Live Commenting: Britain - Free Practice 1
We’re taking a belt and braces approach to live commenting this weekend, so this post might appear a while before free practice begins. However, if you’re reading this at all, then we’re halfway there (probably literally).
The sun is up this morning and the sky is very blue. We’ve no idea what the weather holds in store so we’ve packed flip-flops, sun cream, an umbrella and some wellies. A typical English summer day then.
On the driver front, many will be overly familiar with Silverstone given the amount testing done there last week. How much action we’ll see this morning is anyone’s guess, but hopefully the unpredictability and instability of the climate may help us here.
As you may have already gathered we’ll be at the circuit for the whole weekend, while Christine’s Mother-in-Law is manning the servers back home. Do be nice to her, it’s her first day after all.
It’s a 10am start for anyone following in the UK. The two of us should be positioned around the back of the circuit but you’ll probably have a better view watching ITV’s live stream and following the geeky stats online. Details of other means to keep up with the action are listed on our Formula 1 on the Internet page.
Remember to keep the Allianz track guide close and don’t forget you can find this and other useful resources in our Drop.io box.
Yell if you’re around, either at home or at the track.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:39 amJourneyer said:
Woohoo! Numero uno!
This weekend should be interesting though.
Christine’s mum-in-law… does that mean it’s your mum, ‘me’?
Oh, how many Lewis flags and hats are there? Just curious.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:08 amChristine said:
Just arrived, traffic wasn’t too bad. Getting ourselves sorted. Only seen the one McLaren flag so far.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:31 amAlianora La Canta said:
Hello, Christine’s Mother-In-Law, and thank you for holding the fort while the happy couple enjoy themselves at Silverstone.
Good to hear you got there all right, Christine. My one trip to Silverstone had an interesting beginning, which I may share with you all later. Strangely muted McLaren support though - has DC’s retirement announcement meant that everyone’s switching to Red Bull or have people simply not got their team kit out yet?
July 4th, 2008 at 9:38 amJourneyer said:
I’m guessing they just don’t have their team kit on yet (or they still need to buy it). As for the muted McLaren support, remember, most people who diligently watch Friday FP sessions are probably true-blue F1 fans and not necessarily Lewis bandwagoners.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:42 amAlianora La Canta said:
True.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:49 amChristine's Mother-in-Law said:
Hello people
I am now here for the next couple of hours How have I been trusted with this?
July 4th, 2008 at 9:49 amlou said:
Hey everyone
I hope everyone is well and ready for a weekend of great f1 
July 4th, 2008 at 9:50 amlou said:
Hey Christine’s mother in law
Nice to meet you 
July 4th, 2008 at 9:53 amChristine said:
We trust you mum, but don’t break anything
we’re sat at Copse C for FP1,keeping an eye on the pit exit. It’s a bit chilly, there’s a light breeze but the sun is still out for now.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:54 amAlianora La Canta said:
Christine’s Mother-in-Law, I assume you’ve been trusted with the job because you’re the best person for the job
I am ready, lou
July 4th, 2008 at 9:55 amAlianora La Canta said:
We have video!
July 4th, 2008 at 9:56 amlou said:
ooo and five live are covering FP1
yay! must not be anything else for them to cover 
Chrstine can you listen to five live at the track? not having been to a gp i wouldn’t know…
July 4th, 2008 at 9:57 amAlianora La Canta said:
Thanks for the weather report.
You can tell Lewis is on-screen by the honking of the spectator horn…
July 4th, 2008 at 9:58 amlou said:
yay a honda flag! wooo!
July 4th, 2008 at 9:58 amJourneyer said:
Funny that, lou, considering it’s Wimbledon. Or maybe they don’t care about it as much now that Andy Murray’s been ousted?
Oh well…
July 4th, 2008 at 9:59 amAlianora La Canta said:
DC sounds happy, talking to a Red Bull staffer.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:00 amme said:
digi-flag at exit of copse is really, really bright!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:00 amlou said:
Jenson!!!
with his british GP helmet 
July 4th, 2008 at 10:00 amAlianora La Canta said:
I suspect if Murray had still been in it, there’d have been more interest in the tennis.
Nice ferris wheel. Silverstone usually has some sort of fairground-style rides.
Meanwhile, the Force Indias go out, Fisi then Adrian. Heidfeld’s right behind them.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:01 amScott Woodwiss said:
what up people
Silverstone! Woo!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:02 amAlianora La Canta said:
Why is my comment in the moderation queue?
