I actually like the prerace. I find DC quite insightful and EJ very annoying. I swear, if I hear another "If I may" and "alluded to" I'm gonna trash the monitor. But anyways, if they could teach EJ to be less annoying and more insightful than it could be the perfect combination (ex driver + ex team owner). EJ is also groveling quite a lot. He doesn't need to do that anymore. Perhaps he forgot that.

I was very surprised by EJ's Kimi outburst. I think it was OTT to be honest. And I'm not sure he would say it to Kimi's face. Maybe EJ thinks that the more 'outrageous' he appears, the more charismatic he will appear on TV. But I'm not so sure it's working...

"Just to go back to..." / "Just to get back to what X was saying"

Oh yeah, that's hilarious when he says that! The other guys can at least realise that when a topic is finished it's finished, and that it's TV so sometimes you just don'tall get to have your full say on an issue, but he's like a little kid the way he takes them back to topics that finished five minutes ago because he didn't get his opinion in.

He did offer a genuine piece of anecdotal evidence in the spain forum for once! (about frentzen's fuel tank)

12 races left.... will he manage another one?

I liked his insight in to how Bernies brain works too.

EJ does grate sometimes, but I'd way sooner him, than have it turn out like an American news studio where they all end up sucking each others ego and play to the camera.

I dislike Eddie a lot...

But can you decide the answer to the important question:

EJ or Mark Blundell.

Is neither an option? Wouldn't be so bad with EJ but its always 'back in my day' and 'just to get back to what X was saying' and constantly interrupting and trying to almost take over as interviewer when JH and DC are asking questions. He reminds me of my brother in a way (in a bad way) in that he seemingly always wants to have the last word, just for the sake of it.

I disagree. I think NASCAR do a great job with it. There is 43 cars, you kind of need the thing constantly scrolling, espcially if you are following drivers further down the field. It also adjusts positions as they happen. I think with a small tv it is definately cluttered, but on a modern widescreen tv, viewing it as it is supposed to be viewed, looks great. 

He also went on to say that it doesn't matter who is actually in the BRDC that is what Bernie thinks makes up the membership, which I thought was pretty clear, but he needs people like Jake DC and Martin to make him slow down and make sense of his outbursts

I have to say that I think that foms on screen graphics are a million mies ahead of Nascars, with Nascars rolling ticker you have to take your eye off the action for a lot longer to see where everyone is, I like to keep track of Montoya for example, trying to find out where he is in the midfield can be a nightmare sometimes, I watch the ticker for ages then something happens on track and I take my eye away for a just a second and I miss him, then its back to watching the ticker again, very annoying.
Also I like the subtleness of foms graphics, I find Nascars way too brash, loud and intrusive.
Another point is of course if you watch with live timing, you have all the info you need.

Well that's because the ticker is 43 cars long, it's hard to find anyone.

Mark might not be overly bright, but he's sincere and he doesn't think the show's all about him. Also, he gave rise to a brilliant Sniff Petrol series.

I've found EJ bearable since his disastrous first weekend, but I think Blundell would be an improvement.

You don't want Blundell back because now you ahve Coulthard, and the last thing you want is a load of drivers rattelling on about something, i also think that EJ's doing a good job, i mean what's worng with with him? the bbc have got a pretty good team at the moment IMO, the last thing i would want to see is James Allen coming back and Brundle having to correct him everytime he opens his mouth without thinking (basically everytime), louise goodman in the pits , the only thing good about TK in the pits is that we're actullay getting less of him.

Scrolling 43 through at snail speed is going to be a bit tedious, however....
If F1 think showing the entire field have pitted once.....
Or the two drivers we are watching are 0.672sec apart......
Or the fastest time 23 minutes into the session is ........ nothing else!

Frankly they might as well not bother as if all we want to know is provided by the commentary team LOL!

So basically, you spent the last umpteen years hating every moment of it? :-)

TK is one of the best things about the coverage. I long to hear Ted's insight and news to wake me up from the Coulthard coma. Two or three fifteen minute stints of DC & EJ gets really boring!

Re. Brundle - but now we have him correcting the silences Legard leaves him when he peters out and runs out of things to say (albeit briefly because JL then usually interrupts him when a thought enters his head).

I realise that this thead has been going for ages now but i've only just joined the forum so thought I'd have my say now .
The beeb coverage is way way better than what ITV had to offer . The practice sessions are excellent , the extra internet content is great ( old monaco races now , fantastic ) , interesting editorials and blogs . Yes Legard is a fool and EJ's has spent the last five years since heading Jordon F1 training at the " how to be annoying on t.v school " but as an overall package it is miles superior . IMO

You mean what EJ is doing is NOT all about playing up to the camera for the sake of his own ego?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/20...onaco_hist.html

I don't mean that. I mean the sterile American news anchors that play off each other so blandly, agreeing with everything they say.

