Sidepodcast

• Length: 08:26 
• Size: 7.8 MB 
• File: digest98.mp3 
• Transcript: digest98.pdf 
• Torrent: digest98.torrent 

How would our drivers take to the narrowest street circuit on the calendar? The sun was out and the engines were ready to explode – find out who made it to the end of the sessions in today’s F1 Digest.

Free Practice 1

It was Red Bull’s turn to suffer in the morning, whilst we saw plenty of drivers struggling to keep it on the road as the tarmac turned from streets to circuit over 90 minutes.

Free Practice 2

BMW had issues during the second session, whilst Red Bull tried their best to recover. Rosberg showed his home fans how it’s done, and Hamilton continued improving.

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• Length: 06:46 
• Size: 6.2 MB 
• File: digest97.mp3 
• Transcript: digest97.pdf 
• Torrent: digest97.torrent 

Formula 1 heads to one of the highlights of the calendar, to the twists and turns and tight corners of Monaco. Expect glitz and glamour, expect very little overtaking, but most of all, expect chaos.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 24th May
• Circuit: Monaco
• Length: 3.3km
• Laps: 78
• 2008 Winner: Lewis Hamilton

Preview

Last year it was the weather that caused the mayhem, and early forecasts suggest there will be no such precipitation this time round. However, always expect the unexpected, especially when teams will be throwing cars through the tunnel for the first time since the regulations changed so drastically.

• Length: 8:45 
• Size: 8.1 MB 
• File: digest96.mp3 
• Transcript: digest96.pdf 
• Torrent: digest96.torrent 

The Spanish Grand Prix doesn’t always deliver, but this race could have been a lot worse. Listen on for a recap of all the action from drivers getting great starts to almost not making the finish line.

The Race

A first corner accident, some great strategy work from the teams, and a driver trying desperately not to run out of fuel. All this and more made the racing in Barcelona a lot better than what we have seen from the Spanish track in the past.

Team by Team

McLaren knew this would be their worst track and had their fears confirmed, whilst Ferrari are buoyed by the updates, even if their reliability was at fault once again. Brawn GP reign supreme but Red Bull are still hot on their heels.

• Length: 10:17 
• Size: 9.5 MB 
• File: digest95.mp3 
• Transcript: digest95.pdf 
• Torrent: digest95.torrent 

It looked to be a Ferrari day, but bad decision making happens to the best of us. F1 Digest runs you through all the action from Saturday, from the early practice moments, to the last second fast laps of qualifying.

Free Practice 3

Ferrari led the way in FP3 this morning, which was something of a surprise, and led us to wonder what they may be capable of in qualifying.

Qualifying

Unfortunately, the team were split in quali, with yet another bad decision from Ferrari waving Kimi out of the action early. The final session was madness and brilliant, though.

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• Length: 08:29 
• Size: 7.8 MB 
• File: digest94.mp3 
• Transcript: digest94.pdf 
• Torrent: digest94.torrent 

The Spanish race weekend gets underway with some flames from Buemi, some spins from Piquet, and of course, a top time from Rosberg. Catch up with all the FP1 and 2 action in today’s F1 Digest.

Free Practice 1

The installation laps were completed straight away and then an entire half hour passed before Bourdais thankfully got to work. There was little of interest in the morning, except some surprisingly fast BMWs.

Free Practice 2

FP2 followed the usual pattern, only this time we got to see a Toro Rosso in flames, and plenty of action from young Piquet with an unhappy Briatore watching on.

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• Length: 07:03 
• Size: 6.5 MB 
• File: digest93.mp3 
• Transcript: digest93.pdf 
• Torrent: digest93.torrent 

We’re well rested ahead of the race at Barcelona, and as a track we visit frequently for testing, are we expecting anything out of the ordinary? Listen on to the F1 Digest preview to find out.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 10th May
• Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya
• Length: 4.7km
• Laps: 66
• 2008 Winner: Kimi Raikkonen

Preview

The weather for the 2009 season is topsy-turvy, sometimes hot, sometimes wet, and this race is going to head one way or another, it seems. All the teams are glad for the rest, looking forward to their updates, and hoping they’re better off for them.

• Length: 11:14 
• Size: 10.3 MB 
• File: digest92.mp3 
• Transcript: digest92.pdf 
• Torrent: digest92.torrent 

The last of the early flyaway races, Bahrain needed to be a good, clean race, and it was. It may not have been as spectacular as those we have already seen, but there was plenty of strategy and racing to be seen.

The Race

It turned a little bit processional towards the end, but the early laps more than made up for it, with some interesting KERS work by certain teams. We only saw one retiree as well, which is unusual for the heat and dust of the desert.

Team by Team

Brawn GP are happy to have won without the aid of a safety car, whilst Vettel takes comfort in a second place he wasn’t really expecting. Toyota, though, find their fall from grace disastrous, whilst BMW cannot find anything good to say about their race.

• Length: 13:03 
• Size: 12.0 MB 
• File: digest91.mp3 
• Transcript: digest91.pdf 
• Torrent: digest91.torrent 

Another new set of faces line up on the front of the grid, and all eyes are on the fuel loads to make sense of the madness. The possibility of a sandstorm still looms, but we’re hoping it doesn’t come to that.

Free Practice 3

Glock somehow managed to top the timesheets and end the session with his car under the custody of the marshals. There was little else to report, and it was to qualifying we turned our attention.

Qualifying

It’s fair to say the strength of the Toyota was a surprise, even with the fuel weights, and the fact they tested here over the winter. Webber had a tough afternoon, and Sutil feels remorseful for that.

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• Length: 09:08 
• Size: 8.4 MB 
• File: digest90.mp3 
• Transcript: digest90.pdf 
• Torrent: digest90.torrent 

Things get off to a slow start in Bahrain, with Hamilton leading an unusual FP1, but Rosberg making things right again in Free Practice 2. Ferrari are having a miserable time and aren’t afraid to tell us about it.

Free Practice 1

We’re starting to see more and more of the installation lap followed by inactivity pattern that dominated Fridays last year. I thought part of the appeal of banning testing was to increase Friday running but it would seem that is not the case.

Free Practice 2

Nevertheless, both sessions were relatively interesting once the cars were on track. The drivers found it hard to stay on the tarmac, with the tyres struggling in the hot, desert heat. Rosberg ended the day on top, as he always seems to!

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• Length: 08:21 
• Size: 7.7 MB 
• File: digest89.mp3 
• Transcript: digest89.pdf 
• Torrent: digest89.torrent 

We’re heading off into the desert for a race that splits opinion – amongst the paddock people at least. Some like it’s curves, others would rather move on to another circuit. Let’s hope the racing is up to scratch.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 26th April
• Circuit: Bahrain International
• Length: 5.4km
• Laps: 57
• 2008 Winner: Felipe Massa

Preview

After two races of bad weather, the entire focus of the weekend is on the possibility of a sandstorm. We’re also expecting good things from those who tested here over the winter, but never underestimate Brawn GP or Red Bull either.