And there’s 8kp/h of wind. Not good for Force India, given that this is their first race with that massive sail on the back of the car…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:02 amme said:
airhorns all around for lewis.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:02 amlou said:
Hey Scott!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:03 amRocket said:
Hi everyone. From the antipodes!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:03 amScott Woodwiss said:
where are you guys sat this morning?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:03 amme said:
do mclaren have white wall tyres?
coulthard gets a big round of applause from the crowd
July 4th, 2008 at 10:03 amlou said:
Wohoo!!! Go Ant!!
I love his commentry! It’s gonna be a good weekend!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:03 amAlianora La Canta said:
Lewis does a practise start.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:04 amme said:
overlooking pit exit. outside of copse.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:04 amScott Woodwiss said:
have you noticed that there now is a little message that pops up saying “out lap” when a driver’s on just that
July 4th, 2008 at 10:05 amme said:
jenson gets some airhorns too
July 4th, 2008 at 10:05 amRocket said:
Does anyone have a site for online tv coverage today?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:05 amAlianora La Canta said:
Scott, I’m in front of my computer this morning.
I don’t think Sutil or Fisichella’s doing anything else for a while…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:06 amScott Woodwiss said:
Looks like the brits are coming out early to wake the fans up and give them something to look at!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:06 amlou said:
Does Lewis have a different front wing? is the nose on that Mclaren higher?… or am i just seeing things?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:06 amRocket said:
Yay Silverstone.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:07 amme said:
force india’s motorhome looks spendid in the sun.
mclaren’s now all the way up in the middle of the pack. earth dreams logo really stand out from where we’re sitting.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:07 amAlianora La Canta said:
Clutch slipping for Vettel…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:08 amlou said:
Rocket - you’ll find them here
July 4th, 2008 at 10:08 amme said:
trulli’s engine sounded awful as he left the pitlane. struggling to get going.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:09 amlou said:
Piquet not bothered by all this practise stuff…. just reading the red bulletin….
July 4th, 2008 at 10:09 amRocket said:
Cheers Lou.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:09 amlou said:
me, what about the hondas… do they sound better than they did in testing?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:10 amAlianora La Canta said:
It still doesn’t sound great… …but that might be because I’m trying to stuff too much down my internet connection this morning (I’ve got Five Live, ITV, live timing, Sidepodcast and a conventional web site up simultaneously).
July 4th, 2008 at 10:11 amScott Woodwiss said:
Toyota with black rear wing endplates and deflectors. tribute to ove again or something else?
HAHA! I meant christine and Me, but thanks anyway
July 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amlou said:
wow look at that photographer! great hat!
lol
July 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amAlianora La Canta said:
Glock doesn’t look bothered either. Raikkonen never looks bothered even when he is.
And once again the wrong driver is in the Ferrari. That must be fun…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:12 amlou said:
so the usual installation laps then.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:13 amScott Woodwiss said:
Hey, that’s the helmet that won the JB competition!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:13 amAlianora La Canta said:
me and Christine, have you seen the Super Aguri fans yet? Apparently, they’re in the same part of the track as you (Copse).
July 4th, 2008 at 10:13 amlou said:
Jenson inspecting his new helmet
July 4th, 2008 at 10:14 amScott Woodwiss said:
someone arriving by helicopter there. wonder who?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:15 amJourneyer said:
Awww shucks, I can’t watch any of the fun. Is Lewis running a special Silverstone helmet like Jenson? A shame dad didn’t allow him to do the triathlon… But hey! He could line that up along with his 2nd go at Top Gear after the end of the season,
July 4th, 2008 at 10:16 amAlianora La Canta said:
Silverstone becomes the busiest airport in Britain for three days a year.
And Vettel decides to make his move.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:16 amScott Woodwiss said:
we have an engine started up, who’s is it?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:17 amScott Woodwiss said:
it’s vettel! wasn’t his clutch slipping just now?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:18 amme said:
yikes. mega difference in volume when the cars are on a lap.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:18 amlou said:
nope!
especially cause the looser was gonna give a lot of money to a chariety of the winner’s choice.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:19 amlou said:
Vettel the only one out on track
July 4th, 2008 at 10:19 amAlianora La Canta said:
me, please tell me you remembered some sort of ear protection?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:20 amAlianora La Canta said:
Trulli waves to keep himself amused.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:20 amme said:
enjoying the view from here. not sat in this grandstand before, but we have a screen and can watch the cars dissapear into the chicanes.
mclaren have block booked the stand next too us, and it’s currently deserted.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:20 amScott Woodwiss said:
and is that red rear wing planes for the bmw’s as well?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:21 amlou said:
ahaha! lol that made me laugh!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:21 amme said:
ear plugs and ear defenders all around
July 4th, 2008 at 10:23 amScott Woodwiss said:
what! what a wuss! HAHA!
real f1 fans never use ear plugs or defenders. I never have 
July 4th, 2008 at 10:23 amChristine's Mother-in-Law said:
You are doing a good job from trackside
July 4th, 2008 at 10:23 amme said:
haven’t picked up kangaroo tv yet. queue was too long. we’re down on info at the moment, but the tannoy is providing useful data for the time being.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:24 amScott Woodwiss said:
HAHAHAHAHAHA! I swear I just saw house of fraser on the rear wing of the williams!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:24 amAlianora La Canta said:
Evidently McLaren do not think Friday is very important. Pleased to hear you have protection.
