Richard Hammond is new face of Formula 1

[TurnerGTX]

The BBC today pulled off a coup by securing the rights to Formula One for five years from the 2009 season.

The announcement marks the return of the sport to BBC screens for the first time since 1996, when ITV moved onto the starting grid.

The big draw is Britain's Lewis Hamilton,who finished second in the world championship in 2007 and last Sunday won the opening round of this year's title chase in Australia.

It is understood the BBC could be paying Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Administration company up to £150million for a deal which will see races feature on the BBC Sport website as well as on TV and radio.

Ecclestone said: “It is an exciting time and the BBC has some innovative new ideas to consolidate and expand our UK fan base.”

Commentator Murray Walker, 84, and the iconic theme tune The Chain are set to play their part as the BBC attempts to revive a golden era of Grand Prix broadcasting. Walker is expected to make guest appearances behind the microphone at races such as the British Grand Prix.

He said: “I'm flabbergasted. I was lying in bed listening to the news this morning and I almost fell out of bed when I heard. It's an amazing development.”

ITV snatched F1 away from the BBC for the 1997 season.

While their coverage gained industry awards it never won the hearts of die-hard motor racing fans irritated by up to five three-minute commercial breaks during every race.

ITV were censured by regulator Ofcom in 2005 after they ran adverts during a tense conclusion to the San Marino Grand Prix and were forced to repeat the last three laps after the race had finished.

More recently, the standard of commentating was criticised by Honda technical genius Ross Brawn.

He said: “Our commentators don't seem very good at conveying what is going on.”

Ecclestone added: “The BBC will be able to service us an awful lot better. It will be a fresh face.”

Roger Mosey, BBC director of sport, hinted that Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear crew might become involved with coverage.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1954

Hammond's pic is on the front page of tomorrow's Times newspaper. I presume the story is about him presenting/reporting for the BBC's F1 coverage next year.

[Speedtouch]

That would be interesting. And awesome to hear Murray Walker might be back. Go! Go! Go!

[teletubby-warrior]

Roger Mosey, BBC director of sport, hinted that Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear crew might become involved with coverage.

Does this worry anyone else, or is it just me?

[anti-net]

^ No its a great idea

[teeb]

No more James Allen! \o/

[ViperVX]

JC (as we all know loves F1) cud be a main commentator, maybe assisted by May, also talkin about technology & stuff.

There isn't a single word in the article about Hammond...

[Labcoatguy]

Is this the same Hammond who isn't at all interested in F1?

[jack_christie]

Not sure its a good idea for TG to do F1. All three put together know less about F1 than Louise Goodman....Maybe do an F1 magazine show, but Croftie and Old Mo should get the main gig.

[Prost264]

All I read was "blah blah more overexposure of the TopGear crew by the BBC."

[jayhawk]

It will be funny at least, but I foresee incidents like when they were on the radio. Funny, but incompetent.

[AJ888]

I'm a big fan of TG and a big fan of F1, but TG should not cross into F1. For starters only JC seems interested in the sport from the discussions they've had on the topic. Secondly, the enjoyment should come from the racing in F1, not the presenting talent and thirdly, how bad would their jokey style sound in the event of a serious accident.

Neither should Murray come back as a full time commentator but I'd love to see him do occasional features.

[vanderwater]

Richard Hammond has always said on TG that he thinks F1 is boring and pointless, so I doubt he will be presenting it for the BBC.

I hope they keep it out of TG, I can't stand F1, sorry to those who love it.

[lv2xlr8]

While their coverage gained industry awards it never won the hearts of die-hard motor racing fans irritated by up to five three-minute commercial breaks during every race.

Are they going to broadcast commercial free? I sure know that when I watch on SPEED there is a lot more than 5 commercials during the race.

[teeb]

Originally Posted by lv2xlr8

Are they going to broadcast commercial free? I sure know that when I watch on SPEED there is a lot more than 5 commercials during the race.

The BBC will broadcast it commercial-free.

Hip hip hooray, another reason why I like the license fee, frankly.

[fbc]

No mention of James Allen - this is good, very good.

Murray Walker back behind the mic? - this is not so good. Murray gave so much to F1, but he retired at the right time - his mistakes reached the point of being annoying rather than entertaining.

TG involved with the coverage - not so sure, if it's a very occasional piece full of humour it might be okay, but as much as I enjoy both F1 and TG, I like them to be kept seperate.

[Cobol74]

Let the hatred begin!

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scot...39t.3902695.jp

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=34215

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by teeb

No more James Allen! \o/

These guys should be pretty happy then!

[TurnerGTX]

Top Gear's Richard Hammond in pole to take over F1 coverage on BBC

It could be “hello Richard Hammond” and “goodbye Gary Lineker” after a dramatic day during which broadcasters battled for Britain’s most popular sports rights.

Hammond, the Top Gear presenter who survived a high-speed crash, is in pole position to become the face of Formula One after the BBC reclaimed the sport in a £200 million deal.

In a surprise move, ITV dumped Formula One after 12 years, claiming that it was not commercially viable despite the emergence of Lewis Hamilton as a British contender for the world championship.

The BBC plans a “brighter, bolder, faster” presentation, screening races live via broadband and mobile phones as well as conventional television.

......The Top Gear team, however, will be let loose in the Monte Carlo pit lane and Formula One’s other glamorous locations in an attempt to extend the audience beyond “petrolheads”.

The BBC was offering a “fresh face” and a commitment to exploit Formula One fully across radio, television and digital media during the five-year deal, Mr Ecclestone said.

Coverage will be influenced by the success of the Jeremy Clarkson-fronted Top Gear when the five-year deal begins next year. Dominic Coles, BBC director of sport rights, said: “When Lewis Hamilton did a test lap on Top Gear it got more viewers than the Brazilian Grand Prix. Bernie was very impressed with the Top Gear proposition and there will be cross-fertilisation between the show and the races.”

Clarkson and James May, Hammond’s co-conspirators, will also join in the grand prix fun but insiders believe “The Hamster” has a special affinity with drivers after his crash.

Web message boards yesterday urged the BBC to revive The Chain, the Fleetwood Mac theme which accompanied race coverage.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

These guys should be pretty happy then!

Good, its about time for James Allen to fuck off for good.

On the otherhand, the idea of Clarkson in the commentary box will probably kill the enjoyment of watching a proper F1 race without much biased comments. There are enough Lewis Hamilton praises coming from James Allen already, I don't need Clarkson to come and add his 2 cents comment, it's fine for relaxing motoring show like TopGear, it's not gonna work with a serious sport like F1.

I think Martin Brundle is doing a fantastic job. In fact, him and Murray made F1 100000X more interesting. So as long as Martin Brundle stays as the main commentator, I have no prolem with the changes.

Martin Brundle + Murray Walker FTMFW!!!

[Salanax]

I think Clarkson and Co commentating could be fine. Remember they do more than just Top Gear. Their documentaries, especially, have the right tone and presentation about them. As much as we think of the three as presenters of Top Gear we must remember they are very talented presenters in general, and so if they had the opportunity to commentate in F1 they would do so with the right style, tone and attitude.