview users, we're now confined to watching it in a small box on our computer screens.

Thanks, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳! You're the best!

Thanks for the response Andrew, I will look forward to that at least :-)

its your own fault for being cheap and using freeview. use a little button called the 'expand' button and that little screen will not be so little anymore

Andrew. 1997 highlights gets a 404 page.

Thanks Andrew for again allowing us a showing of two full Grand Prix highlights programmes.

I didn't quite understand why Villeneuve was so upset with Tambay for Imola 82. The battle seemed to be fair, it was a brilliant duel. None-the-less he had some outstanding racecraft and was extremely fast. I cannot believe his repass on Arnoux at France 79 into turn one. It was a huge lockup and seemed a brilliant outbraking effort, not to mention he repeated the repass later into the lap into that narrow uphill braking zone before the right-hander.

Ok, if I could suggest some Monaco classics for your team to consider. Please consider these:
1982 - Unpredictable race with some incidents and mistakesn, followed by those incredible final laps.
1984 - Sentimental for some fans. Senna's first great showing, Mansell's first time up at the front, some of Bellof's passes were great to watch also.
1985 - Enjoyed the battle here between Prost and Alboreto. Just for extra's sake, there's that fiery shunt between Patrese and Piquet.
1992 - Obviously for the Senna/Mansell duel at the end.
1996 - Unpredictable race in damp conditions, and Panis' win.
Or else if one from the ITV era is necessary then possibly 1997, 2002, or 2004.

"fishybells99 wrote:
its your own fault for being cheap and using freeview. use a little button called the 'expand' button and that little screen will not be so little anymore"

My own fault, wow. I'm glad you have money to spend on unnecessary TV privileges but some of us don't.

Secondly, yes, I have tried 'expand' - so don't patronise me - it only causes further pixellation and it's pretty wretched to watch.

Sorry FreddyOfGreggs, didn't mean to offend you. Just sell a few more of those Steak Bakes and hopefully you will be able to afford Sky :)

Thanks for showing extended highlights for 2 races.
Hope to see Spain 1987 on your shortlist next year.

I have to say that it is disappointing to not have the races on freeview. In the evenings all I ever see on the red button channels is a sports news loop and nothing on the other one. Surely you could put them on in the evenings. As to the cricket, what is different on the red button than you get on the radio version? All I can see is a scorecard (which wasnt available during the tour to the west indies) so I see that as a waste of a channel. Yes I am a fan of cricket but I don't feel that it is necessary to just show a scorecard for 7 hours.

Also, I have to waste valuable bandwidth just to be able to watch them

Interesting, thanks for the piece.

I guess I'm naturally sceptical of the ruling on Pironi's intentions in that battle because, like every racing driver, he was there to race. If the situation was as you say, and I don't doubt that's the way Villeneuve saw it, then Ferrari really should have been on the radio insisting Didier cool it because the 'race' still counted for world championship points. Having said that, the Wikipedia article on Pironi, firmly attributes a widespread view that he duped Villeneuve. I'll have to assume there is some credibility to that view - not that whatever Wiki says goes - but I have heard from many others that the Imola 82 battle was allegedly tainted.
Whilst Spain 81 was a demonstration of Villeneuve being difficult to pass, I also appreciated his efforts at Brazil 82. I love seeing a driver who really doesn't want to be passed. Many of the present drivers don't defend the line or simply concede to easily. Gilles didn't want to be passed so bad that he eventually speared off the track trying to repass, but he might have been out of the points anyway if he'd let the train behind him come past.

One thing I've wanted to know is whether Senna truly reneged on his agreement with Prost at Imola 1989. I've read different things, but it has been said that Senna initiated the agreement about no passing after the first corner. Even if that's the case, I'd consider Tosa to be the first corner if I were party to that agreement. It really should have been spelt out by the two. I find it hard to believe that, even being the ruthless competitor he was, Senna would feel the need to cheat an advantage over Prost. As Brundle said, I too believe he was just the right-side of being overbalanced most of the time. Then again, everyone's human and prone to overstepping good competitive limits.

Many thanks for the races really looking forward to watching them when i get home tonight - this classic races part of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ coverage is simply superb. I am especially looking forward to Monaco in a fortnight that will be a really tough decision!

I really enjoyed reading that, this is defenately my favourite blog.