Five Live appear to find Vettel’s depressed-sounding radio very amusing.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:25 amme said:
thank you
July 4th, 2008 at 10:25 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sutil and Nakajima on track.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:26 amAlianora La Canta said:
Scott, how do you watch an F1 car live without ear protection without running from the venue screaming?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:26 amAlianora La Canta said:
Nakajima hasn’t got into the groove quite as quickly as Vettel.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:27 amAlianora La Canta said:
Lots of rain on Saturday, possibly on Sunday.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:27 amAlianora La Canta said:
Yay! Sutil’s 2nd!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:28 amme said:
glock struggling out of the pits this time. odd sounds coming from the toyota for the second time today.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:28 amScott Woodwiss said:
my favourite section of track here is from the maggotts, becketts and chapel complex up to the exit of stowe. SO FAST!
Hey, christine and Me, if you want to be really close to the track, go find a spot which is just before maggotts. I swear it’s the closest you can get around the circuit. I stood there in 2005 for the F1 and it was brilliant.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:29 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sutil’s got P1 and Fisichella’s only P4.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:30 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sutil’s stride is interrupted by an off, while the Trulliometer hits the maximum.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:31 amAlianora La Canta said:
Glock does a spot of spinning.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:31 amChristine said:
The cars don’t look anywhere near as fast on the outside of copse as they do on the inside. Weird how the perspective is different.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:31 amlou said:
Glock spins… was it Glock?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:31 amScott Woodwiss said:
Because I’m used to the sound.
BMW Power Festival - no ear protection, was fine
British GP ‘05 - none either, was fine
Renault World Series Donington - none, was fine
Renault World Series Silverstone - none, was fine
As i said, if you’re a real F1 fan you don’t use any ear protection
Besides, it’s not THAT loud, well not for me anyway 
July 4th, 2008 at 10:32 amAlianora La Canta said:
Toyota are 1-2 at the top of the tree, Williams are 3-4, Force India are 5-6 and Vettel is last.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:32 amme said:
i think our races tickets are somewhere around there, so we’ll leave it until sunday. but we can see them go through there for here… just very small.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:34 amAlianora La Canta said:
Scott, I’m asking that from the perspective of someone who needs earplugs to go to the cinema or to walk past a disco because of the sheer volume. Neither of those is anywhere near as loud as a bunch of F1 cars. If you’re a real F1 fan, you do what you need to do to appreciate them - which in my case means ear protection.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:35 amAlianora La Canta said:
Is it me or has Jenson’s helmet got a smiley face on the back?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:35 amScott Woodwiss said:
A proper look at JB’s British GP special helmet. Looking good, Jense!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:37 amScott Woodwiss said:
OK, I respect that, and all I was saying was that what I do to appreciate them is not use them so i can fully enjoy the noise
July 4th, 2008 at 10:38 amChristine said:
Have dispatched me with the camera, am really enjoying the noise and have so far declined ear defenders. The ferraris look beautiful in the sun, i think cars of one colour are easier on the eye in real life
July 4th, 2008 at 10:38 amAlianora La Canta said:
Five Live called Kovalainen a “backmarker”. Oops!
Was that Prince Phillip in the stands?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:38 amlou said:
yay! i love having Ant in the commentry box
It’s great to have a drivers perspective 
July 4th, 2008 at 10:39 amAlianora La Canta said:
Good tactic on giving me camera duty, Christine!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:39 amScott Woodwiss said:
See? SEE! Now that’s what I’m talking about!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:39 amlou said:
Fastest lap for Kovi!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:40 amAlianora La Canta said:
Five Live are now laughing against themselves by saying the “backmarker” is now P1.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:40 amScott Woodwiss said:
great lap from heikki, he goes top.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:41 amScott Woodwiss said:
hamilton on a quick one
July 4th, 2008 at 10:42 amChristine said:
To answer lou’s question from ages ago, the honda sounds okay when it’s up to speed, which is good.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:42 amlou said:
so just Kubica, and Alonso to complete a lap. oh and Massa too… in fact he has not even set an installation lap!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:42 amAlianora La Canta said:
Hamilton’s had a moment, and apparently Brooklands has cement dust that’s causing problems.
