Live blog: Australian Grand Prix
29 March 2009, 04:00
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Formula 1 and motorsport writing, links and tweets.
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31 October 2008, 11:00
Unfortunately I won’t be around for practice, but the F1 Fanatic liveblog is here nevertheless.
Live commentary on the action as it happens at Shanghai International Circuit
19 October 2008, 06:00
We have made some changes to the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs which you can read about here
Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.
Live F1 video FAQ | Live F1 timing | UK radio commentary | Track map
Launch the F1 Fanatic Live blog in a new window by clicking here
Catch the Qualifying action as it happens at the Shanghai International Circuit
18 October 2008, 05:15
We have made some changes to the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs which you can read about here
Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.
Live F1 video FAQ | Live F1 timing | UK radio commentary | Track map
Launch the F1 Fanatic Live blog in a new window by clicking here
All the Practice action from Shanghai International Circuit
17 October 2008, 02:00
We have made some changes to the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs which you can read about here
Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.
Live F1 video FAQ | Live F1 timing | UK radio commentary | Track map
Instant comment on the race action at Fuji Speedway
12 October 2008, 03:30
Coffee, check. Matchsticks, check. Exciting Formula 1 Grand Prix, let’s hope so. It’s F1 Fanatic liveblog time. The ITV programme starts at 0430, with the race due to start at 0530.
We have made some changes to the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs which you can read about here
Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.
Live F1 video FAQ | Live F1 timing | UK radio commentary | Track map
Keep up with Qualifying at the Fuji Speedway
11 October 2008, 04:15
Get that extra-strong coffee on the go because it’s time for qualifying at the eye-blearing time of 6am British time! Here is the F1 Fanatic liveblog.
We have made some changes to the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs which you can read about here
Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.
Live F1 video FAQ | Live F1 timing | UK radio commentary | Track map
Keep up to speed with the action from the Fuji Speedway
10 October 2008, 01:00
This one is going to throw our sleeping patterns completely out of whack. But we’re still here with the F1 Fanatic liveblog. Well, I say “we”, but it remains to be seen whether I will actually be around. I’ll definitely be here for Friday Practice 1, but we’ll see about FP2…
It’s a flyaway race so we’re on very strange times this weekend. Friday Practice 1 begins at 0200 British time, with Friday Practice 2 kicking off at 0600. Saturday Practice begins at 0300.
We have made some changes to the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs which you can read about here
Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.
Live F1 video FAQ | Live F1 timing | UK radio commentary | Track map
Click on the heading to open the liveblog in a new window.
Follow the action as it happens at Marina Bay Circuit
28 September 2008, 11:00
The first ever Formula 1 night race promises to be a spectacle, even if we do not expect there to be much overtaking. I won’t be able to participate in the liveblog as much as normal for this grand prix, but I will probably still drop in from time to time. The usual stuff applies. Check out the F1 Fanatic FAQ for information on live feeds and so on.
All the qualifying action in Marina Bay
27 September 2008, 13:00
Here is the F1 Fanatic liveblog for the qualifying session for the Singapore Grand Prix. Don’t forget the new guidelines for the liveblogs which you can find here.
Follow the action at Marina Bay Circuit for Friday Practice 1, Friday Practice 2 and Saturday Practice
26 September 2008, 14:15
This is a big moment in Formula 1 history as we are about to see for the first time an official Formula 1 session held after sunset! The Singapore Grand Prix will be Formula 1’s first night race and the action starts with Friday Practice 1.
Thanks to the jazzy time malarkey, Friday Practice 1 is at a much more hospitable hour than usual — 12 noon British time. Friday Practice 2 begins at 1430. Saturday Practice is at 12 noon.
There are some important changes to the F1 Fanatic liveblogs for this weekend. The moderators have all agreed that the concept has become a victim of its own success. It was becoming far too noisy with several conversations going on at once, many of which were completely off topic.
So from this weekend onwards we will try to keep the discussion on-topic and readers can no longer expect all of their comments to be published. Remember, if you want to talk about something there are plenty of blogs and forums where you can do it. The liveblog is where we want to talk about the live action. You can read the full details of the changes over at F1 Fanatic.
14 September 2008, 11:00
It has been a bumper weekend of liveblogging and my typing fingers are pretty tired now! But we’ve still got the big one to go — the Italian Grand Prix.
Before getting into the liveblog spiel, this is a good place to bring your attention to a nice new place to hang out before the race. If you’re at a loose end between 11 and 12, why not drop into Sidepodcast where they have a relaxed pre-race show, ‘The Parade Lap’.
The liveblog begins at around 1200 UK time, with the race due to start at 1300. As always, kudos to Keith at F1 Fanatic for setting this up. If you have any questions about watching F1 online, visit the F1 Fanatic FAQ.
14 September 2008, 08:15
It’s an early start for a Sunday, but for the final race of the GP2 season it’s worth it. The liveblog will start at approximately 0915 UK time (apologies if it’s late!!) with the race due to start at 0930.
13 September 2008, 13:30
As you may already have seen, for one race only I am experimenting with liveblogging the GP2 action in addition to the F1 action. Keith from F1 Fanatic and Maximum Motorsport has kindly agreed to help me out with moderation duties as I’m going to be a very busy chap.
Monza is the last meeting in the GP2 calendar, and the title showdown is between ex-F1 driver Giorgio Pantano and Bruno “Ayrton’s nephew” Senna. For more background, check out my preview post.
