Sidepodcast

• Length: 10:16 
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• File: digest63.mp3 
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The Fuji Speedway sees only a smattering of rain which clears up for both Free Practice and Qualifying. It looks like McLaren have the edge so far, but listen on to see who’s feeling confident ahead of the race.

Free Practice 3

The drying track meant for a slow start to proceedings, quite a few drivers taking it very easy and not wanting to get wet, and a bit of a surprise grid. Glock was up at the top a lot, as was Piquet, but it was Kubica who made it stick.

Qualifying

Only one major surprise in qualifying, was the BMW split, with one into Q3 and one not out of Q1. At the top, though, the championship battle is really hotting up, with team policies looking like they might come into play.

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Christine and I have been picking through the bones of today’s International Court of Appeal rejection, and the main point we keep coming back to is the involvement of Tony Scott-Andrews.

Them’s the Rules

Just to reiterate, prior to the hearing it became apparent to the FIA that McLaren were going to rely on the admission of a previous appeal hearing from October 2007 as part of the basis for their defence. To counter this, the FIA informed McLaren that there was a mistake made by the stewards during that particular hearing and in fact the defendant, one Vitantonio Liuzzi, was assigned a 25 second time penalty in Fuji, but he actually should have been given a post-race drive-through penalty (which equates to 25 seconds and which cannot be appealed).

This in and of itself, seems perfectly legitimate. Article 16.3 of the sporting regulations states that in the case of Tonio’s infraction, one of three penalties can be meted out. A drive through penalty, a ten second penalty or a 10 place grid drop next time around. Additionally article 152 states that pit lane drive-throughs are not susceptible to appeal.

A Moment of Madness

So all is well and good. The stewards messed up in Fuji and then the ICA didn’t question it during appeal, but as it was, the case was lost and the results stood as they were. Questions should be asked how all this managed to occur of course, but that’s not the argument today. The rules clearly state a mistake was made and the FIA fessed up, presumably with the intention of saving themselves much embarrassment in Paris.

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In 2007, it was so obvious that Lewis Hamilton was going to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. No one had seen such a stunning start to a sporting career, and he had reinvigorated plenty of Briton’s interest in motor racing.

Then Joe Calzaghe started punching his way into the public’s hearts, and everyone forgot about their F1 hero. He finished up second, but who ever remembers second place in this kind of competition?

The question is, can Hamilton make it this year? He’s well on his way to a maiden championship title, with only one real rival for it. He’s been winning all over the place, featured in all the newspapers, handing out some awards, and generally increasing his popularity.

Granted Lewis also left the country and bemoaned being famous, but that doesn’t seem to have damaged his status too much.

The problem with this year is a small little thing called the Olympics. Our athletes won our highest medal tally for over 100 years, and we brought home plenty of lovely gold.

With the Games fresh in our minds, and lingering due to our hosting duties in 2012, it’s highly likely that Mr Hamilton will be usurped again. I’m not a betting expert, and the bracketed odds are bound to change, but the BBC list swimming champ Rebecca Adlington (2-1), cyclist Chris Hoy (5-2) and sailor Ben Ainslie (20-1) amongst those in with a chance. Hamilton (5-2) is right up there with the best of them.

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• Length: 53:26 
• Size: 47.6 MB 
• File: episode77.mp3 
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The weekend that Formula 1 needed was exactly what we got, and for once, everything fell into place. This week we discuss Max Mosley, FOTA, and the race in Italy, plus catchup with Fantasy Racers and your feedback.

Intro

It rained in Monza, and 5live almost got washed out, but thankfully, we’re nice and dry!

Good Week / Bad Week

Good week for being timely, and for being the boss, but a bad week for Honda staff and the German Grand Prix.

News and Views

Max Mosley is back, says we’re stupid, and that he’s not going anywhere. Meanwhile, the FOTA get their act together, choose their leaders, and decide what they’re going to do. The big question is, when will they start doing it?