I haven't seen much of Gilles Villeneuve but what I have seen has been amazing, gonna watch the vids now : )

Channel 301 in freeview is empty

I can back up what lightmas has said, 301 was not in use when I checked around the same time. However, as someone who likes other sports (Cricket and Snooker, included) I understand why this is the way it is. However, it is frustrating that there is an 'empty' channel when we can have this! Plus, I sincerely hope that the Classic GP's can be on Freeview as and when possible.

Also, on the matter of Imola 82, I remember hearing that, Villeneuve accused Pironi of duplicity. Plus, that Villeneuve would never speak to Pironi again. On 89, I felt that, according to Prost, the agreement was reneged on, as mentioned. It certainly brought about, in my opinion, one of the bitterest, most fierce feuds, in the sports history.

Since the start of the new season I have been a daily visitor to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ F1 website and have enjoyed the ability to watch footage, commentary etc in my own time.

It's fantastic to have the opportunity to watch these races, more of this will be very welcome!

Are there any plans make this (or subsequent) historic race footage available on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer? I don't think I'd get away with watching this at work, with 3 kids I KNOW I won't get time at home but if I could download then my train journey home would be enjoyable for once.

Thanks.

Jeez, what's with all the whining about the bbc not showing this on freeview? For starters, the bbc have now made it available on freeview on Sunday. I don't follow cricket, but lets face it - I'm sure there are plenty of cricket fans who don't enjoy F1 as much as us.

Is it not better to have the content available online than nothing at all?

The F1 coverage is far superior to anything we've had before and I personally think we're lucky to get all the practice sessions and web content covered in as much detail as it is.

Keep up the good work and I'm glad to see the extended highlights are back.

Hi, many thanks Andrew for putting these classic races up - it's great to see brilliant races of by-gone era's. I was just wondering if it would be possible to release a DVD at the end of the year including all the 30 min extended highlights. I'm sure that many people here would agree that this would be fantastic and I would certainly buy it! I know it's a longshot but I guess you can never be sure unless you ask. Is there a chance that this could happen?

Again many thanks for such fantastic coverage.

Hi Andrew, why are the classic races not on red button on Virgin Media right now?

Andrew
Many thanks for getting us these highlights. keep it up!
It is frustrating that the Senna documentary wasn't on Freeview on Friday, as Channel 302 had the Sports News Loop on FOR THE WHOLE DAY - hardly the best use of the airtime.
Anyhow just wondered if us freeview viewers are going to get the shorter cuts of 91, 96, and 97 on sunday morning as well as the longer highlights you promise
Regards

Maybe fishybells99 should wash his 99 bells and his mouth out with soap and water and contribute more mature comments on the F1 blog, as oppossed to having a swipe at viewer application "have" and "have nots".

I am relishing the prospect of watching the FREEVIEW highlights of the Spanish GP races on Sunday morning.

:)

Superb choice's, as a collector I have these races and can confirm both are edge of the seat stuff, well done ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.
I cant wait to see what Monaco will offer up.

@ James JPS
Regarding DVDs. You may note there's generally not a great volume of F1 DVDs (on the legal market anyway!). It's because of things like the price of rights from FOM being very high and that the demand for F1 DVDs and classic F1, whilst fair, is not exceptionally high.
I don't think the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s deal with FOM includes production of DVDs for F1 archive material. I would also guess that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ wouldn't see it as a profitable exercise.

I would suggest you purchase a DVB-T or DVB-S PC digital tuner and record the highlights if you'd like a permenant copy for yourself if that's legal in Britain. Or else a DVD recorder, something like that.

Why wasn't 1994 one of the choices of Spanish GP classics? Schumacher stuck in 5th gear for most of the race and still finishes 2nd, including making a pitstop and getting away again while still stuck in 5th!

Well.. good as the performance may have been, there weren't many drivers behind him left in the race. I believe a Tyrell finished 3rd on that day.
I'm sure it would have been a worthy choice none-the-less, but I don't think it would have received more votes than 1996, 1991, 1986, or 1981.

Why is the red button called the red button? Why not just call it ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sport 1 and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ sport 2. Would make things a whole lot simpler.

"I'm sure it would have been a worthy choice none-the-less, but I don't think it would have received more votes than 1996, 1991, 1986, or 1981."

Probably not, but at least I could have got to see the highlights!

'81: Having not even been born in this year, this was the first time I'd really seen Giles Villeneurve in action. Held off a train of four drivers, none of whom were mugs while the reigning world champion and two future world champions fell off the track.