Qualifying took place yesterday, and it’s advantage Pantano who secured pole position and scored two championship points with it. He now has a 13 point lead with just 18 points left up for grabs. Senna could only qualify 12th.
However, with heavy rain forecast, the Feature Race is sure to be an action-packed affair. Join us for the liveblog which will start at 1430 UK time, straight after we have finished with F1 qualifying. The race is due to start at 1500.
Instant comment on the qualifying action from Monza
13 September 2008, 11:00
It’s a hectic day. Saturday Practice has just finished and now it’s already time for Qualifying. Then straight after that it will be time for the GP2 liveblog!
But now it’s time to focus on quali and the F1 Fanatic liveblog. Remember to check the F1 Fanatic FAQ if you have any questions about watching F1 online.
Keep up with events in GP2 with the liveblogs for both races
12 September 2008, 14:30
There might still be five races to go in the Formula 1 World Championship. But the Italian Grand Prix is the last European race of the season. That means that this weekend sees the climax of the GP2 Series for 2008.
This has been the first year I have watched GP2 races in full and I am a convert. It has been a thrilling season of GP2 action. It is an excellent complement to Formula 1.
If you’ve never seen GP2 before, the format is as follows. There is one race on Saturday called the ‘Feature Race’. Scoring for this race is exactly the same as in F1. On Sunday there is a shorter ‘Sprint Race’. The top six score points as follows: 6-5-4-3-2-1.
Whoever gets pole position for the Feature Race scores two points. Both races offer a point for the fastest lap (although a driver has to meet a number of conditions to qualify for scoring the point — he must start from his allocated grid position, complete 90% of all race laps and finish in the top ten). All in all, this means that a driver has the potential to score 20 points in a weekend.
Pre-season favourite was Renault Development Driver Romain Grosjean who dominated the GP2 Asia Series last winter. However, although Grosjean does still have a (slim) chance of winning the championship, in the end it has come down to a battle between former F1 driver Giorgio Pantano and rising star Bruno Senna. Another Renault Development Driver, Lucas Di Grassi, lies in third place. Di Grassi cannot be underestimated and he has scored this many points despite not even competing in the first three events!
The current standings are as follows:
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
| 1 | Giorgio Pantano | Racing Engineering | 71 |
| 2 | Bruno Senna | iSport International | 60 |
| 3 | Lucas Di Grassi | Campos | 53 |
| 4 | Romain Grosjean | ART | 53 |
Amazingly, the two main contenders have been unable to capitalise on each others’ misfortune and mistakes over the past two events. Unbelievably, both Pantano and Senna ran out of fuel during the Feature Race in Valencia. Senna was also unable to score in the Valencia Sprint Race, although Pantano managed to finish third.
However, Pantano found himself excluded from both races in Belgium after crashing into Di Grassi then overtaking under a Safety Car. Meanwhile, Senna received a drive-through penalty for an unsafe release from a pitstop that was very similar to the one Massa was let off with in the European Grand Prix. The Sprint Race was not much better for Senna as he had to retire after a crash with Sébastien Buemi. As such, Pantano scored nothing and Senna got just two points for his pole position.
Anything can happen in GP2. The drivers are younger and more hot-headed than the F1 drivers, and while it can look a bit amateurish in comparison, there is absolutely no doubt that GP2 provides plenty of action for the viewers.
Since this is the Championship showdown, I have decided to liveblog the GP2 races this weekend as a bit of an experiment. I will be very busy so apologies if it does not quite go to plan! I could do with some help, so if anyone is up for helping me moderate then that would be great.
The feature race starts at 1500 UK time, and ITV4’s coverage starts at around 1430, which is when I plan to start the liveblog. That’s very handy as that is directly after qualifying has finished. So if you find yourself at a loose end after qualifying tomorrow, come back here, switch on the television and join us for the liveblog!
Action from Friday Practice 1, Friday Practice 2 and Saturday Practice at Monza
12 September 2008, 12:00
I have scarcely had time to breathe since the Belgian Grand Prix. Back to back races are pretty hectic. Makes me glad I’m just a blogger and not actually working in F1 (although if any jobs are going…
). On top of the Grand Prix, Monza marks the climax of the GP2 season — and if you follow GP2, keep an eye out for details on liveblogs that I will be running for the races.
After the controversy of Spa-Francorchamps, we desperately need to have some good racing this weekend to take our mind off all the politics and scandals. Just a shame Max Mosley is at Monza this weekend then! On the plus side, rain is expected for this weekend which should provide some good entertainment.
All the more reason to take part in the F1 Fanatic liveblogs this weekend. It’s all the usual times for all the sessions this weekend, with Friday Practice 1 kicking off at 0900 UK time. As ever, check the F1 Fanatic FAQ if you have any questions about watching F1 online.
Comment on the action at Spa-Francorchamps as it happens
7 September 2008, 11:00
It is time for the F1 Fanatic liveblog for the Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps is widely regarded as being among the very best circuits in F1, so this race is a must-see.
The liveblog kicks off at approximately 12 noon UK time while the action starts at 1pm. If you have any questions about following F1 online, check the F1 Fanatic FAQ.
Live coverage of qualifying for the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps
6 September 2008, 11:00
Join us for the F1 Fanatic liveblog for the qualifying session. The liveblog kicks off at approximately 12 noon UK time while the action starts at 1pm. If you have any questions about following F1 online, check the F1 Fanatic FAQ.
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