This week’s GP+ comes directly from the paddock in Hockenheim. It is a 75-page e-magazine in PDF format, with all the hot news from the German Grand Prix. In this issue we give you the ins and outs of the race weekend.
We have a look at an Formula 1 musician!
Mark Webber’s new deal with Red Bull
The story of Fernand Gabriel
Plus all the regular reports, features and columns
And, of course, Peter Nygaard’s superb photography
For more information, go to www.grandprixplus.com
Joe you know I am lazy b’stard and tend to sub to you half way through the season when I can enjoy looking back / cough splutter / I have the time and money to really read what you DT and The Dude have been writing.
(I do this with other subs who allow archive access, so no insult intended)
Well,
you got me.
I missed the whole darned weekend, and not a single ff was given.
Only now do I have no choice but to pay my dues, because I miss more GP+
( This message brought to you by an admirer, not a sycophant as I believe I may have been accused indirectly . . )
Incidentally, I think I need curing, by actually hitting some races real soon in person. Evil plan in full action, Takes a while to corrupt a ‘murican biz partner. Working hard . .
You know John (oJ), you have hit the nail on the head. Like you, for other reasons I did not see qualifying or the race. From what I hear I did not miss much since Legard was commentating on the wireless again – I would have been shouting at it – although I hear young Master Alguersuari does not seem to have as many qualms as old Brunders about giving the answers we are all shouting at the radio – a gem from FP3 I hear was that JA was goaded into giving an unpredictable prediction for Qual and his response was after a heavy sigh, “Glock on pole” probably followed by “you t**t Jonathan” although that bit did not get broadcast. Where has James Allen gone and why could they not find anybody else to fill in? Anyway, I digress…
Going back to your missing the weekend and, shall we say, not caring! Is this the way of the future? I have to take the UK-centric view but they have lost, what, 25% of the overall viewership from last year. Since races are no longer live, it is easier not to bother watching than it is to avoid literally everything (internet, TV, radio) until the highlights come on. I cannot not be online (for work reasons too) so it is impossible. I don’t watch – I read the basic result, I read GP+ for the full analysis and there we are – one less viewer seeing the sponsors ads go round. And they are about to repeat this viewing model in Italy. Is it really a good idea to sell one’s soul to the News International devil? It’s such a shame – last year’s BBC coverage with this season’s racing… in the meantime, glad I am not sitting in a 2 hour Olympic lane queue having paid a licence fee too.
For me to accuse you of anything would be most ungracious as for 99% of your posts I simply haven’t the faintest idea what you are on about
In a similar way it used to annoy the hell out of me to read the late George Bishops monthly muse in Car until one time I got him and was hooked till his death. I am just not quite there with you as yet. This can only be due to my apparent poor gene stock and claret in my veins not glass..
Must dash pip pip
I agree with the 99% rule on inpenetrability (!). As David Coleman (How’s your memory?) used to say “It’s quite extraordinary”………………
Gold, yet again, from the Hack. Well said, DT. I’m considering making available a boatload of “This is not a Pepsi advertisement” t-shirts…
I have only the Brazilian free preview to go by, but for me, one thing that is missing is the quali times of all three sessions, but otherwise the mag looks and reads well.
If you read it properly you will that it is all there.
Sorry, stupid me.
So why the “low” attendance of only 59,000? Germany is doing better than most places economically, you have a young champion in Vettel, a legend in Schumacher, all in a country where Daimler and Benz invented the automobile.
High prices? Poor promoting? Has the novelty of German champions wore off and now the locals accept it as routine?
That is the other question of the weekend…
You mention KK’s 4th will go a good way to help secure his drive for next season… is his drive actually under threat? Or no more than any other driver?
An aside from not giving a single ff, as I refuse to pay £35 per month for sky to watch two races, I was unable to watch the german gp live. I actually found myself not giving an ff too for the entire weekend, yet when it’s on the bbc, I watch everything. Wonder what will happen if it disappears from bbc entirely next year ?
Plus one – that’s the way it is these days. Thanks BBC for adjusting our priorities for us.
While I think of it… Joe, did Mr. E rock up? I see no mention of him anywhere so if he did, I am guessing the German rozzers weren’t around.
He did not.
The BBC radio coverage was a mess on Saturday, the advertised programming was all over the shop and I missed most of quali. Website coverage was almost as bad, and the iplayer highlights didn’t seem to function as it should. All in all a big mess from the BBC.
Magazine is great and worth every penny/cent, whatever currency you live with.
Occasionally it would be nice to have a title to some of the full-page images, but generally I have only praise for Joe and his friends’ efforts.
I did enjoy the Parting Shot photo, with one of the less-than-59,000 Friday spectators watching their hero in action. Great work by Peter Nygaard or one of his colleagues.