Sounds like Legard. Haven't you noticed Brundle's recent commentary has been relatively poor compared to last year?

Hilarious to see on the red-button Monaco 1996 replay a young-looking Tony Jardine as pitlane reporter. I didn't remember at all that Tony used to do that, but so it seems to be the case. There is one guy I would use to replace either DC or EJ. Tony is much missed from TV.

Tony was the pitlane reporter for at least from the early '90's till the end of the coverage on the Beeb - then was with ITV as pundit from 1997 until 2005.

I think Jardine did the reporter job from sometime during 94 to the end of 96. He took over from Jonathan Palmer after JP succeeded James Hunt - initially the BEEB made do without anyone in the pits, any in-race interviews were conducted by Murray Walker from the commentary box

Yep, definitely. Commentary split used to be 60:40 James:Martin.

Now it's 50:50 with Legard, sometimes dipping to 40:60 Legard:Martin.

He's a co-commentator who's job it is to add background and analysis, and expand on points made by the main commentator. Now he has to fill in the gaps left as Legard peters out.

I remember in Malaysia he tried to explain KERS, but got himself in a complete muddle and then just ran out of words. Martin had to step in to rescue him - it's painful to watch.

And then we got the same thing over and over during the last two processional races. Conversely, David Croft and Anthony Davidson can talk till the cow comes home, without repeating themselves and be entertaining.

I think this video sums up Martin and Jonathan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZWTqdqy9As

Loved Holly's remark this morning following Vettel's engine blowing up with 20 mins of the session remaining.

"I should imagine they will be able to fit a new engine in his car and he'll be able to get back out for perhaps a final lap."

There is a steep *hill* in Monaco.

FP1 replay: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8061088.stm

FP2 replay: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8062349.stm

I'd forgotten about that - wasn't that because Muzza was doing the British Motorcycle GP which clashed?

The Times correspondent Kevin Eason has been digging around the paddock in Monaco, talking to Allen and Legard...

Catching up with the personalities in the media centre and bumped into the old and new in the Formula One commentary box. James Allen, ITV's man at the microphone, missed out when the BBC took over Formula One's broadcasting rights this year but is busy running his own website now.

James never really got a fair crack of the whip at ITV from the critics, particularly as he took on, arguably, the toughest job on telly when he followed the living legend that is Murray Walker; it was a bit like trying to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson - no matter how good you are, it is impossible to live up to a legend. Actually, James proved his worth in that dramatic, last gasp grand prix in Brazil last season when he called it all perfectly while everyone else was in a state of panic. Hope his new life works out for him.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Legard is back. Leg', as we all know him here, was, of course, the Beeb's commentator on Radio Five Live until he decided on a break to become a senior football correspondent. Lured back, he reckons he is still trying to find his rhythm in the commentary box alongside the ever present genius that is Martin Brundle. Sure it will come together soon.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/for...icle6342991.ece

Did the BBC hire someone from the ITV-F1 website?!

No, if you notice its a rolling thing where the picture changes.

Picture 1 is Alonso
Picture 2 is Renault car
Picture 3 is Lewis
Picture 4 is Raikkonen's car

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/default.stm scroll over the bottom bit of the pic.

Here's hoping.

Has to be said, that 3D circuit was pretty nifty. I liked the feature at the start with DC and Jake too. Much better than the normal Jackie Stewart ITV feature.

Ahhh, isn't little Jonny Herbert cute

Kinda spoils the height order lark though

Wooo Murray!

Murray!!

Eddie Jordan isn't half talk a load of old shit today!

Murray is awesome though.

Yep, he had to make a comment about Nige having a big ego.... just a little hypocritical.

Why why why, Is Jordan given the task of interviewing royalty? And surprise of surprises he starts it out about him.

Prince Albert sounds like he's from Texas.

I'd love to see an interview with Nigel Mansell.

He's a big hero of British motorsport and never, ever seems to be interviewed by the Beeb or by ITV.

A great shame.

Possibly because while he may have an ego the size of the moon and be fearless behind the wheel, he can induce a coma from 10 paces.

LOVED the run down on the wheel. Well done BBC. Also love the mucking about with Martin across a link, talking about how they used to shift gears in his day hehe

God this is way too nationalist, their even talking about Ronnie O'Sullivan now

That's no reason not to interview him. He's a massive hero to many people.

Jake is perfect for the role he has. They really got lucky with him.

"Martin, you haven't qualified yet, so you're just going to have to use the spare car and put your foot down"

"Yeah, no problem................what track am I at again?"

How many F1 races does he attend? Maybe he's being interviewed tomorrow. Maybe he's asking for too much money.

The team is working MUCH better together now compared to the early races. It's actually good banter.