Sidepodcast

• Length: 10:14 
• Size: 9.5 MB 
• File: digest43.mp3 
• Transcript: digest43.pdf 
• Torrent: digest43.torrent 

At first glance, it looks like McLaren will walk this weekend easily, securing a 1-2 in qualifying. However, there are glimpses of hope from unexpected quarters, including Kubica, Glock and maybe even Massa.

Free Practice 3

Another slow start to the day, but once the cars were out on track, it was worth keeping an eye on them. The Renault’s were trying out a radical new (slow) strategy, whilst Vettel was making the most of being able to get through an actual session.

Qualifying

Heidfeld had issues from the very start, whilst Kubica was very much best of the rest. Hamilton and Kovalainen led the way, looking unbeatable.

Conclusions

A five-place grid drop for Bourdais means that he lines up in 19th place, whilst at the very other end of the grid, Hamilton is ecstatic with the new updates to the car.

• Length: 9:50 
• Size: 9.1 MB 
• File: digest39.mp3 
• Transcript: digest39.pdf 
• Torrent: digest39.torrent 

McLaren are seriously leading all the way, but there’s still room for others to shine, as Vettel, Trulli and Alonso have proven. Keep an eye on Raikkonen and Kubica though.

Free Practice 3

Many of the drivers struggled to find grip today, whether because of the cooler climates, or their tyres graining. Kovalainen went straight to the top of the timesheets, whilst Sutil headed for the gravel.

Qualifying

No rain, despite the forecasts, and we saw Raikkonen struggling whilst Massa skipped into second with ease. Trulli and Alonso put in fine performances, but it was all about Hamilton on pole position.

Conclusions

Several of our drivers believe they may have been held up in traffic, maybe even impeded, but so far there have been no penalties handed out. Barrichello is hoping he can repeat his feat from 2000, 18th to 1st in the race. We’ll have to wait and see.

• Length: 9:49 
• Size: 9.1 MB 
• File: digest35.mp3 
• Transcript: digest35.pdf 
• Torrent: digest35.torrent 

A wet final Free Practice session turned into a damp qualifying, with some new faces ending up at the front of the grid.

Free Practice 3

Some very unusual timings Alonso and Webber towards the sharp end, and some of the usual suspects struggling more than you’d expect.

Qualifying

The rain held off for the majority of the session but appeared just in time to ruin Honda’s day. Webber was so close to making the front, but Kovalainen really wanted his maiden pole position.

Conclusions

Williams are less optimistic than they were yesterday, whilst BMW are hoping they’re on the way up. Ferrari are not at all happy with how the day went, whilst McLaren are reasonably satisfied. Listen to today’s show to find out how the other teams feel after the days events.

• File: episode67.m4a
• Length: 40:32
• Size: 37.5 MB
• Transcript: Coming soon

In a week where there is no news, we discuss all the events of the race weekend in France, including the many penalties, how drivers stack up against their team mates, and what did we really learn from the safety car test?

Intro

We got a shout out on 5live thanks to Scott.

Good Week / Bad Week

Good week for France, bad week for… No, wait, there is no news.

Qualifying

The safety car test during Free Practice didn’t reveal as much as we hoped, and the drivers are also wary. We had an insider at the track, and Ferrari appeared to have it all under control.

Continue reading…

• Length: 10:36 
• Size: 9.8 MB 
• File: digest31.mp3 
• Transcript: digest31.pdf 
• Torrent: digest31.torrent 

When qualifying is preceded by a Free Practice with Piquet on top, you know you’re in for a fascinating day. Listen to today’s F1 Digest for details of the highs, the lows, and the many, many penalties.

Free Practice 3

Piquet led the way today, in a session where none of the regular’s made an appearance in the top four, and there was no apparent reason for it.

Qualifying

Knowledge of prior penalties, plus one handed out after the event spiced up the results today, and keep us all guessing over strategies.

Conclusions

The usual mix of optimism and disappointment. Hamilton is apologising, Bourdais is worried that it’s just too competitive and Raikkonen is honoured to help Ferrari hit 200.

