Richard Hammond is new face of Formula 1

[Aston Martin]

Worst idea ever, he always has to be in and interrupt everyone... apart from on TG, he's a terrible presenter.

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by TurnerGTX

(don't know if it's already been mentioned) but the BBC will almost certainly show F1 in High Definition.

Maybe that means the return of Top Gear in HD?

[vegasrebel29]

Although I don't really know the difference between an analog and digital feed, because the BBC (and presumably the rest of GB) is switching to a digital feed this year they'll presumably get new film equipment (if the difference has anything to do with what I'm implying it does). Which would mean HD, which means... well, what does it mean, exactly?

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by vegasrebel29

Which would mean HD, which means... well, what does it mean, exactly?

HD rips?

Clicky:

[vegasrebel29]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

HD rips?

Clicky:

Haha, I'm aware of the better resolution - I just didn't want to go James May on the board.

[aaurora]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

HD rips?

Clicky:

Mmmmmm that would be lovely

[essentialatom]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Maybe that means the return of Top Gear in HD?

I imagine that'd be unrelated as AFAIK the respective TV companies aren't responsible for the F1 feed, they all use the same one and just put their own commentary and whatnot over the top of it. Which means that Top Gear is seperate as that's just a BBC thing.

[upyourego]

It might not necessarily mean a High Def Top Gear (although I'm sure that's not far away given that the BBC has said everything will be HD by 2016).

F1 will be produced by BBC Sport whereas Top Gear is produced by BBC Factual (the same department that produced Planet Earth and other Documentary series).

So the team being used by one department doesn't necessarily mean that the same technology will follow over to their existing show.

[Blayde]

But since it's produced by BBC Factual which made Planet Earth in Hi Def iirc, won't that mean exactly the opposite, that it probably will earlier than estimated end up HD?

[upyourego]

Possibly but as Planet Earth was commissioned post HD (since the launch of the BBC HD channel and the decision to go HD across the board) it would have to have been commissioned in HD.

Top Gear was first commissioned before HD so will need investment to be changed over - it will happen but it might take a while.

The first phase will be to get all new high profile commissions in HD and then to get high profile existing shows (that won't cost too much) into HD.

[Mercury]

If the BBC airs F1 in HD I will no longer watch it live and wait for the HD rips..F1 in HD! FUCK YEAH!

and if there's a slight chance this means TG in HD......I'll lose my sanity!

:b anana:

[jdm]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Maybe that means the return of Top Gear in HD?

no, it doesn't. The F1 race broadcast is not controlled by the channels that show it.

And as for the thread subject, I hope they use appropriate presenters (ie no-one from TG), I would hate to see F1 become anything like TG in its style. The only reason they would do this is to bring in more viewers which wouldn't be a good thing from the actual fans of the sport's point of view.

[upyourego]

I think if the TG trio are going to be used in any way at all it will be in either pre or post race shows - it will be the wrap-around stuff.

A bit of a laugh in the pits afterwards or a pre-recorded set piece before.

[liquid_rockface]

I think that if TG ever commentates a F1 race, it should only be in the same context like when they ran that radio show for a few hours! They are pretty bad at this stuff, and I think without first hand F1 racing experience it would be pretty tough to suddenly commentate and actually know what you're talking about. Well at least Hammond has driven a F1 car before so he knows what it's like! He'll probably be like "Wow you can just imagine [driver]'s head being squashed like a pumpkin on that corner!"

[qczhao]

Seems like this is becoming more and more likely:

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,1895...343346,00.html

I thought it was a joke at first.

Lead commentator? What? They have GOT to be kidding, it would actually ruin the F1 viewing experience.

I mean, don't get me wrong, i love hammond as a presenter, but as a commentator for a sport he literally knows nothing about (i mean, he doesn't even watch it)!? It just wouldn't work.

[upyourego]

I think they've just caught the wrong end of the stick thrown out by the original Daily Mail article and I'd take anything you read in the Daily Mail with the smallest pinch of billion year old smelly gone off salt that's been pissed on by a woolly mammoth and then eaten by Jeremy Clarkson on his pasta, regurgitated and served in a sachet at McDonalds.

The last paragraph from the Planet F1 story says it all really and is closer to the mark of what they’ll actually be used for.

“The newspaper also reported that the BBC are planning on letting the 'Hamster', as Hammond is known, along with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, loose at grand prix weekends in an attempt to extend the audience beyond "petrolheads."”

It may be that Hammond will take a sort of Gary Linaker type role and ‘present’ the pre and post race programme with a panel of experts but I very much doubt he will be commentating.

[qczhao]

I guess thats more like it.

I think as long as they weren't allowed near the actual commentary, they could provide a barrel of laughs in what is usually a very serious atmosphere.