Very impressive and smoother than I expected from Giles.

However, what's up with the race timer registering John Watson as Irish? He's from Northern Ireland as was the UK's main man at the time. Particularly strange as there 'was' an ROI driver in that race, Derek Daly.

'86: Mansell vs Prost vs Senna. Can't go far wrong there. Would have been gutted to see Mansell go from first to third pretty much instananeously but there was still some good action to come.

Hi Andrew,
You are certainly pro-active with your blog. It's a shame the other bloggers don't respond in the way you do.
I want to know how you feel about the new Senna film that is being made.
Documentaries are all very well and good because they are factual and follow the career of the protagonist with comment and debate from others.
A film is totally different- actors will have to play their respective characters in their given role, so I ask - who is going to play Nigel Mansell's moustache and eyebrows? For the rest of him will get the cinema audiences sleeping in their seats.
Who will play Prost's nose? For the rest of him was excruciatingly annoying to listen to.
Alas, Charlton Heston is no longer available to play the biblical role of Senna, though Robert Powell could give it a shout, though he looks more like Prost.
I think making this film is a bad idea - only because very few motor-racing films were ever any good. The excitement and performances obviously happen on the track. There is enough in the Senna/Prost/Mansell axis for a story for sure, but whether it can jump into celluloid is another matter.
Michael Mann to direct.

Sitting, watching the races, it's amazing how safety has improved in the last 20 years.... marshals in t-shirts, cars being left in tiny run off areas where they broke down, I guess it's one of those things you take for granted now, but if you take your life in your hands as an on track marshal now, it scares me to think about what it was like then.... maybe that's "proper" racing though ;) Thanks very much for selecting these, Andrew, it's been a great start to my Sunday (along with a nice bacon, mushroom and egg roll!)

So, they switch Jenson from a 3 stop strategy to a 2 stop strategy and added a new dimension to the race.

Pity that wont happen next year as there will be no refuelling during the race.

Will tyre changes make such a difference?

No more flying laps. Massa is apparently heavy on fuel use, he had to back off in this race. Does that mean he will have to have a bigger fuel tank than the rest of the field? Bet that will make him competitive.

Refuelling is part of the mix of F1 racing. Without it, the race will be a procession after the first corner.

To follow on from WhereInSussex #33
It also shows a MASSIVE improvement in television coverage. Thank goodness we now have FOM producing the television pictures for races and qualifying. It wasn't that long ago that local televison directors were used who may not have had much F1 knowledge. Gone are the days when we had to endure 2 hours watching the leader storming around the circuit on their own.

FAO F1JustGotBoring:

Some opinions are that 'racing' now is more like high speed chess. With Ross Brawn winning races instead of Schumacher/Button et al.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing racers race, instead of thinking "Oh, I can pass (this driver) in the pits...". Wouldn't it be better for a driver to think "Right, I have to pass (this driver) on the track..."?

I agree that the spectacle is the overtaking on the track. Trouble is they will all be fuelled for the complete race so how will they have any advantage? They will all have kers or whatever comes from that.

All teams copy each other so they will all be identical. The 1,2 or 3 stop strategy, the flying laps, choosing when to bring someone in to make the most of track position. It all makes for a more unpredictable result.

If someone is lighter because of fuel strategy, there is more competitive overtaking. Apart from mistakes, if they all have the same fuel and all have the same rev limit, how will they compete? You saw Massa holding up Vettel. I know Massa had kers but in the end, apart from back markers, those at the front of the field will stay in the order they come out of the first bend.

I really hope I am wrong, but pit stop strategy adds to the 2 hour spectacle, without it I cant see tyre changes making it that interesting short of people staying out too long and suffering punctures. Not my idea of a good race.

Here's what I think will be good about the ban on refuelling.
- Fuel strategy is gone, but tyre strategy can still allow the fast drivers to exploit their race pace.
- Pitstops are potentially more exciting. Now all the time taken will be through tyre change, and there will be bigger pressure and possibly more mistakes with teams rushing to find those extra tenths. Hopefully well see true pitstop races and blunders with the lollipop man or the driver jumping the gun under the pressure.
- Drivers will hopefully give it more to get the pole because it means more for the race to start up the grid. Sources say refuelling will be permitted in parc ferme so in fact we will see true low fuel qualifying also.
- Drivers can manage their fuel consumption and development can be put here on the part of the team. Fuel/energy efficiency has real world application to motoring so I think this is positive.