24 replies to this topic

[sennafan24]

I will be honest firstly, I only pay attention to what is reported on this board, and what BBC and SKY hear/report.  But the past year, I have concluded that Benson and Jordan have the best sources over the SKY bunch.

 

Take Kimi and Ferrari, EJ was saying the deal was done. Brundle was on SKY the same day, saying that Kimi was just waiting for Lotus to finish writing up his new contract. A few days later Kimi and Ferrari was made public.

 

It was the same last year, EJ was saying that Lewis was going to Merc, whilst Brundle was convinced he was staying at McLaren. We all know how that turned out. Even little things, like Pastor leaving Williams and the Hulk going back to F.I (that last one is still pending btw) get mentioned by EJ, but SKY's team never break anything like that.

 

Its not just E.J, Benson seems to get stuff thrown his way as well. Alonso/McLaren rumors may not have amounted to anything yet, but they were right in signalling that Perez was on his way out. Benson gave the game away that E.J has some sources in R.B meetings, as that is how E,J knew Riccardo was R.B new driver, whilst SKY were still saying Kimi had a chance of that seat.

 

SKY seem to mention rumors that amount to nothing as well, JEV going to Lotus was one that never amounted to anything. 

 

So who do you tend to listen to regarding rumors and speculation?

Edited by sennafan24, 19 November 2013 - 14:18.

[EthanM]

do not discount luck though ...

 

for example by all accounts (lauda's and Lewis') the decision to join Mercedes was taken in a hotel in Singapore after the race. Eddie declared it a done deal in Monza. Sure it went his way, but was it he had better info or was he just lucky (or judged the situation better)?

[sennafan24]

do not discount luck though ...

 

for example by all accounts (lauda's and Lewis') the decision to join Mercedes was taken in a hotel in Singapore after the race. Eddie declared it a done deal in Monza. Sure it went his way, but was it he had better info or was he just lucky (or judged the situation better)?

Good point, I think you nailed it with "judged the situation better

 

 EJ does seem to have better contacts as well, Brundle for example relied upon the word of Kimi's manager saying the Lotus renewal was coming. EJ had word from someone else, who? we do not know.

 

EJ also broke Schumi coming back. You could argue that and Lewis going to Merc are the two biggest scoops of the last 5 years. EJ broke both.

[EthanM]

EJ also broke Schumi coming back. You could argue that and Lewis going to Merc are the two biggest scoops of the last 5 years. EJ broke both.

 

Which would suggest Jordan has a good source in Mercedes. Coulthard probably has excellent sources inside Red Bull (heck he is inside Red Bull) .... Lobatto has excellent Alonso sources (Alonso himself) ... some Finnish Journalist whose name I cant pronounce but probably ends in -nen ( ) has awesome Kimi sources. But the funny bit is the Fins knew both times Kimi signed for Ferrari way ahead of everybody else but were oblivious when Kimi was sacked, that story was carried by Lobatto and Spanish media.

 

So my answer to your question would be it depends .... that's why places like this are useful, you can aggregate news and sources.

[sennafan24]

See you would think that D.C would be the man with the sources at Red Bull, but Benson said that it was E.J who was in the know at Red Bull meetings. Also, E.J knew about Pastor leaving Williams, so his sources are up and down the paddock it would seem.

 

I get what you are saying though

[tifosiMac]

EJ generally has more friends within the paddock than most people I think and dines with Bernie and team bosses in the know. He is also generally liked regardless of how annoying a small minority of fans find him on television. Brundle is just a commentator with a bit of an ego and although has access to paddock life, you have to wonder how much info people are willing to divulge to him. He rubs Bernie up the wrong way and has lost out quite a few times with invites after races. I remember the Monaco forum had EJ strolling arounf the Red Bull VIP area and Brundle was leaning over the barriers trying to get intervews. I just think EJ gets better access due to his time in the sport and likeability.

[EthanM]

EJ generally has more friends within the paddock than most people I think and dines with Bernie and team bosses in the know. 

 

He's also more probing, more likely to press a question when Brundle for example would back off and be polite, so I would guess EJ would get more scoops. But IMO what I tried to say before is that people leak stories to wherever they feel comfortable leaking stories to. LdM has Alievi, Alonso has Lobatto blah blah now random stories if you were to ask me to bet who is more likely to get the story everything else being equal I would say EJ

[tifosiMac]

He's also more probing, more likely to press a question when Brundle for example would back off and be polite, so I would guess EJ would get more scoops.

I always had the impression Brundle was too probing and often arrogant with some of his questioning. He often butts in when its not his turn on the grid and perhaps this has earned him a reputation? I know Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel have given him the cold shoulder live on TV for his impatience, most notably on the grid at Austin last year when he tried to steal DC's interview. I just don't get the impression Brundles rapport with the teams is quite as endearing as Eddies. Its also about luck and being in the right place at the right time too.

[GhostR]

I think the advantage EJ has is that he's not backwards in asking the questions he wants answers to ... and knows how to structure those questions to provoke something being given away. Whether that's a directly quotable soundbite, or simply EJ being pretty good at being able to read through the way the other person reacts and responds. I think EJ is good at figuring things out (reading between the lines, judging body language etc) for himself instead of blindly reporting the simple words.

Edited by GhostR, 19 November 2013 - 15:12.

[Ross Stonefeld]

So you think most of the scoops come from subjects wilting in the face of the intrepid Eddie Jordan?

[Option1]

I think Jordan just gets on the piss with some of the players more often, and then takes a guess between the lines.  However, a journalist he's not.

 

Neil

Edited by Option1, 19 November 2013 - 15:31.

[rasul]

AMuS. 

 

Don't trust Benson one bit. 

