Ancillary F1 - Météo-France
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- File: ancillary5.mp3
- Transcript: ancillary5.pdf
- Torrent: ancillary5.torrent
Welcome to the Sidepodcast Mini Series Ancillary F1. Already this series we’ve had a look at Bridgestone, Mercedes and Tilke Engineering, and today it’s the turn of another company who help the world of Formula 1 without ever taking home a trophy.
Météo-France is the official national meteorological service in France, and is the weather data supplier for Formula 1 teams. The organisation has been in existence since 1993, with headquarters in Paris, and funds most of it’s 300 million Euro budget with state grants, royalties, and commercial services.
One of those commercial services began in alliance with Toyota. In 1997, the team manager of Toyota was Ange Pasquali, and he brought Météo-France on board to provide weather information for Le Mans. The company soon progressed onto Formula 1.
Eight of the teams currently contribute towards the cost of the weather service, although when the FIA discussed a potential increase in the cost of Formula 1 entry fees recently, it was suggested that teams pay for the system in it’s entirety and estimated its annual cost at 485,000EUR per year.
Météo-France supply data to the FIA from a small unit within the circuit and measure the weather to internationally accepted standards. The information gathered isn’t supposed to be used in regulatory matters, as that is the job of FOM supplied weather data, which can be found on page 3 of the pitlane timing screens. However, controversially both the Williams and BMW teams relied on the supplied information for their “cool-fuel” defense following the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The main problem for Météo-France is that the FOM supplied information and their own quite often disagree. Race Control can provide us with the standard “No rain expected in the next thirty minutes” messages, but, the service has a reputation for being a bit unreliable.
Some people within the paddock aren’t happy with either system mind you. In 2006, Pat Symonds wasn’t shy about mincing his words. When asked how useful the information was, he said: “Rubbish. Absolute rubbish. There is just nothing here. We don’t subscribe to the Météo-France system, because we normally bring our own weathermen.” But then talking of the FOM supplied system, in October of 2007, Pat said “The equipment that is used to display the temperature on page 3 of the timing screens is very, very old. It’s not cared for, it’s not been calibrated for years.”
In addition to turning up to races, the French weather provider is also on hand at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track. The nearby airport has been using the services for some time and in the summer of 2007 the HTTT’s Intranet system was upgraded to supply teams with essential weather information.
This gives us a good example of what Météo-France can do when they get it right. Paul Ricard gets a four-day forecast which is updated every few hours, and is constantly rolling forward. There’s also a seven day forecast covering a much wider area. If the weather looks like it’s getting serious, Météo-France can issue the circuit with various warnings and red alerts. The intranet side of things also boasts some radar images, to allow officials at the circuit to make their own mind up about conditions.
In real life, no one ever believes what the weather man says, but when it comes to Formula 1, getting accurate information is vital to race strategy and ultimately results. Whilst we might complain about Météo-France, FOM and their weather systems, the question is, could anyone do it better?
That’s it for this show. I’d love to hear your feedback about the weather information supplied during races, leave your thoughts on 0121 28 87225 or at Sidepodcast.com. See you tomorrow for another ancillary company.
Theme music: Porter Block, Second Wind.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:07 pmme said:
michael fish?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:23 amFlibster said:
Naaah. Gary has a much better method.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danzden/105582588/
October 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pmme said:
you should market that to the teams… less that 485,000EUR, about as reliable.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pmChristine said:
Canada has gone!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71205
October 7th, 2008 at 2:05 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I’ve found free weather forecasting services like windguru to be about as reliable…
October 7th, 2008 at 2:07 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I can only assume this is either connected to the track falling to bits over the weekend or money. More likely the latter.
Rough news for the North Americans
October 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pmAlianora La Canta said:
That said, I’m more worried about Max being given permission to initiate extraordinary measures to “tackle costs” in 2010, in the same article. Max has made enough of a mess of things as it is - this is like giving the fox charge over the chicken coop.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:34 pmme said:
what? ahh for goodness sakes.
presumably with no US GP, they can no longer cover the freight costs themselves?