The “moment” hasn’t lost much time for Lewis, because it make him momentarily P1 until Kovalainen stamped his authority on events again.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:43 amScott Woodwiss said:
alright! hamilton quickest by 3 thousandths!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:43 amlou said:
Thanks christine
Thats good to know 
July 4th, 2008 at 10:43 amScott said:
I’m not a fan of ear protection either. Best sound I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing was 26 1000bhp turbocharged Champ Car engines wide open around a 1.5-mile oval. There’s no way I’d have wanted to miss out on that.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:43 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sounds like Nakajima and Glock are really unhappy. Oh dear…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:44 amChristine said:
Nothing wrong with protecting your ears, scott. Everyone’s ears pick up different frequencies.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:45 amAlianora La Canta said:
Coulthard’s trying out a new line round the last sector of the circuit…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:46 amAlianora La Canta said:
Here we go again. Honda behind Force India behind Nakajima.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:46 amChristine said:
So far we’ve had clapping on every hamilton lap. Can the brits keep it up all weekend?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:48 amlou said:
If you feel the need to clap or something when Jenson goes past then please do
lol
July 4th, 2008 at 10:49 amChristine said:
Toyota still sounds hoarse exiting the pitlane.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:49 amAlianora La Canta said:
I imagine they can. Assuming they have as much endurance as people at swimming galas…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:50 amlou said:
I hadn’t noticed that
ach! 
ooo Jenson now 13th
July 4th, 2008 at 10:50 amAlianora La Canta said:
Kubica’s had to stop due to a car ahead…
July 4th, 2008 at 10:51 amAlianora La Canta said:
lou, you’ll be pleased to know that Button is not only ahead of Force India now, but also ahead of Nakajima.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:51 amlou said:
Rubens last….
July 4th, 2008 at 10:51 amlou said:
Alonso jumps up into 5th.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:52 amAlianora La Canta said:
Did anyone catch the first bit of that engine message from Five Live?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:52 amScott in Italy said:
Morning all,
I came into work just to watch practice…and to start sorting out all the pics from my last holiday…it’s a tough life…
Hopefully we’ll have a great race and we have a nice dash of rain to spice things up.
Three cheers to “Christine’s mother-in-law”. In all the jokes about mother-in-laws, keeping a website ticking over has never been mentioned… Good luck
July 4th, 2008 at 10:52 amlou said:
July 4th, 2008 at 10:54 amme said:
that we can do yes.
commentators going crazy about alonso, is he doing well?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:54 amAlianora La Canta said:
Scott, you get paid to watch practise?!?
And Massa is P1 at the moment.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:55 amme said:
oh dear, slow alonso…. stopped.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:55 amlou said:
he is 6th atm…. But Vettel is up in 7th, so he is doing well too.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:55 amAlianora La Canta said:
Alonso’s 6th, two places ahead of Piquet Jr.
He’s also just slowed down.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:56 amme said:
another renault engine goes boom. that’s 5 in the past 11 days.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:56 amlou said:
oh Alonso has pulled over…. Ant says that he heard the engine ‘die’. big failure for him then….
July 4th, 2008 at 10:56 amScott Woodwiss said:
Alonso’s engine just went up the spout.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:57 amScott in Italy said:
Alonsos engine just died….
technically i’m still on holidays but free internet is hard to resist.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:57 amme said:
is there fluid on the track from alonso?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:57 amAlianora La Canta said:
It must be bad - Renault aren’t laughing as the Renault fails at Copse. Glock slides on the oil.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:57 amRocket said:
I can only now hear the sound of the engine in Alonso’s car. Doesn’t sound pretty.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:57 amme said:
massive cheer as mass bins it!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amScott Woodwiss said:
glock off again. why can’t these toyota’s keep it facing the right direction? are they scared of the track or something?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amAlianora La Canta said:
Massa has crashed into a barrier backwards.
Sorry, all this is happening at Stowe, not Copse.
Session stopped - quite sensible too.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amme said:
very bright red digi flag. we may have gone blind!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amlou said:
Massa just gone into one of the tyre barriers apparently.. rear first. He looks fine though…Session red flagged.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amme said:
was that on alonso’s oil?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amAlianora La Canta said:
What was so great about Massa crashing?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:58 amScott in Italy said:
massa in the wall?