This mornings one hour practice essentially told us nothing in terms of who has pace and who’s having problems. Without wanting to pick on the guy too much, you know something’s not right when the first name on the timing sheet is Nelson Piquet Jr.

There did seem to be less off-track rallying action today, with the majority of drivers figuring out the quickest way around this place is to stick to the asphalt. The soft tyre appears to be causing headaches up and down the pitlane, with the quickest time being set on the harder of the available compounds. That’ll probably be the story of qualifying this afternoon. Who can make the soft rubber last a single flying lap?

In terms of the midfield, Lewis Hamilton will be the man to watch. McLaren have a variety of strategies they can use to help Hamilton fight back from his 10-place penalty, from fuelling him light and fighting through the traffic, to going long and bagging as many points as he can. We’ll have a better idea which way the team will go in less than two hours.

Keep an eye also on the BMW drivers. Yesterday Kubica’s running was curtailed by a misfire while today the cars look a handful, but they’ll be hoping to build on the win in Canada and may try something aggressive for tomorrows race.

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• File: episode65.m4a
• Length: 42:49
• Size: 38.6 MB
• Transcript: Coming soon

The shorter I want the show to be, the longer it gets, but there is so much to discuss, from Max to the race, from pit stops to marmots, it’s all in this Canadian GP wrap-up.

Intro

Please can we do a short show? Pretty please?

Good Week / Bad Week

A good week for teams, but also a bad week for teams. And what number is Rubens really on? Read Ollie’s Barrichello notes here.

News and Views

A little bit of an update on Max, and how the teams have reacted to his vote of confidence.

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• Length: 10:48 
• Size: 10.0 MB 
• File: digest27.mp3 
• Transcript: digest27.pdf 
• Torrent: digest27.torrent 

It was a tough day out there today, with the track literally crumbling under the force of our guys and their wheels. Vettel, Webber and Button all had issues, but we cover everything from FP3 and Qualfiying in today’s F1 Digest.

Free Practice 3

Vettel and Bourdais both had terrible sessions, with the walls appearing to be Toro Rosso magnets.

Qualifying

The track slowly disintegrated, leaving the top ten really showing the men from the boys.

Conclusions

Some are convinced tomorrow will be a nightmare and the race will be completely undriveable, others are hoping the dodgy conditions will work in their favour.

Today’s earlier practice session left us more confused than ever regarding the state of play for today’s qualifying. Nico Rosberg topped the times at the end of the hour, but his time was less competitive than we were expecting.

Vettel’s untimely brush with the wall prevented anyone getting their final fast laps in, and we’re left to ponder what might be this afternoon. The Ferrari’s undoubtedly have the pace, but McLaren and BMW will look to be snapping at their diffusers for the rest of the afternoon.

Farther back, we have STR with two cars in need of repair and Renault having to look at one of theirs. Jenson and Honda on the other hand must be wondering how they ended up behind everyone bar Sutil.

Either way, it looks like we’re in for a dry qualifying this afternoon. The sun is beating down on the circuit and the clouds appear to have dissipated for the duration.

We’ll be watching ITV’s qualifying coverage, and full race build up, which is available online. If you’re outside the UK you’ll be wanting stream.ra1kkonen.com and don’t forget official live timing on f1.com too. We’ve wholeheartedly given up with the BBC this week.

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• File: episode63.m4a
• Length: 38:52
• Size: 35.3 MB
• Transcript: Coming soon

A cracking race at Monaco means there’s no time to catch up on the news, which is good, because there wasn’t any. Today, it’s all about the racing.

Intro

Thankfully we had an extra day to make this show, how it’s going to work for Canada, we just don’t know.

Good Week / Bad Week

Good week for Williams and Alonso, bad week for spying and being outdoors.

Qualifying

Only Coulthard could have such an intriguing crash - there’s the wheel but where’s the car?

The Race

So many incidents, so little time, but it all comes back to Sutil.

Continue reading…