Sidepodcast

Today, F1 Minute turns 100 shows old. What started out as a funny little play on words has become a podcast force all of its own, with a feed, a site, and a Twitter presence.

When I first started it, there were perhaps doubts that I could sustain a podcast five times a week, partly because it was assumed I would get bored, and partly because there couldn’t possibly be that much news to talk about – especially in the off-season. In the promo, I said I would be talking about driver’s birthdays. It turns out that was a joke, although I didn’t know it at the time.

I am here to tell you that I did not get bored, and there is enough, perhaps even too much to talk about.

I’ve been told that this year has been particularly newsworthy, what with the espionage scandals from both McLaren and Renault, and the continuing discussions of regulations, and Lewis Hamilton. I may not be so lucky in the future, but that is looking much too far ahead.

Celebrating 100 shows is an achievement of epic proportions, and deserves a mention. I was looking forward to relishing the 60 minute mark, because that would have been a whole hour of me talking, making quite an interesting viewpoint. Alas, I missed it, so 100 will have to do instead.

And how do we mark this occasion? With a look back and forward. There has been both praise and criticism for F1 Minute, and I’d just like to address a couple of things here.

I talk fast. Maybe I talk too fast, but you must understand how much I want to get across in the one minute I have. I know of several other “minute-long” shows that run over. 60-Second Science, which I love, runs at 1min 14 seconds most days. Gah, how can this be?

So, I limit myself to exactly a minute and that’s why I talk fast. Hopefully you can all still understand, and if not, you should be able to pick up enough to know if you want to look into something further.

I have had the odd request for an F1 Minute omnibus, which makes me feel quite important, like Eastenders. I don’t know whether there is any need for this, the style of news F1 Minute covers on a Monday is usually redundant by the end of the week. You’ve got to try and keep up, people!

So, what of the future? F1 Minute will remain a strong presence throughout the season. In fact, on race weekends, there will be two extra shows over the weekend, so you never have to miss a thing.

Twitter will continue and potentially be even more up to date. At the moment it is updated once a day but I’m hoping to be able to use the mobile facility to keep up with the current news. No promises, but the intent is there.

And there are other plans, ideas, secrets that I won’t share with you now but that are definitely worth sticking around for. As always, feedback is welcome, if there’s anything you’d like to see or ideas you want to share, we’re always listening.

Here’s to the next 100.