July 4th, 2008 at 10:59 amScott in Italy said:
red flag
July 4th, 2008 at 10:59 amAlianora La Canta said:
I think Alonso’s oil was a large factor for both Glock and Massa.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:59 amScott Woodwiss said:
massa off!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:59 amme said:
medical car goes past, sounds like a lawnmower by comparison.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:59 amRocket said:
Was that noise the ngine going or him running across the grass?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:00 amlou said:
That’s what Five live are suggesting. Glock went off on the oil too… eek the damage to the rear of the car! Those Ferrari Machanics better get to work quickly…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:00 amAlianora La Canta said:
Alonso and Massa swap notes.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:00 amAlianora La Canta said:
lol at me’s Safet Car/lawnmower comparison!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:00 amme said:
i think people like crashes.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:01 amScott Woodwiss said:
if you look at the replay onboard with massa, you can make out a line he’s driving over. that could be the oil.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:01 amScott in Italy said:
I think it has nothing to do with the Toyota - I just think it’s Glock.
Great shot of massa and alonso having a chat about their problems….
July 4th, 2008 at 11:02 amAlianora La Canta said:
They’re now asking “where were the oil flags?” on Five Live.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:02 amScott in Italy said:
safely tucked away underneath the marshalls lunch
July 4th, 2008 at 11:03 amAlianora La Canta said:
If the T-car is needed for Massa, he’ll not race for the rest of the day.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:04 amMattw said:
If you were standing at the entry to Beckets at the GP, then the drivers would have been off the power as they went passed, and this makes a huge difference. Try standing at the exit of a corner like club or copse where they are hard on the power, and noise level is totally different.
I ware ear defenders too - but only so that I can hear the commentary - I like to know what is going on.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:04 amlou said:
eeek that is some serious damage… thank goodness he did some testing last week…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:04 amMattw said:
Don’t think any of them are racing today
July 4th, 2008 at 11:04 amScott in Italy said:
Wow. the ferrari is really damaged from just behind the drivers cockpit, all the way down on the right side. long night ahead for those guys. the impact really didn’t look that bad, bad angle I guess.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:04 amAlianora La Canta said:
Kubica’s having an argument with his engineer about whether it will be worth going out again. Interesting to see that the BMW radio allows both sides to communicate simultaneously.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:05 amRocket said:
RK saying “No point to run, just to wreck cars”. Think it was RK.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:05 amz-baumgartner said:
Big row between Kubica and his engineer!
“It will not be ok!!”
July 4th, 2008 at 11:05 amlou said:
five live saying Kubica is the Polish version of Kimi. LOL! Kubica refusing to go out and clean the track for the others
July 4th, 2008 at 11:06 amChristine said:
Everyone seems to be leaving the grandstands. They either think it’s over or they’re taking the opportunity to change corners.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:06 amAlianora La Canta said:
True, Mattw, but Massa won’t be practising anything either today - except maybe his telemetry-analysis and boredom-staving techniques.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:07 amAlianora La Canta said:
The dark oily line is turning white, as a baby with bright green defenders snoozes on unconcerned.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:07 amScott Woodwiss said:
see the line going down the left-hand side of the track (right hand side on the camera)? that’s the oil, i’m sure of it. massa was driving on that line.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:07 amMattw said:
That’s what is know in the trade as a ‘problem’
July 4th, 2008 at 11:08 amScott Woodwiss said:
no, i was just before maggotts, when they were still at full throttle.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:08 amRocket said:
This is going to take a while isn’t it? Sweep like a Formula 1 car lads!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:09 amChristine said:
Watching the marshals powder the track is like a mini game of curling
July 4th, 2008 at 11:11 amAlianora La Canta said:
The lines of cement are close to meeting. It looks like there’s a cleaning machine at work there too.
Kimi’s in the car, so I think he’s going to go out when the session is green-flagged.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:11 amMattw said:
Wow - what was being said? It’s a side of Kubica we have not seen before
July 4th, 2008 at 11:11 amlou said:
hehe
July 4th, 2008 at 11:11 amRocket said:
While we’re having this short break. Christine and me…Can you tell us what kind of setup you have around you? Foldaway card table, thermos, laptop etc…?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:12 amlou said:
Christine/me have you got your kangaroo TV yet?
