Reply to: One week until new F1 season

[centurian]

They didn't give Massa the first call on when to pit?

As VectraMan pointed out, they did at the first set of pits - and Massa took full advantage of the undercut to stay ahead of Alonso.

So Ferrari decided not to make the same "mistake" twice...

[d000hg]

I've got a NowTV trial subscription and just got an email notifying that they've added 1-day access to all 6 sports channels including F1:

Watch Sports Online - NOW TV

I'm a little tempted although not sure I trust the ability to do realtime streaming of live TV rather than recorded films. Perhaps they'll do a freebie and I can try it out.

[VectraMan]

I didn't see that radio on the highlights, what was the story? They didn't give Massa the first call on when to pit?

First time round they did let Massa pit first. Then second time, Alonso was stuck behind Massa stuck behind Vettel stuck behind Sutil, and they pitted Alonso first who was able to jump the lot of them and left Massa out when the others pitted. He said something like "what are you doing to me?" on the radio, and Rob Smedley replied "now's your chance to show what you can do with a clear track" - but of course everyone else had fresher tyres.

Still 4th isn't a bad result for Massa.

[d000hg]

I didn't see that radio on the highlights, what was the story? They didn't give Massa the first call on when to pit?

[VectraMan]

That was so blatant, they might as well have told him to move aside. And he knew it on the radio that he had been knobbled, even before he pulled in for his first pitstop.

Yes, but I think Alonso was clearly faster. So you can understand why Ferrari made the move to get Alonso ahead of both Massa and Vettel.

[centurian]

I'd really love to see Massa do well this year.

Ferarri wouldn't - as least not better than Alonso.

That was so blatant, they might as well have told him to move aside. And he knew it on the radio that he had been knobbled, even before he pulled in for his first pitstop.

Shame he's having his knees cut off in the first race

[d000hg]

Pretty good race in the end.

Yeah, a bit unexpected too. I'd really love to see Massa do well this year.

[VectraMan]

Pretty good race in the end.

[VectraMan]

Trusting a recording of a program which overruns several hours is risky. I've had that before when it was on BBC... recording gave up when the EPG wasn't updated, or they shifted across to BBC2. Plus if your box is a bit full those extra hours could be a problem.

Is the Sky box smart enough to deal with all these issues? Our Humax proves a mixed bag.

Yes. Though I'm not sure it can change channels when your broadcaster decides your premium sporting event is less important than Hole In The Wall; another good reason to have Sky with a dedicated F1 channel. I remember being caught out by that one.

I was wondering when they were talking about Q2 going ahead and my Sky box was telling me 15 minutes of the recording left if it was about to get cut off.

[norrahe]

Just discovered that RTL have stopped showing F1

We used to put that on and have R5 running at the same time ( bit of a delay).

Havw to watch the highlights I suppose.

[d000hg]

Trusting a recording of a program which overruns several hours is risky. I've had that before when it was on BBC... recording gave up when the EPG wasn't updated, or they shifted across to BBC2. Plus if your box is a bit full those extra hours could be a problem.

Is the Sky box smart enough to deal with all these issues? Our Humax proves a mixed bag.

[VectraMan]

Well, that's the season off to an exciting start. Not having to get up at 5am and sit through 3 hours of rain delays is one point in favour of highlights shows I suppose.

There's this new-fangled technology that lets you record TV and watch it when you want. Which is what I did: watched it when I woke up, with appropriate FF'ing.

I was going to get up for the race, but I'm not sure I want to stay up late to watch qualifying AND get up at 6am for the race.

[d000hg]

Well, that's the season off to an exciting start. Not having to get up at 5am and sit through 3 hours of rain delays is one point in favour of highlights shows I suppose.

[centurian]

Yep, he's the best. Couldn't stand him a few years ago (when he was crashing into people a la Schumacher) but he seems to have got a bit of maturity and a sense of humour of late.

WZS - although he lost a lost of that gained respect after the season was over, trying to find every excuse to get Vettel a retrospective penalty.

Also I think Ferarri did give him a championship capable winning car last year - they gave him a reliable car - the most reliable on the grid by far.

The so-called "faster" cars were a lot less reliable.

[hyperD]

I used to love F1, in the old days even got a VIP ticket to Brands and met with the players, saw Ayrton Senna take his JPS Lotus and beat the record lap time back in the 80's. Could easily watch all the great action from Clark Curve and Druids.

Halycon days...