Will you watch the Australian GP?

[Paul Rayner]

It's the Australian grand prix in three weeks, and I just thought it would be interesting to see if many other people have gone off F1 since last year.

[John]

I'll watch it - always do (especially the first one of the season to see who really is on the pace etc).

The only time I wont watch it live is if theres a pretty predictable season like last year and its a fly away race thats on in the middle of the night. But then I watch the re-run or record it.

Last year didnt make me stop watching, just made the watching slightly less enjoyable.

Got better hopes for 2003 though!

[AussieV8]

Of cause I'll watch it not just for the F1 cars but the V8's are supports again this year so it will be the first of the new cars.

All aussies are hoping for another crash so Mark can get some points in front of hez home crowd.:p

[Claw]

Yeah, i'm watching it, I stuck it out through last year! Plus it's the first race of the season and I wanna see how well Trulli and the other drivers I support do.
I support F1, so of course i'm gonna watch it!

[AussieV8]

The big change here for F1 is TV stations so the guys that do the V8's are now giving the F1's ago.

We have a nite show here called Rove and they are running a competition for watchers on the net to enter in the Mini Celebrity Race and I entered with my fingers crossed.

Fangin around in a S/C Mini and they pay for everything.

Flights to Melbourne for two.
Accomodation
Pre race lessons
Lunch.......:D
Race suit and helmet.

Just had my 40th B/day (15th) yesterday so heres HOPING.....:D :cool: :p

[Claw]

Oz V8 - is all the stuff with the TV rights to the GP sorted now?

[AussieV8]

Claw

The F1's are safe its the WRC round in Western Oz thats havin problems at the moment.

Wtn Oz Tourism is getting greedy and demanding.

I'll keep you informed.;)

[Claw]

Good, good!

Glad the F1 TV is sorted out. Only 3 weeks to go today isn't it!?

[AussieV8]

Today in 3wks I will know who has won.

Should I post it.:p

[speedy king]

I'm gonna watch it cos of the new rules etc. and i need motorsport!! O and who can forget last years first corner flying lesson?!?!

[Mocko]

I'll watch it out of curiousity.

[touringlegend]

I'll watch to see how Ralph Firman gets on in the Jordan - I think of all the British F1 stars, he is the next world title material!

But hey only a week till the opening round of CART to see how Darren Manning gets on! :)

[Ann]

I never miss an F1 race. If I can't see it live I will tape it - have done for years.

Have to agree with John that I won't get up in the middle of the night if there's nothing left to see i.e. the title has been tied up, but the season opener is a must! Me & my duvet will be there in front of the telly with caffiene to keep me awake!

[thommo_fan]

before last season i never missed a race but last season i only watched when i wasn't doing anything else and i didn't particually care if i missed a race.
i'm going to watch the first few races but if its ferarri domination again i probablyy won't be that bothered.

[MG-ZS EX260]

i think Mclaren and BMW-WIlliams will be much closer to ferrari, expect a williams on pole, if you think about it the old williams took many poles in the hands Jaun-the man-montoya (hes the best, screw schumacher, hes so overated) jaun manged to beat the F2002 in the old williams now he has the new williams to play with and ferrari will start at oz in the F2002, hopefully it will be a williams-mclaren battle! (doubt it tho!)

[Claw]

The new points system is the only hope we have with McLaren and Williams closing the gap to Ferrari.

Hopefully Williams ans McLaren are 'Radical' enough to beat Ferrari.

[Ed- the MG fan]

I hope it is as exlposive as last years race.

Talk about first corner incidents. That was the mother of them

[Claire]

I have followed F1 for a number of years but due to taking up marshalling last season didn't get to watch many races live. I have also lost my favourite driver this year (Mr Irvine) but I will still watch to see how the other Brit's get on. As for Oz it's my birthday celebrations that weekend so there will be a group of us getting up early to shout at the TV, that is of course as long as the hangover isn't too bad!! ;)

[Peter]

Where would I be withot Formula 1? The very idea of missing a moment of a Grand Prix is unimaginable! The only thing that will lose me from F1 viewing is death!

[AussieV8]

Since it is live on TV here does anyone want me to do commentary ??

And do you get it live ???

[John]

Yeah all races are live on terrestrial TV here. The only thing that isnt live is the US qualifying I think (and thats live on ITV2, which is a digital/cable channel and repeated in full later on terrestrial)

[AussieV8]

Sacked as a commentator before I started :p

[John]

Does that mean that you dont get all the races live there then?

[AussieV8]

Yes.

We get every race live wether it is on in the early hours of the morning (vcr job) or through the day.

It will also be on Fox Sport.

Shame that you want get to see the V8 support race but I'll give updates on how the cars look and who won.......

[John]

I know u cant post a link here but any chance of a quick rundown on V8s - main teams, drivers etc. (or PM a useful web site to read up about it on?)