DC on five live!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:12 amAlianora La Canta said:
Apparently the wind is lower than it was in the test, though the machinery that’s putting down the cement is producing lots of smoke. Rosberg is being warned about the cement.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:14 amAlianora La Canta said:
There will be 15 minutes when the session restarts.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:15 amChristine said:
Can see plumes of dust in the distance. No folding table, unfortunately, just a laptop for him and a mobile phone for me.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:15 amAlianora La Canta said:
Fisi’s rejoined the track.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:17 amMattw said:
Wow. the ferrari is really damaged from just behind the drivers cockpit, all the way down on the right side. long night ahead for those guys. the impact really didn’t look that bad, bad angle I guess.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:18 amAlianora La Canta said:
The Force India left bargeboard is vibrating a lot, apparently due to the wind picking up.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:19 amMattw said:
How bad is Massa’s Ferrari? Has he used his free engine/gearbox change this season yet?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:20 amAlianora La Canta said:
Fisi’s time is a second off what he was doing before the stoppage. Massa’s gone to the medical centre, probably because the blue light went on in the cockpit that requires him to attend by regulation.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:22 amAlianora La Canta said:
Apparently the cognitive test is a simplified IQ test, much like the brain training game stuff on Nintendo.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:23 amAlianora La Canta said:
Mattw, Massa hasn’t used his free engine, but it doesn’t matter because Friday failures don’t count as race engine changes anyway.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:23 amz-baumgartner said:
I may have over emphasized a bit! Kubica’s engineer told him to go out on track to see if it was ok, but kubica refused saying that it wouldn’t be ok and that if he went out he would crash.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:24 amAlianora La Canta said:
Trulli had a really bad oversteer moment but saved it. Hamilton keeps hitting the cement, yet he’s beating his pre-stoppage times.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:24 amlou said:
Does anyone know what’s up with Rubens? he has only set 4 laps….
July 4th, 2008 at 11:25 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sutil went rather wide at Maggotts…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:26 amRocket said:
Webber out for only his 7th lap.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:27 amAlianora La Canta said:
Fisi appears to have gone off in the final sector of the track. Convenient for Heikki, who didn’t get stuck behind him…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:29 amChristine said:
An air horner is confused. Always said the force india looked too much like mclaren.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:31 amAlianora La Canta said:
Well, I suppose Force India need all the support they can get.
Ironic that the fastest driver missed the last half-hour of the session…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:31 amlou said:
End os session…. The hondas having done the the least number of laps… Rubens 4 laps… Jenson 7 laps… I wander if they are having probems…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:31 amChristine's Mother-in-Law said:
I have enjoyed this mornings practice - what a shame for Massa - hope our own trackside pair are going to keep busy until Practice 2 - we will want lots of inside info as the day goes on - Massa ends with the fastest time after all - be back later
July 4th, 2008 at 11:32 amAlianora La Canta said:
Honda seem to have gone for a mimimal-running strategy this session - the only driver who did the same as Button was Alonso, and he crashed.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:33 amAlianora La Canta said:
Well, lost an engine - I’m getting muddled…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:33 amlou said:
Oh no
no more five live for today! They are not covering FP2! 
Why not! humph! and thy didn’t read out my text either!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:35 amAlianora La Canta said:
Typical!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:36 amme said:
damn, we’re just gonna get the kangaroo tv. what did you ask em.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:38 amlou said:
It was a question to Ant asking if he were in Massa’s shoes what he would be doing know in order to stay focased on the weekend
oh and a shout out to you guys 
July 4th, 2008 at 11:38 amme said:
off to find some food and another viewing position.
thanks to everyone this morning. we’ll open a new thread shortly for fp2. hope you’re all around this afternoon, teams will have some catching up to do.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:38 amAlianora La Canta said:
The video stream has ended. For now.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:39 amlou said:
I’ll be around
July 4th, 2008 at 11:40 amAlianora La Canta said:
You’re very welcome, me. Thank you for setting things up so that we can still comment even though you’re not at home, and special thanks to Christine’s mother-in-law for her efforts.
See you just before 2!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:41 amScott Woodwiss said:
autosport text! british gp IS going to donington in 2010!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:44 amlou said:
What?!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:45 amScott Woodwiss said:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68828
here’s the story.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:47 amAlianora La Canta said:
Um… …Assuming this isn’t an extremely late April Fool’s joke, I don’t know whether to cry or cheer about this. Donington’s two stations down the railway for me, so I’d be able to get there under my own steam. Still, Silverstone doesn’t deserve to lose the Grand Prix. The BRDC has worked extremely hard over the years to keep the race and you just know this move is about money.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:47 amlou said:
OMG you’re right! Well i’ll be going to silverstone next year then…. To quote autosport
I don’t believe it…. surely Silverstone makes for a better GP…. It’s one of the oldest races on the calender!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:49 amlou said:
Can anyone tell me where Donnington actually is?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:50 amScott Woodwiss said:
come on guys, at least give donington a chance.
besides, bernie’s wanted it off the calendar for ages, so now he’s got his wish. also, it’s a different venue, which is a nice change, i think.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:51 amAlianora La Canta said:
1.5 miles from East Midlands airport. A little bit south of Derby.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:52 amAlianora La Canta said:
The other thing to know about Donington is that it’s got the world’s best collection of F1 cars - and it’s open to the public (though they charge a small admittance fee).
