Oh that was really infuriating to watch. Though I must admit, Prince Albert handled it magnificently. Really showed what was up without really making it obvious what a tit Jordan was.

Notice he said he's totally willing to work with Max and "everyone involved in F1!" Brilliant.

Forgive as I'm only now watching the qualifying coverage. I SOOOO CANNOT STAND the terrible trio of Jake, DC, and EJ. I really can't compare it to anything cos it's so awful. I like DC's accent. That's really the nicest thing I can say about it. I can't stand Jake, he's "in charge" but of what? The content though is good, the features and whatnot. Brundle is brilliant. I never really noticed Legard. I think he's OK.

Given the recent 1994 head injury thread, maybe they need to drop DC and EJ and Jake on their heads a few times. Maybe hold their heads under water, that couldn't possibly be worse than the current coverage.

EJ? I mean, WTF? Is there such a thing as a "pay commentator?"

OK I see what people hate about Legard (and why is it pronounced Leg-yard?) When Rubens taps the armco in Q1: OH DEAR ME THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP AT ALL. That's a barrier.

No shit, Sherlock. And that was a race car that touched it!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8065189.stm Does DC take all the men he picks up in monaco for a tour?

Jake is great, he seems to really care about the sport, and he's in control, but he's not domineering, which is perfect.

He's also pretty mindful of the range of audience he's got by the looks of things.

This winds me up -

"Button's going now, pushing on......."
"Rosberg trying to push on........"
"No one can push on"

I mean it gets silly when you can see drivers are slowing down on a lap to find some space and Legards commentating through the timing rather than what's right in front of him. FFS!

They have nearly an hour of pre-quali blathering, and then don't even show the whole post-race interviews

I guess it's to be expected. Only golden boy Button matters..

P.S. I know it's on the website, but surely they could cut out 2 minutes of their pre-race show to actually listen to the DRIVERS, instead of indulging themselves on the sound of their own voices.

The show has to be entertaining as well you know.

You realise part of qualifying was red-flagged right? Hence that meant BBC's post-quali would be a bit shorter than usual? The BBC don't dictate when red flags fall.

By the way there is a new version of Inside F1 direct from Monaco on BBC Red Button.

D.M.N. Brundle mentioned when talking to the gang that there's an even longer video of the Steering Wheel feature on the BBC website. You seem to be BBC'd up, I'm useless at navigating their site, is it there?

Has anyone found the press conference on their website yet?

They said at the end of the broadcast that the full PC would be there, but I can only see Jenson's bit - that they broadcast anyway!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8065181.stm

That's not in any more depth though.

Inside F1 - Post-Quali: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8064590.stm

@RoutariEnjinu - I think that is the full version; maybe MB thought only the short version made the air. As for the PC, I've e-mailled Beeb about this but no reply.

they're doing 2 inside F1s??

bloody hell, the woman on that was crap, I thought dan walker was bad, but she took the piss. "very interesting stuff there" in the most disinterested voice in the world.

hey they're trying (to provide a good coverage). And it's bloody good compared to ITVs efforts IMO. That woman on Inside makes a change. Even bothering to make discussion shows on F1 action makes a change. Maybe the public who don't know F1 like that woman doesn't will actually start to pay attention.

Not if they're as disinterested as she was. It looked like there was no one else available, and she got dragged in at the last minute and was given a script.

And what a waste of Mike Gascoyne. I want to hear what he thinks about all the FOTA/FIA/Ferrari crap. I want to hear who he thinks has got the best car, what has happened to toyota this weekend. How ferrari have improved, how good a weekend force india are having etc etc. And what plans he's got for the future, given he's linked himself to a potential team.

ok ok. but it's a start and a good improvement. we had nothing at all last year.

actually i just watched it again. "here's how to do it. Maybe Lewis should look away now.." Ugh. she's innocent though

Im so tired of Leggard TRYING to sound enthusiastic about qualifying, it is so forced and fabricated its just painful to listen to. enough is enough.

.. nice to hear TFF as the music over the qualifying review ... very appropriate track title given Lewis' exploits !!!

Anyone else hate the BBC tagline: "Formula One, The Greatest Car Chase In The World"?

"Car chase"??????? Even casual watchers don't relate it to a car chase. This ain't Heat or Steve McQueen's Bullit.

