2024 F1 General Discussion Thread

I still have sky f1 as part of that package

I'd argue the difference with Sky versus other countries is that the Sky coverage is semi-global coverage. Their coverage is used in the US (ESPN), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. Basically an awful lot of English speaking countries get the Sky Sports feed on broadcast channels (there is F1 TV too, but that is separate).

I'd fully expect Italian commentators to go all in on Ferrari. When RTÉ covered F1 in the 90s it was expected that they'd be all in on Jordan.

If Sky F1 were UK only, then go mad being all pro-British drivers/teams. But there needs to be recognition that they are not just coveraing the UK right now.

Semi ironically, the British Broadcasting Corporation's radio coverage tends to be reasonably neutral.

FIA have said the mclaren rear wing in fully legal. Pulled the statement from bbc

“The FIA is closely monitoring the flexibility of bodywork on all cars and reserves the right to request teams to make modifications at any point during the season.

“However, if a team successfully passes all deflection tests and adheres to the regulations and technical directives, they are deemed to be in full compliance, and no further action will be taken.

“The FIA is currently reviewing data and any additional evidence that has emerged from the Baku GP and is considering any mitigating measures for future implementation.

“This is part of the standard process when scrutineering technical legality, and the FIA retains the authority to introduce regulatory changes during the season if required.”

The problem is that they falsely claim to be unbiased despite being virulently so. When you turn on international football on a British channel they don't pretend they're not in favour of England. Same with the Olympics and Team GB, or most other sports. But Sky are the de facto international provider of F1 coverage around the globe, constantly claim to be neutral and unbiased, while frequently pushing biased narratives that demonise foreign drivers and lionise British ones under the completely false pretence that they're just reporting facts.

The UK print press is the same, and between them they have inordinate power where the narratives they fabricate permeate the entire English speaking world from the US to Australia, and inevitably get picked up in other countries too where they don't always have journalists on the ground and just translate and summarise the narrative being pushed in the British press or simply get gaslit into believing the story.

If you go back to the days of Murray Walker there was just a different level of integrity there. He never pretended to be unbiased, he openly supported Mansell and in particular Hill. His reaction when Damon won the title is absolutely legendary and yet nobody ever had a problem with this. The reason being is that he was vastly more honest than Sky in acknowledging his own biases while simultaneously taking them into account and treating other drivers and teams fairly. He had no problem admitting he supported Hill while also openly acknowledging the incredible job Schumacher was doing in a dog of a Ferrari at that time.

Crofty would have been the absolute opposite if commenting then, constantly claiming to be completely unbiased while incessantly praising Hill's brilliance and trying to generate controversies to paint other drivers in a bad light.

"Such a shame how Ricciardo's career went.."

Yes a pity alright.

I could see him in Extreme E though and maybe even Formula E.

Not many options left for Ricciardo. Audi the only open seat now?

Riccardo is made for NASCAR IMO.

Talk of him remaining in the Red Bull driver pool (not sure for how long) but that might restrict him driving in the US, although I agree he'll end up there at some stage

Rear wing now to be modified for McLaren.

So is Daniel Ricciardo gone or what’s the story? The media are convinced that was his last race but there’s been nothing official.

It's like everyone knows, all that's missing is officially confirmed

Sad to see it end like this, he just hasn’t delivered and it sounds like Red Bull as a company can’t afford to lose Lawson.

I’d like to see Daniel get to Indycar or WEC, he might not have much to give for F1 but he does for motorsport.