July 4th, 2008 at 11:53 amChristine said:
Frantic activity in the ferarri garage apparently, and kimi’s been fined for speeding in the pit lane. We’re on the move for a new spot for fP3.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:53 amAlianora La Canta said:
Scott, I think Donington can put on a good Grand Prix (it did in 1993, though the rain didn’t help). It’s the injustice of the way Silverstone was treated that grates.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:54 amAlianora La Canta said:
Oops! Ferrari are having a bad day.
I assume you mean FP2 not FP3, since FP3 is Saturday morning and FP” is only 2 hours and 6 minutes away?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:55 amlou said:
Thanks Alianora
Damn Donnington is even further away from me!
I am not happy…. I’m not good with change at the best of times but weren’t Silverstone going to do up the pitlane etc… they were trying! 
July 4th, 2008 at 11:59 amAlianora La Canta said:
They were - but they needed council permission to do it, and the council wouldn’t approve unless there was a contract beyond 2009…
July 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pmlou said:
oh right… pretty much everyone against them then :/
July 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pmlou said:
In other news Mclaren have had another tea party, this time with their neighbours Red bull and Williams. Lol
July 4th, 2008 at 12:14 pmAlianora La Canta said:
They had a tea party with their old neighbours Force India and Super Aguri earlier in the season. Do you suppose there’ll be another tea party if McLaren are moved again? And would that still apply if McLaren are in the top 2 at the end of the year and one of the neighbours turns out to be Ferrari?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pmlou said:
yeah i should think so… not sure what they are trying to achieve with these tea parties… do they think if they invite their neighbours round for tea then they will be nice to them on track or something?….
July 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pmAlianora La Canta said:
To judge by Matt’s comments, I think he wants other people to think of F1 teams as nice. I’m not sure how effective tea parties alone are to that goal.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pmMattw said:
british gp IS going to donington in 2010!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Indeed so, Mattw. Some saving up is in order…
July 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pmlou said:
It’s a very strange thing to do tbh… have a team ever done anything like it before?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:31 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I know Jordan used to invite all and sundry to Friday media breakfasts, and teams routinely find one or two other team members joining them for the odd meal, but nothing for the specific purposes of bringing other teams and only other teams together.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:32 pmMattw said:
Does anyone know how long the contract is for?
This could go one of two ways. Donnington will need a lot more cash then Silverstone to bring it up to standard. This announcement could just be apart of the negotiations - remember the race was going back to Brands a couple of years ago - plus the situation with Magny Cours
Or this is real, and will prove a huge problem for Silverstone. The same thing happened with Brands Hatch back in the 80’s. I remember what Brands was like in the 80’s, and seen what has happened to it since.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:49 pmChristine said:
A private investor? Sounds like we could be looking at the Bernie E Grand Prix. When Max says well done to Bernie for securing the GP’s future, does he mean cos he bought it?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:54 pmScott Woodwiss said:
no, i think he means “well done for getting silverstone off the calendar at last.”
July 4th, 2008 at 1:01 pmScott Woodwiss said:
this is apparently what the Donington bosses are promising:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68829
July 4th, 2008 at 1:03 pmScott Woodwiss said:
and i think this explains the black bits on the toyota:
http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/106196
July 4th, 2008 at 1:12 pmSteven Roy said:
A few years ago Brands Hatch signed a contract for the race. They ended up coming to a deal with Silverstone so that the race stayed where it was. Donington would need a lot of work to get it up to GP standards.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pmMattw said:
The reason Silverstone has been in so much trouble is that the amount Bernie charges, the race does not make viable business sense on it’s own. That is why Silverstone has never been able to raise the cash to develop the circuit. It’s also why we no longer have a race in the US. A private investor? I hope they have done their sums
July 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pmlou said:
FP1 times
1 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:19.575
2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren 0:00.012
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 0:00.048
4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 0:00.373
5 Robert Kubica BMW 0:00.792
6 Fernando Alonso Renault 0:00.861
7 Sebastien Vettel Toro Rosso 0:01.013
8 Nelson Piquet Renault 0:01.078
9 David Coulthard Red Bull 0:01.123
10 Nico Rosberg Williams 0:01.169
11 Mark Webber Red Bull 0:01.317
12 Timo Glock Toyota 0:01.527
13 Nick Heidfeld BMW 0:01.532
14 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso 0:01.591
15 Jarno Trulli Toyota 0:01.690
16 Kazuki Nakajima Williams 0:01.707
17 Jenson Button Honda 0:02.326
18 Adrian Sutil Force India 0:02.594
19 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India 0:02.644
20 Rubens Barrichello Honda 0:04.548
sorry it’s badly formatted…
July 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pmlou said:
Looks like i am not the only one surprised the British Racing Drivers’ Club say that they are surprised too…. and i kinda get the impression from the article that the BRDC don’t really think that they will loose the GP…… possibly because of what happend with Brands a few years ago?