[boldhakka]

I would say AMuS as well. Jordon obviously, but I'm not sure what Benson is even doing on the list. As someone said above, I think the team and driver's nationality also plays a role with some publications specializing in their local playground. 

[sennafan24]

Benson has broken things this year that other places have.

 

- Alonso being considered faster than Kimi by RB sources

 

- Riccardo being quicker in relative pace than Seb in testing

 

- McLaren/Alonso which has not come to pass yet, but did indicate Perez's days are numbered

 

However, the stuff Benson breaks is a lot more questionable, all 3 of the above could/should be highly disputed.

[rasul]

Benson has broken things this year that other places have.

 

- Alonso being considered faster than Kimi by RB sources

 

- Riccardo being quicker in relative pace than Seb in testing

 

- McLaren/Alonso which has not come to pass yet, but did indicate Perez's days are numbered

 

However, the stuff Benson breaks is a lot more questionable, all 3 of the above could/should be highly disputed.

As none of them were proven right(yet), I'm really not sure what he's even doing on the list. Benson is a joke. He has a record of writing BS articles just to attract attention. Isn't he the one who claimed that Vettel was going to Ferrari in 2014? I also seem to remember something about Vettel veto'ing Alonso, Alonso veto'ing Vettel and Hamilton, etc. All he ever does is speculate. I don't trust him one bit when it comes to Alonso/Kimi/Vettel. He's very biased and not at all trustworthy. 

[SophieB]

Isn't he the one who claimed that Vettel was going to Ferrari in 2014? I also seem to remember something about Vettel veto'ing Alonso, Alonso veto'ing Vettel and Hamilton, etc. All he ever does is speculate.

 
I think that was the Italian press, supported as a credible rumour in the UK by James Allen. Like in articles like this here:http://www.jamesalle...d-be-a-mistake/

Although Andrew Benson may have said it too, I don't remember.

[sennafan24]

As none of them were proven right(yet), I'm really not sure what he's even doing on the list. Benson is a joke. He has a record of writing BS articles just to attract attention. Isn't he the one who claimed that Vettel was going to Ferrari in 2014? I also seem to remember something about Vettel veto'ing Alonso, Alonso veto'ing Vettel and Hamilton, etc. All he ever does is speculate. I don't trust him one bit when it comes to Alonso/Kimi/Vettel. He's very biased and not at all trustworthy. 

Yeah, I said they are for now questionable, and not possible to quantify, but Benson does work with Jordan, so its to be expected they share resources. Benson gave away how Jordan was so sure Riccardo was going to RB earlier in the year in one of his articles. Benson has tweeted pictures of Jordan and him lazing about on Twitter, so they work in each others pockets at time.

 

It is to be expected they have the same sources and info, and as Jordan's are quite accurate, its not outlandish to think Benson is not always spouting rubbish, whatever you think of his writing and his opinions.

[rasul]

 
I think that was the Italian press, supported as a credible rumour in the UK by James Allen. Like in articles like this here:http://www.jamesalle...d-be-a-mistake/

Although Andrew Benson may have said it too, I don't remember.

I don't remember JA claiming that Vettel to Ferrari was a done deal. But in October 2012, Benson reported that "Ferrari sources say they already have a deal in place with double world champion Vettel, with an option for the 25-year-old to join them in 2014." And I also seem to remember that the original headline of that article was much "louder" like "Vettel is set to join Ferrari in 2014" or something.

Then a few weeks later, Benson backtracked, saying that Alonso vetoed Vettel.

[sopa]

I think the claim sounds about right that Jordan simply anticipates thing very well, because he knows people very well and has a good overview and grasp, what is going on. Even if they don't tell straight answers to him, he can get an idea of what is going on. Because if you have been in the business and talked to all these people for decades, you don't need direct answers, you know by gut feeling, what is going on. And Eddie has been a team boss too, so he knows all the stuff inside-out.

 

Of course Brundle has been a driver manager (of DC), but perhaps he doesn't grasp situations on such a wide scale, so feels more distanced from the genuine information. Big picture is very important in understanding, what is REALLY going on, not so much an odd quote or opinion here or there.

[RedBullFan]

Here is how EJ managed to get his sources:

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=5FaWLm0Gpto

Edited by RedBullFan, 19 November 2013 - 16:41.

[sennafan24]

Here is how EJ managed to get his sources:

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=5FaWLm0Gpto

Nothing on the Brundle effect

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=uFaXlQi7Pjo

[jonpollak]

Mark Hughes

Jp

[Bleu]

Which would suggest Jordan has a good source in Mercedes. Coulthard probably has excellent sources inside Red Bull (heck he is inside Red Bull) .... Lobatto has excellent Alonso sources (Alonso himself) ... some Finnish Journalist whose name I cant pronounce but probably ends in -nen ( ) has awesome Kimi sources. But the funny bit is the Fins knew both times Kimi signed for Ferrari way ahead of everybody else but were oblivious when Kimi was sacked, that story was carried by Lobatto and Spanish media.

 

So my answer to your question would be it depends .... that's why places like this are useful, you can aggregate news and sources.

 

Pekka Franck was the guy who released the info about Räikkönen/Ferrari/2014 first. His surname isn't Finnish though. Also interesting to note that he is more sports journalist in general rather than just concentrating on motorsports.

[molpid]

Michael Schmidt [AMuS]

[KateLM]

It's worth bearing in mind that having sources and being a good writer/journalist don't necessarily go hand in hand. Benson can be very biased and on occasion writes some utter tosh - but for better or worse he is in the know to an extent. I noticed a lot of people jumping on him when he said that McLaren hadn't signed Magnussen but had made the decision, and he turned out to be right on that one.

 

Of course, having good sources is ideally part of what makes a good journalist. But things aren't always so straightforward. Hell, Legard used to get scoops from the pitlane more than Brundle did.