October 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pmme said:
agreed, although as previously noted FOTA have been coming up with some daft suggestions of late.
looking at it in a positive light, nothing he comes up with in ‘10, will be as ugly as the 2009 aero bits.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pmChristine said:
No more marmots
October 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pmme said:
awww
October 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pmme said:
in other fia news:
“The drivers finishing in the top three positions in the Formula Two championship will qualify for an FIA Superlicence, the governing body said on Tuesday.”
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71207
presumably they’ll still have to pay the vastly inflated license costs though? how’s a f2 driver going to afford that?
October 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pmAlianora La Canta said:
Hmmm. So the F2 provisions won’t be as generous as the GP2 ones have been (which currently allow the top 5 in, or anyone who’s won a GP2 race). Is this an attempt to restrict supply (not that it needs restricting any further than it already is)?
October 7th, 2008 at 2:50 pmAlianora La Canta said:
me, I agree that FOTA’s ideas are stupid, but so are Max’s. What we need is somebody with some sense in power…
October 7th, 2008 at 2:55 pmSteven Roy said:
I reckon the Canada thing is just a subtle Bernie negotiating ploy. I am sure the race will happen.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:09 pmme said:
yeah, you’re probably correct. although similar things were said about the USGP going awol if i recall?
October 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pmRed in Canada said:
Well, I think the appropriate term is “gobsmacked”. The petro-dollars in the middle east and southeast asia are carrying the day. I am biased as I attend the Canadian GP every year but I am not naive enough to think fans come before dollars. The quote below was posted on TSN - Canada’s national sports network:
“In 2005, the Canadian Grand Prix was the third most watched sporting event in the world behind only Super Bowl XXXIX between New England and Philadelphia and the UEFA Champions League final featuring Liverpool and AC Milan.”
October 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pmJordan Allen said:
Nah. It is always money with Bernie. Why have a challenging track on the calendar that separates the men from the boys and has the possiblity of getting someone killed when you have wimpy tracks which are so safe that anyone in a VW beetle has a good shot of matching the lap times?
You get the same number of fans watching the race, but Bernie makes more money as the insurance payment gots down to zero as there is nothing to ensure…
Well can not wait until he gets rid of the British Grand Prix for another crappy version of the Hun-bor-o-ring.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pmScott Woodwiss (Franck FTW! XD) said:
RE: Canada
And they say North America is their main target market, like we discussed. Funny way of showing it when you start taking their races away…
October 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pmSteven Roy said:
i feel a conspiracy theory is needed and today we have all the ingredients we need. Two stories which were announced today. Canada loses its race and Piccinini announces his resignation as Max’s deputy. Clearly Max will have a replacement lined up before the announcement(Todt?)and maybe he needs to secure a couple of swing voters. We give you your race back if you play ball in the election. Seems feasible.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:24 pmr.g (my fuji, its mini me) said:
Casually looking on the BBC website to see who Spurs got, and notice this in the corner of my eye. After several seconds of swearing and possibly misbelief.
I’m sorry, Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed himself as a greedy, selfish, and a lot more that would be repeated for this not a family blog. Taking Canada off the calender is like taking the bladder from the body, it may not seem important, but my god, it is.
Get the hell rid of Bernie the Muppet now, and put someone who gives a damn about the sport in charge of this, cos if its all about the damn money, then damn, this sport has lost all meaning. Put someone who gives a damn about F1 in charge of this, I don’t care who, Damon Hill, someone like him, who WILL get the good tracks back, the Suzuka’s, the Indy’s, and not expand it to Asia. We have enough tracks over there, but as it stands, North America have 0. They’ve been treated like slaves up there, no money = go away.
Aside from Monaco and Nurburgring, this is probably the BEST track their is or was in F1. Since when haven’t you seen a dull race in Montreal? Not since I’ve been watching it anyways. The FIA, Bernie Ecclestone should perhaps sit with the fans and watch the race cos by the looks of it, they care more about whether or not there will be Arab’s serving them tea at 1pm race day.