July 4th, 2008 at 7:41 pmme said:
the minor miracle that is f1 minute is now up:
http://www.f1minute.com/2008/0…ate-from-the-track-itself/
many thanks to USP for use of their electricty
f1 digest may prove more troublesome, we’ll see.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:24 pmme said:
just to pick you up on this point scott, because i missed it at the time.
imho… you’re an idiot.
seriously, i mean that.
i know you’re young and pointing this out won’t make the blindest bit of difference, but even if you chose not to wear ear protection yourself, insulting others for doing the same is utterly irresponsible.
we at sidepodcast encourage the use of such things, and both of us wear earplugs and occasionally ear defenders at the same time.
you may not think so, but you may not even know if damage has been done.
there’s a whole blog post in this and i’ll write one asap.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:26 pmScott Woodwiss said:
wow, i never realised you were so offended by that. I’m so so sorry, I only said it as a joke, I swear I didn’t mean it. Please, let’s not fall out. That’s the last thing I wanted.
Again, I’m very sorry
July 7th, 2008 at 8:30 pmme said:
tis okay sir, i didn’t see it amongst all the action at the time.
we take such things very seriously.
not falling out with you by any means, just don’t want to be seen to be encouraging such things around here.
we probably haven’t done a good enough job of pointing out our feelings anyhow, so it’s a good thing it’s come up, and if we were concentrating i’d have called you on it sooner.
not half as sorry as you might be in a few years!
July 7th, 2008 at 8:32 pmScott Woodwiss said:
no no, i understand completely.
sorry, i don’t understand? :S
July 7th, 2008 at 8:36 pmme said:
i think we have a pretty substantial subject to cover during our first interview
July 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pmScott Woodwiss said:
hmm, personally i’d rather not go back into a subject that’s made both of us uncomfortable and eventually caused a slight rift. I’m afraid it might cause another argument, and that’s something i definately don’t want, and I’m sure you don’t either. I hope you understand where I’m coming from
To clear something up, I will admit that I used earplugs at the British GP in 2005. Yes, even though I did say real F1 fans don’t use them, I have to hold my hands up and say that 20 3.0 V10s at full throttle going past at once does go hard on the ears somewhat, especially from where I was, which was pretty much the closest you could be to the track, just before Maggots.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:45 pmme said:
a difference of opinion makes for a good debate, no?
you said:
to which i’m somewhat aghast.
however, it’s pointless christine and i discussing the matter as we’re pretty much in agreement. so it’d be a short debate, and probably come across as preaching. much better to hear two sides to the same story methinks.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:48 pmScott Woodwiss said:
if you read my ammended comment, you will see that I admitted to using earplugs once.
You know this little rift has got me in a rather down mood right now…
July 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pmScott Woodwiss said:
yes, i agree, but not when it causes one person to call the other an idiot, and that’s not me saying you were wrong to, by the way.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pmme said:
okay, apologies for that.
i prefixed it with “imho”, but yes a little harsh.
i do think it was a dumb thing to say, but you wrote yours in the midst of live commenting and i wrote mine 3 days later. so sorry, please don’t be offended, but if the next time you go to a track and at least consider using ear protection, then the abuse was worth it.
i’ll write me a blog post now, because it needs more background than a comment can provide. don’t be down, gimmie 10mins.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:58 pmScott Woodwiss said:
as long we remain good friends, then apology accepted. I will admit though, I was a bit of a clot and was probably caught up in the whole excitement of the race weekend and Lewis, etc.
It was rather loud when all the cars went past all at once, I will admit. Next time I’m at a GP, I’ll keep a pair of earplugs on my person just in case I decide to change my mind. Precautions and all that.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:02 pmCan You Hear What I Hear? | Sidepodcast : Your Weekly F1 Podcast said:
[...] back through all of the live comments we missed out on during the weekend, when I came across a short sentence from Scott posted during Friday’s first session. The statement left me completely gobsmacked and [...]