Fortunately as most of the races are European based there arent too many stay up late / get up early races here. (recording never works cos I always find out who won before I see the end - no matter how careful I am!!) However with new tobacco advertising rules and the uncertainty over the Italian races (Senna trial) I think there'll be a bit more getting up early in the next few years.

[AussieV8]

John

I know what you mean about taping something and then someone tell you or you hear it on the radio.

I'll send your requests off.

Have the day off today and doing nothin but on here or the PS2.

Curious what is the time there. Its 9.30am Tuesday here.:)

[touringlegend]

10:45pm Monday :) (and windy!)

[AussieV8]

Thanx touringlegend so its off to bed you all go and leave me here hangin. The PS2 looks good now.:p

[Reynard]

I usually make a point of watching the first race of the season live if nothing else, but to be honest I've really lost interest in F1 - the older I've got, the less I watch it... And in any case, my favourite F1 driver (Derek Warwick) disappeared at the end of '93.

No, to be honest, I think I may have only watched a total of 5 GPs last year (live and taped).

Thing is, with the ASCAR and the photography I am usually at the circuits on a Sunday afternoon, and at the rate F1 is going, I'd much rather watch a clubbie meet at Snetterton. It is BOUND to be far more entertaining...

[Paul Rayner]

Time to put in my 10 pence worth.

I watched every grand prix from the end of '92 until last year's Monaco grand prix, but after Austria I just lost my enthusiasm. Now I'm normally at a circuit on Sundays in the summer anyway, it's difficult to follow F1, and why watch 1 1/2 hours of procession when there's great racing going on outside?

I intend to watch qualifying for the grand prix live, to see what the new changes do to it. I might watch the grand prix on re-run but, unless Schumacher messes up his qualifying lap and has to start from the back, I doubt I'll get up at 4am to watch the race live.

[John]

Well it appears that those of us in the UK without access to anything other than Ch 1-5 aren't actually allowed to watch the live qualifying for the OZ GP.

It looks like its gonna be shown on Sat afternoon.

Any suggestions as to whats more important to screen instead??

[tvgod]

ITV1 will be showing Saturday qualifying live. The programme starts at 1.30am and runs until 3.15am.

Friday qualifying is on ITV2.

[Steve Mach]

I'll be watching as I always look forward to the start of a new season but it will need to be far better than last year, and quickly.
It became a case of, if I'm in fine if not to hell with it!

[Claw]

I watched every race from last year, hoping it would get better. If your a supporter of something, you support it no matter what.

[Paul Rayner]

Originally posted by Claw
I watched every race from last year, hoping it would get better. If your a supporter of something, you support it no matter what.
Unless, of course, you completely lose your passion for it and find something better... ;)

[AussieV8]

Originally posted by Paul Rayner
Unless, of course, you completely lose your passion for it and find something better... ;)

CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME HER NUMBER...... :p :D :rolleyes:

[John]

Originally posted by AussieV8
CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME HER NUMBER...... :p :D :rolleyes:

:p :p VERY FUNNY!! Ideally you want someone who likes F1 as well - or if they dont then you need to grind them down til they cant resist it! Only took me 4 months before my ex who hated F1 watched the Japanese Qualifying live while I had fallen asleep, of course tactics such as leaving the TV on and falling asleep on the remote help!

Anyway... getting back to the topic before I get in trouble!!

For those UK viewers there's a programme on next sunday (2nd March) at 2.30pm. Theres a discussion with DC, Dave Richards and Mike Gascoyne and you can email via the website if you've got a question (or you could... just checked the site and no sign now so maybe the deadlines passed)

[Betting man]

yes i will be watching it.

Maybe just maybe someone that doen't drive a ferrari might win well Micheal Schumachers luck has gonna run out some day.

[John]

Originally posted by Betting man
well Micheal Schumachers luck has gonna run out some day.

You reckon? I've thought that for the past few years and theres been no sign of it.

[thommo_fan]

i reckon micheal schumacher's due a couple of retirements.

when was his last one? it was so long ago i can't remember.

[John]

A couple - as in about 16?!? I think that should just about level things out!

Was 2001 sometime early on wasnt it? He usually manages to break down in practice, or goes out at the start of the race which is then red flagged (but I dont think they can do that now can they - or they have to start from the pit lane??)

[AussieV8]

He could just finish 7th at every race.:p

[Claw]

Schumacher's last retirment was at Hockenhiem 2001, when he just ground to a halt and decided to stop in the middle of the track!! :mad:

Before that: -
San Marino 2001, Suspension
Germany 2000, Accident
Austria 2000, Accident
France 2000, Engine
Monaco 2000, Exaust
then...Britian 1999! Where he broke his legs.

[Ann]

Originally posted by AussieV8
He could just finish 7th at every race.:p

I think you'll find that will still give him points under the new scoring system! :p

[AussieV8]

Originally posted by Ann
I think you'll find that will still give him points under the new scoring system! :p

****** !!!!!!:( :p