Interesting that you ask the question about ‘bums on seats” and put a (1 page) questionnaire link in the latest edition of GP+… and then have 7 pages on an unknown pop star wannabe (almost 10% of the magazine). One thing I always like about your writing and your blog is the insider insight into the paddock and F1. But I fail to see any real relevance of the article in this latest issue. Would have been good if your survey included open-ended questions to get qualitative feedback. This kind of article really turns me off…
It takes all sorts. This is why we have the +, as it allows that kind of freedom. I thought the article was unusual and different – and there is no harm in that. No doubt some might complain about writing about a racing driver who died nearly 70 years ago as well. Different strikes for different folks!
You have to expect DT to provide a curve-ball every so often…
Joe, I assume you have seen yourself on the BBC TV highlight program on Sunday night. You appear twice, in the background, so I therefore gather, you have signed a release form from the BBC for your appearance and that you claimed your extra walk on part fee. (every penny helps)
See you in Hungry.
They don’t show this stuff in France!
Joe, what are your thoughts on lapped cars which are not slow? I understand some feel it’s an etiquette issue for lapped cars not to intervene with the leaders, but I wonder how seriously people take racing etiquette when a teammate’s potential win is involved, or points in the Constructors’ Championship. The only thing in wide agreement is that slower cars should not block… was this actually a new situation? It’s interesting.
I did not see anything wrong with Lewis in lapping himself.
Indeed. It helped Button to finish second so it might support his contract talks for he has shown true team spirit.
How do people nowadays feel about the Tilke redesigned Hockenheim circuit. Personally I preferred the old one where there was a long stretch where drivers could really go fast for a while. But this one does have the advantage of the spectators (what few there were) seeing the cars more often. Lots of NASCAR fans here hated the changes made to the Bristol Tennessee track and the owner has vowed to fix them Do’t know if that has to anything to do with the poor attendance but it is worth thinking about.
I personally love the stories about old racers from 75 or 100 years ago, even though (or maybe because) I am generally not familiar with them. The 7 page article on the unknown pop singer wasn’t very good but I understand GP+’s desire to try different things, even if they don’t turn out very well.
I was thinking about that one of the times they showed the aerial shot and you could see the old circuit out in the sticks. I used to love it because it was so different to all the other circuits, and in those days you’d get visibly very different aero packages. And in those days it would usually favour a team that didn’t usually do so well due to being such an atypical circuit, particularly on engines. But sooner or later someone was going to tangle at a chicane and launch into the trees.
From browsing the web I think there were some very strong feelings about ditching the old Hockenheim circuit. It was unique, and would provide wonderful slipstreaming duels that no other circuit facilitated.
The down side was that it was the car performance that made all the difference, the driver could not do much to influence the result unless it was wet. I remember in ’92, the first half of the field were ‘Noah’s ark’ formation – 2 Williams, 2 McLarens etc. for much of the early part of the race.
But the new track is devoid of character – a short featureless track, with too much runoff and virtually no gradient.
But good races.
Interesting to see my views on the Olympics reflected in GP+
I still have doubts about the supposed millions benefit they bring to the UK, we are going to be paying for them for many years hence. I expect it will become one of those never mentioned debts like the Lease-lend from WW2 which was paid off only two or three years ago, yet most youngsters of 40 or under have never heard of it. As far as I am concerned there is huge breach of civil liberties and very questionable sharp practice
We could have done without the promotional feature for a folk singer, thanks. Was that a relative or a debt being paid David??
So after all the “I have nothing to fear” bravado from BE he chickened out, sorry, I mean he found he had to be elsewhere.
Did the monkey, after copying out the link.
I’m a 47-year-old ex-grammar-school-boy, and I had no idea about “the war-debt” until my father happened to mention it in passing one day. I doubt very many of my contemporaries — barring the history students — would know of it either. Certainly on the odd occasions that I’ve mentioned it to people, it’s come as a big surprise to them as it first did to me. I’ve only just found out its proper name today.
I believe UK finally finished paying it off last year.
Of course Joe you should have used Ooo Pae Esss.
Though if I remember correctly all UPS is first shipped to Belgium, regardless of where it is going. Though you must admit that the first day or so of the delay was caused by the Gallic temperament.
I should add that while I have heard of the practice of “bridge days” being taken in France I had not realised that it ran to Bridge minutes as well.
Joe,
Sorry if I repeat myself but I still can’t see in GP+ any small table with max speed info during race week-ends. Does the FIA not provide this little detail? It looks to me as if Ferrari greatly improved in that category. But am not sure how accurate speed info is on TV when they show the two round dials with RPM and Kers and all that. Just before I uncorked my champagne I think I saw 318 for Alonso. Can you confirm?
GP+ is produced in a few hours after each race. There is no time to put in all such numbers, because it has to be done manually.
Love the blog, but I think it’s well and truly time to abandon the puns
Fortunately I don’t.
That wouldn’t be much pun.