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Goodness Gracious me!
My Dear Murray - I am so honoured and privileged to be standing by you during your review, albeit as cardboard cut-out (and the likeness isn't too far off either - I have the same cap!)
I hope one day i'll will have the privilege to shake hands with a true legend....

Do you see Donington raising £50m in the near future, do you see Silverstone and Bernie burying the hatchet or can you see F1 without a British Grand Prix for a number of years?

Fantastic as always, Murray! Hopefully your next blog after your preview to Brazil will be one of celebration after Jenson winning the world championship!

Great stuff again Murray, but what's the tune at the end?

Nice one, Murray - hope you had a FAN-tastic birthday at the weekend. Your point in answer to Carlonso's question reminded me of Lotus in the 1980s when they used Honda engines, and had to accept Satoru Nakajima as part of the deal - I recall he hardly set the place alight - like father like son?

What will happen if multiple teams drop out of next season? Will new teams be asked to join? Great blog by the way!

The Yas Marina circuit is yet another circuit designed by Hermann Tilke. He must be doing something right to get the repeat work... but I don't really recall any classic races at one of his tracks.

Some of his tracks are really dull (Valencia). Is it the regulations or his long straight/tight corner philosophy that makes for less exciting racing?

@1 - Who did you bribe? *LOL*

@7 - Aren't Malaysia and Turkey both Tilke circuits? Malaysia is awesome and Turkey is very good. That said F1 could really do with bringing in some none Tilke tracks... As for Valencia its a street circuit, there isn't that much to be played with, I was gobsmacked when it got signed for another 7 years :(

Why is Bernie giving Donnington 28 lives when it comes to getting funding to prepare for next season? Is it simply because he doesn't want to deal with Silverstone and the BRDC?

@Slater582 - The song at the end is Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival

I must totally agree with you Murray that the series of crashes during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend are not a sudden wake-up call for safety overhauling at the ciruit. I too, call myself old-school, and crave the circuits like Montreal and Suzuka where mistakes are punished much harder. Suzuka needs not to be altered.

Interesting shot of Takuma Sato making one of his famously reckless mistakes by pushing Toyota's Jarno Trulli into retirement during the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix...

Murray, I have thoroughly enjoyed your video blog thus far and eagerly await the next helping. My question is as follows:

As there will be no refuelling next year, will teams look to cut costs by reducing the number of personnel in the pit crews?

Brilliant as always so I've decided to pipe up and ask my first questions!

Do you think that switching Alonso for Raikkonen was the right choice and do you see Raikkonen being a contender for the championship next year if he stays in F1?

Also, with this year drawing to a close, any early predictions for what might happen next year in terms of who will dominate if anyone and who you'd expect to do well or perhaps dark horses?

Why do you think the Media are sinical and saying Button could lose it. Yes he could but the odds are even more in his favour. If Vettel wins, then Barrichello second; Button has to finish fifth to win, if he finishes sixth then in Abu Dhabi if the same result happens to the two challengers or the other way round Button has to finish with one point. To be sure of the championship Button has to score six points but with Vettel the stronger he is likely only needing to score four. The odds are very much in his favour.

Do you think the media are too pushy on Button?

It's interesting to hear your opinion on Jenson being a worthy champion, after all, winning 6 out of the first 7 races is mighty impressive! But if the season had been run in reverse, with Jenson winning the final 6 out of 7 races, would people consider Jenson to be a more worthy champion?

-Woffin

Thanks for answering my question Murray! Your answer roughly follows my opinion. I do think drivers should drive with respect to the circuit and surroundings, and many were clearly carrying too much speed into Degner 1. The location of accidents for Alguersuari, Buemi and Glock were very unusual though, you could probably count the number of F1 cars who have ended up in those barriers over the years on a single hand. They weren't in areas you would prioritise for improvement.

I did, however, think the gravel trap on the exit of Degner 2 was pitiful. The way Buemi was able to drive straight out of it in Q1 proved it was doing little to slow the cars down, and I felt it could have done with a rake putting through it to 'fluff it up' a bit. Also the pit exit in Qualifying- several times we saw cars on their outlap 'park' between turns 1 and 2, so as not hold up cars on their flying lap. I know they were off line, but it could pose a problem in the future, especially with more cars on the grid next year, each looking for a clear bit of track.

Yet again another great blog Murray... I wonder if you have a far wider fan base now that you're regularly on the internet.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ must be praised for utilizing your talent in this way, although I still believe a weekly show on the box fronted by you would be FAAAAntastic!
And do people agree with me that Anthony Davidson is Martin Brundle's understudy? - He has a great TV future ahead of him and, who knows? you could have both Davidson and Brundle commentating on F1 races together in the future...

Does anyone know what the main Murray theme tune is called? It's great!

Good answer on the yelloe flags Murray - Agree entirely.

I just wish you'd contrasted the "Brawn's acceptance of the penalty after split-second decisions" against the non-penalty for Rosberg during the race. If Nico gained 6 seconds on hist competitors, he surely had a lot longer to be making his judgement.

As you said at the end - you have to live by the rules. In my opinion, Nico didn't live by the rule, and the excuse was lame. And since when did stewards listen to excuses anyway?

Why does everyone in F1 keep using the words 'For Sure' when they are interviewed?

Who started it? Am I right in thinking Felipe Massa is to blame?

Murray,do you think that Jenson will suffer "second-season syndrome" next season.

The next race in Abu Dhabi will see four F1 World Champions racing (JB, LH, KR and FA). Has this number been equalled or exceeded before ?

Hi Murray! This is my first post so first off, thanks for the memories. I still fill up every time I hear you comentating on Hill crossing the line in Suzuka!
Ok my question - With 26, maybe even 28 cars on next years grid, do you think the points system needs revising?
I personally have always thought it should be more in line with American series' and award points throughout the field, but with bigger gaps. Next year, if you start 26th and finish 10th you deserve something, don't you?

Hi Murray,

How do you think the achievements of Button & Brawn compare with those of Stewart & Tyrrell in 1971? I appreciate that Stewart already had one WDC under his belt after winning it for effectively the same team (Matra) in '69

Also what are your thoughts on what will happen with the qualifying format next season given that:

a) fuel levels will no longer be a consideration?
b) that FOM (rather than necessarily the FIA) will be keen to avoid what happened this weekend in Brazil?

Of course it could stay as it is and the top 10 shoot-out could be with the cars on minimal fuel levels again but with no refuelling allowed during the session, will they have to start qualifying on full tanks? And if the cars spend the night in parc ferme again next season, will all qualifying have to be done with race fuel on board?

Thanks richwi.