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• Length: 11:26 
• Size: 10.5 MB 
• File: digest56.mp3 
• Transcript: digest56.pdf 
• Torrent: digest56.torrent 

The wet, wet weekend continued into the race, and made things fascinating when it came to tyre strategy. Hamilton could have pulled off a master stroke, but Vettel kept his head.

The Race

Starting behind the safety car could have been a bad omen, but thankfully it wasn’t. It was all about grip, tyres, and who was brave in the lack of visibility. Overtaking was plentiful, most of it down to the one guy.

Conclusions

All decide it was a tough day, which, given the conditions, is hardly surprising. Alonso feels they surpassed their expectations, as does one half of Toro Rosso, but others, such as Williams could have done with a better day.

• Length: 50:25 
• Size: 44.4 MB 
• File: episode76.mp3 
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In which we discuss all manner of important things, such as ride on lawnmowers, marker pens, and chocolate ice cream. Oh, and that Belgium penalty business is analysed by us and some guests.

Intro

We will talk about it but before we get to the thing on everyone’s minds we have to look back a bit first.

Good Week / Bad Week

It’s both a good and bad week for Bridgestone as they seem to have plans for the future, as long as they only involve white. Williams have got their grass-cutting measures sorted, whilst we’re worried about the Irish in F1.

News and Views

Ted Kravitz said it first when he realised there would be a problem regarding the close proximity of Donington Park to the airport. In happier news, Ron Dennis supports charity, and fishing.

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If you’re not sick of us by now, then this is the place to be. We’re recording the first official episode of F1 Debrief, otherwise known as Sidepodcast Episode 76.

What a day we’ve had! The race at Spa was pretty mega in itself, and then you add in the controversial penalties and the enormous amounts of discussion that follow such decisions, and you’re left with a brilliant Sunday afternoon.

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• Length: 9:53 
• Size: 9.1 MB 
• File: digest36.mp3 
• Transcript: digest36.pdf 
• Torrent: digest36.torrent 

It was wet and cold and for those of us camping, not a particularly pleasant experience. But what a race! Every single second of that Grand Prix made up for every drop of rain, and today’s F1 Digest aims to cover all the action.

The Race

What a stunning mix of strategy problems, tyre issues, and overtaking maneouvres. I don’t think I’ve ever seen quite so many spins in my life, and poor Massa’s reputation is ruined once more.

Conclusions

Interestingly, many of the drivers out there seem to have had a bad day. Even race winner Hamilton says that it was one of the toughest races he’s ever driven. Only Nakajima seemed to enjoy himself, but that’s okay, because I know the crowd did even more.

I think I mentioned in the Canada podcast, that Massa has really taken a step up in my estimation. Previous to this season, I thought of him as a bit of a no-hoper, clinging on to the coat tails of Michael Schumacher. A harsh assumption, but it was just that, an initial opinion based on very little evidence. He came a very second best to Raikkonen last year, and so I’d basically written him off.

Turnaround

So, what’s changed? I’m going to pin it all on Monaco. Massa was having a dire start to the season - three races in, zero points, Raikkonen dominating, not a lot to look forward to. Then Monaco came along and everything was different. It began with the usual pre-qualifying excuses, that he didn’t like the track and wasn’t expecting to do well. But he stormed out there and took pole position, surprising everyone, including himself. I don’t remember the exact words, but afterwards his race engineer Rob Smedley said they had both worked like the devil on the track and on Massa’s mind. It clearly worked and something had clicked.

Total Eclipse

Since then, it’s been all good for Felipe. He may not always take the win, as in Canada, but he’s always there, a thorn in the other driver’s side, challenging them. Whilst everyone was panicking about the track breaking up at Montreal, Massa was there, cool as you like, ready to take it as it comes. The results will surely follow.

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Prior to the Turkish Grand Prix the McLaren team managed to humiliate their number one driver by having him dangle from the rafters while a folkdance troupe performed below. Now say what you like about that particular fiasco, but at least it was original.

Unlike say, the idea of encrusting a racing drivers helmet with some expensive diamonds, just in time for the Monaco Grand Prix, which, for some reason has something of a familiar ring to it.

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