The third practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix was lost in miserable weather conditions on Saturday at Suzuka. The rain and standing water on the track was such that most drivers only ventured out to take a look and only two set lap times. Jaime Alguersuari thus led the way, despite two spins, while Timo Glock was the only other man who registered a time, and he too had a spin. His team-mate Sébastien Buemi was also a spinner but did not go for a lap time.
For the Japanese fans this was hardly what they paid for, but with the F1 rules as they are the cars tend to stay in pitlane…
If F1 wants so many races in Asia, they’d be better advised to look at the diary avoiding the wet season….
PS. I live in Sydney, so I went out and bought a DAB+ and WiFi Radio (which is fab!) to listen to the scheduled Japanese GP 3rd Practice and Qualifying (and the remaining races) on BBC Radio 5 Live Xtra via Internet. Thinking myself very clever, I set it my connection only to be told: “Due to rights restrictions, the current programme is not available”.
Rats! C’mon Bernie and BBC. The internet is free, so why can’t I listen to Crofty, Maurice and Ant? And how or why do they block it out…?
Joe could you elaborate on what you mean by “For the Japanese fans this was hardly what they paid for, but with the F1 rules as they are the cars tend to stay in pitlane…”. What alternative course of action would you see?
I was sat in the stand opposite the pits and press centre all afternoon but never thought that there was any question of quali going ahead, or really should have been given how it was. That said Fuji 2007 was worse weather (not sure about drainage) but I guess quali is different from racing.
Personally I don’t think there was any sense of grievance among the fans just acceptance that weather is something than Berni cannot control
I’m told that it is blocked because you (and anyone else abroad) don’t pay a UK licence fee, not because of Bernie. And they know where you are by the IP number (Internet identity no.) of your service provider.
I’m in France and have the same problem – but I can get 5 Live on medium wave radio. I wouldn’t get it on DAB, and thankfully the new government has said there is no reason to switch off existing radio services. The radio industry wanted that – and the previous government supported it – so that people would be forced to replace an estimated 100 million older radios….
@Leo
How: it’s based on your IP address (ID’s your market geography)..
Why: to make more money. For example, wouldn’t be able to sell broadcast rights within the Australian market if Aussie’s could already access BBC market coverage.
Fully agree it’s a (absurd) means of protecting an old business model. At some point, the power and momentum of the internet will inevitably bring down these false walls. For example, if you’re able to VPN into Britain, then the network “thinks” you’re local and voilà, no eights restrictions. Inevitability…
@Leo/Fulveo: Yes, it’s a very outdated model indeed… I pay almost €100 to a fast proxy service to watch the BBC feed, and I’ve posted many times on the BBC website that I’d much rather be giving that money to the BBC! They really need to introduce some system of international licence (or even license, for the USers
) – I think there are a lot of people like me outside the UK, who would pay for access to the BBC’s programming … and to keep the BBC out of the clutches of the ConDem(n) government!