Yes, all very interesting. Still, if they started the rumour to pressure McLaren into signing a better deal, he didn't do himself any favours by tweeting technical data. Frikkin numpty.

I find it hard to believe that EJ made it up but it wouldn't take much rumour spreading to make it believable, after Bernie's comments about Schumy.


Indeed! Very impressive.

Looking promising for McLaren, as it appears they were running more fuel and had lower tyre degradation than the competition, or so they say (could be a bit of radio kidology).

Another high speed, low downforce circuit too. I wonder how the Red Bulls will fare on Sunday - it looked like they needed a longer top gear at Spa.

Alex Zanardi wins second Paralympics handcycling gold:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19519141



Zanardi looks back on F1 career:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 251036.stm

No links that I can find as yet, but it's being reported on Twitter by various F1 drivers and F1 newsfeeds that Professor Sid Watkins has sadly died. Just think it's worth remembering his huge input to the safety levels of modern motorsport that we have these days.

RIP

Oh man. I really hope that's not true. You could probably argue that the stuff he's brought in has literally saved... well, a grid's worth of formula 1 drivers, basically.

Jon

Just found...
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/183884/1/p ... at_84.html

He can now go fishing with Aryton.


From: http://funkywheelchairs.com/Senna/imola.htm

OK, some of you might not like his style, but personally I think he's done a fantastic job at the BBC...
Jake Humphrey will quit BBC TV to front BT's football coverage

Oh, well, it was probably only a matter of time, I got the impression he's not been happy this year with the reduced coverage.

Indeed. Can hardly blame the bloke given he's only on TV what, 8 times a year or something with F1. In career terms.

Mind you, nobody quite knows yet how many people the BT Vision footy deal is going to attract....

Yeah, I imagine the fact his wife's pregnant with their first child has a lot to do with his decision too!

I think he's been excellent, and I enjoyed the banter between him, EJ and DC. I wonder if we'll get a newcomer as a replacement, or if they'll promote Lee McKenzie? Please, please, please don't let James Allen back in front of a camera!

The BBC are also cutting presenter salaries by a large chunk, so that was probably a factor too. BT were tapping up Gary Lineker too, apparently. Although, his management team could have been making a meal of it, in light of the salary negotiations.

<tangent>I would happily see them tell every single presenter/pundit on MoTD(2) that they can bugger off somewhere else. They're rubbish. The only decent one was lee Dixon and he's been poached by ITV already. Get some new people in who aren't phoning it in week after week.

I get to see part of the Sky coverage here, but I won't miss Jake or his ipad from my memories of him from the previous season.

Schumi has retired again

Hamilton is moving to Mercedes and Perez replaces him at McLaren

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/81153 ... eplacement

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19755236

No surprise there then.

TBH, Hamilton was crap at hiding his intentions - a week or so ago he was quoted as saying "there's been a lot of speculation about my move to Mercedes", rather than "there's been a lot of speculation about me possibly moving to Mercedes". It might sound thin, but I think it revealed his state of mind.

Perez is an interesting choice for McLaren - He'll be real competition for JB, not to mention sponsorship money from Carlos Slim.

I wonder if that leaves the door open for Kubica to return to F1 with a seat at Sauber? Although EJ suggested that Sutil might be coming back and, despite protests to the contrary, he was spot on with his prediction - I can't wait to hear his next conversation with Martin Whitmarsh.

[edit]The BBC link says Schumy hasn't actually announced retirement, so I wonder if he will go to Sauber? I can't see it TBH, I'd like to see Di Resta there.