You may have noticed I’m a bit annoyed, and that is because it’s ruined my day. As a BMW fan, I love this track even more considering we won it. And once I get started with a rant, I can’t stop
October 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pmme said:
gotta be honest with ya jordan. i’d rather it was the BGP that was chopped rather than canada
October 7th, 2008 at 4:51 pmSteven Roy said:
Another little story was sneaked out on the back of an announcement about Canada and which potentially has greater repercussions is the changes to the engine freeze. You know the ten year engine freeze which became the five year freeze which became the five year really cold but not quite frozen freeze because you could make alterations to improve reliability even if like Ferrari you didn’t have any reliability problems. Well is looks like it has thawed a bit more. In fact I think it is about to be very wet.
Sounds to me like the freeze has pretty much thawed out.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71205
October 7th, 2008 at 6:14 pmRed in Canada said:
Bernie and the boys follow up the announcement with another class act…
“In a surprising statement issued by the organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix, it was revealed that no news of plans to axe North America’s single Formula One event had reached them prior to its announcement.
The Canadian GP was removed from the 2009 calendar by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council earlier today, with no explanations given.
“The organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix have learned through the media of the Canadian Grand Prix’s removal from the 2009 Formula One championship calendar,” the two-paragraph French-language statement reads.
“Consequently, no comments will be issued before speaking with the interested parties, Formula One Management (FOM) and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).”
The news hit Montreal like a storm, provoking strong reactions among fans towards the FIA, which is accused of showing disrespect towards the long-standing event.”
October 7th, 2008 at 6:31 pmr.g (my fuji, its mini me) said:
Oooh, its turning into a damn soap now, not what F1 needs.
Talking with some Canadians who live in Montreal, they said it would be better held in Mid-October if the reasons were of broken up tarmac etc.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:08 pmme said:
thanks for the info red, and i quite a agree, that’s a shameful way to go about business.
isn’t the damage done during the winter, how is running the race later in the year going to help? it’ll still be the same broken asphalt.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pmr.g (my fuji, its mini me) said:
mid-october is before the snow falls, it will be lower temp, so no broken asphalt etc.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:52 pmme said:
you’re gonna have to explain this one to me then.
i thought the problem with canadian asphalt was the rate at which the surface freezes and then thaws. the rate at which this happens causes the damage. so how does moving the date later in the year make any difference if the surface is wrecked anyhow?
October 7th, 2008 at 8:34 pmme said:
sidepodcast congrats go out to shaun who completed the great north run on sunday in a time of 1h 48m.
he raised £420 for chairty and you can read more about his day here:
http://shaungymcycle.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-post.html
October 7th, 2008 at 9:40 pmr.g (my fuji, its mini me) said:
living in newcastle, it can be blooming annoying when you can’t go down town for some shopping over the weekend, and the red arrows are loud. but, i respect those who run for charity, so congratualtions sir, and doesn’t look too bad those stats either. so a thumbs up from me.
anyone confuse you with a ‘alreet the neet doon the toon like’?
October 7th, 2008 at 9:59 pmme said:
hahah. you no fans of planes then?
October 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pmr.g (my fuji, its mini me) said:
love em actually, just not when they fly about five feet above your house in a pack of 7.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:28 amJordan Allen said:
Well, seeing how it could take until late May to make sure the snow melts and you are into June to make sure that all the snow melt has dried up in the ground, you really have about 4 days to rip out the old track, lay down new tarmac and smooth out everything. If you move everything to mid-October, the city crews have a better chance of curring the track.
Of course this means that Montreal will have the driest Winter yet.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:47 amme said:
you can’t re-lay a circuit year-on-year can you?
well, not if you fancy breaking even, anyhow.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:42 amAlianora La Canta said:
It’s got to be cheaper than the emergency $35m of repairs Canada had to do in 2008, and would almost certainly have better results. But the way the powers-that-be have handled this is stupid - what are the FIA doing interfering in what is normally a Bernie decision?