.. yes its appalling... and cheap ... as well as misplaced .....

their opening titles are beyond shite ..... with their F1 archive they couldnt use any past footage ?? ... you really cant beat the graphics used by the BBC for the Grand Prix highlights programme from 82 as currently of the bbc f1 website ... they are fantastic..... the BBC Micro never looked so good !!!!

i really like their 'this is formula 1' intro. That is very cool.

The reason why its CGI is because it was filmed in HD ready for 2010 (or Abu Dhabi 2009....)

What is the name of the commentator who does the Porsche supercup for eurosport (Im having brain freeze)?, Im surprised he hasnt been mentioned as a possible Legard replacement, as he is 100 times better than him.

martin haven

He is very good, did he used to do DTM for Motors TV, Im sure I was chatting to him on their forums once and he read my name out on air a few times. Sadly I felt quite chuffed!

I know. The chain is good, but the CGI totally ruins the whole thing.

The 'Grand Prix' titles of old were infinitely better.

The only problem with Jonathan Legard is this:

He has nothing interesting to say.

Some James Allen for you:

http://audioboo.fm/boos/23756-two-pintsboo

I miss him. I feel dirty having said that.

DC narrating Button's pole-setting lap (well, at least once Jordan finished mouthing inanities) just served to highlight the brilliance of Brundle - poor DC had nothing to say.

Murray, after apologising for the cliche "jewel in the crown", managed to capture everything which makes Monaco magic, great to hear him again.

Apart from the endless 'jewel in the crown' soundbites I really enjoyed the BBC qualifying build up this weekend. I think the broadcast has gotten a lot stronger lately.

For the 2,723rd time in this thread: listen to the Five Live commentary instead. Or put some cotton wool in your ears.

Listening to that, it seems that Allen is very subdued talking into his phone, almost like he's embarrassed about anyone spotting him doing so!

"Oh but then I can't listen to Martin and *whimper* he's sooooo lovely"

I'm with you on that one Rolf. An unbelievably tacky tag line, chosen I suspect to appeal to the Fast N Furious, Max Power brigade. The opening credits are crap too.

what if one is not able to listen to Five Live commentary then, smartie?

Then buy a Freeview box.

Nice, you just described James Allen to a T.

Do you have a radio?


(or a freeview box is less than a tenner)

1st post here, thought I'd contribute a little.

I think the BBC coverage is reasonably good at the moment but it has really great potential. For a start, I think the contracts of Eddie Jordan and Jonathan Legard need serious consideration.

In this week's radio times, Legard brags about knowing all about motor racing, "having been an F1 correspondent on 5live for 7 years", and all I can say is, in that 7 years he's not once learnt how to identify someone slowing to make space for themselves or to warm tyres, nor has he any grasp on the race itself. He also has an infuriating tendency to make small, relatively unimportant things sound absolutely crucial, and then when things go awry in a big way, he fails to capture the drama of the occasion, often mumbling something insightful such as 'Oh dear. Oh dear, he didn't want that, did he?'.

Improvements also need to be made to the website, Jake Humphrey (who's doing a pretty good job I think) said the full post-quali press conference would be available, and for some reason, it's not.

Likewise other technical issues such as not being able to utilize the 5live commentary on my Freeview box at both Bahrain and Spain, I had to mute the TV and bring my digital radio through to listen to it out of sync. Very, very annoying.

Anyway, looking forward to Monaco (that's if I can get 5 live on the TV, if not I will be frustrated again)..

OK, this retro opening sequence with Jake is really, really cool!

Love the opening sequence for the race this morning! Brilliantly done integration of Jake Humpries into archive footage!

That was a quality piece of television, right through to the mix from black and white to colour at the end.

I think Jake said in one of his blogs that he wasn't sure how well it would work. I have to say I thought it worked really well, loved Jake posing a question about Brawn to Graham Hill. Great shots in the background as well.

Fully agreed! Good work

Oh wow that sequence was fantastic!

I think the BBC have managed to inject more humour into their coverage than ITV.

Whereas ITV had that arse-clenchinly cheesy driver karaoke piece at the end of last year, the BBC come up with this thing.

Starter for ten.. when was the last time we saw Max interviewed on a race day by a British broadcaster?

Perhaps when Martin laid into Max about the Alonso penalty on the grid at Monza 06?

the online stream is half a second ahead of freeview!

Well, he doesn't generally go, and he usually isn't the topic, so why would you interview him?