Given the decidedly mixed reaction to the news that Sky Sports
had acquired the exclusive rights to show Formula One in its
entirety in the United Kingdom over the next seven years, the
broadcaster's decision to invite fifteen-or-so social media moguls
to grill their new television line-up appears rather brave. They
went ahead and did it anyway, and on Monday morning at the
Grosvenor Hotel in London, the likes of Martin Brundle, Damon Hill
and David Croft found themselves chatting away about
ex-girlfriends, old rivalries - and of course, the BBC.
Another returning champion?!
The questioning began innocently enough, as former world
champion Damon Hill was asked how he found himself in the position
of pundit having admitted in 2006 that he hadn't sat down to watch
a full race in "years". Hill replied that after retiring in 1999,
he switched on to watch the following year's Australian Grand Prix
only to turn it off out of a mild sense of jealousy, likening it to
watching your ex-girlfriend - a subject which was momentarily
dwelled upon. Damon then sheepishly confessed that for many years
he had avoided tuning in due to the success of a certain Ferrari
driver. But his attention slowly turned back to motorsport when his
son began racing, combined with his election as president of the
British Racing Drivers Club. At the end of the day, he reckons
there's "nothing like Formula One" to give you a rush, and claims
to be immensely looking forward to returning to the paddock in his
new role.
Who's hot and who's not?
Soon the time came to put necks on lines as Sky's finest were
asked which drivers might prevail in 2012. Martin Brundle led the
way in tipping Sebastian Vettel for a third consecutive triumph,
but also pointed out that Jenson Button looked hugely strong at the
close of last season, and suggested a cheeky bet might be in order.
Brundle was less positive on Mark Webber's chances, suggesting that
the Aussie has "a mountain to climb", whilst announcing that
warning signs emerging from Maranello reveal that Ferrari are
"really worried" about their prospects for the year ahead. Damon
chipped in by reminding us that Hamilton should be in the mix, but
added that with Lewis "you always feel it could go either way". At
this point it was remembered that Mercedes are yet to show their
hand, and David Croft confidently declared that this year would see
Michael Schumacher return to the top of the rostrum on at least one
occasion. Brundle agreed that Ross Brawn appeared to be playing a
good hand, but Ted Kravitz was surprisingly dismissive of Nico
Rosberg's chances, arguing that Nico "cannot put a title challenge
together". On the subject of the mercurial Kimi Raikkonen, Martin
reckoned that the returning Finn would be "solid", but Anthony
Davidson felt that the former would champion would "struggle" upon
his return to a very different discipline.
Big plans, and big budgets.
A few minutes had passed when Martin Brundle kindly reminded us
that we were here to talk about Sky - and so we did. The first
thing that came up was the issue of finance. Brundle dashed the
dastardly dreams of free-to-air loyalists by revealing that Sky
have sunk "hundreds of millions of pounds" into their new venture,
and that "they won't be going anywhere". In terms of
programme-making, it was announced that Sky Sports will have
"treble the budget" of the BBC operation, giving them something of
a free licence artistically.
What will this money be going towards? Well, some of it will be
spent on a new weekly magazine show hosted by Georgie Thompson and
Ted Kravitz, and the programme has already been certified "good" by
the latter. Thompson assured us that weekly really does mean
weekly, and that the pair will be on our screens each weekend,
"even during the summer break". The show aims to go some way to
bridging the gap between race weekends.
As for the races themselves, Brundle promises that Sky will be
on air for "fourteen hours per weekend", whilst Kravitz speculates
that there will be "more of everything", with a particular emphasis
on the use of team radio and a choice of on-board and pitlane feeds
for the viewer to flick through. Also on the cards is "something
like the [BBC] forum", with anchor Simon Lazenby giving his word
that "we will interact with the fans". Perhaps most important for
diehard Brundle fans is the news that Martin will continue to
partake in his intrepid grid walks "whenever I feel like it".
Confessions and conflict?
When talk turns to the BBC, there is naturally some hesitation:
some five members of the Sky team have made the one way journey
from Television Centre. Slightly surprising is the general
consensus that "the BBC will get high audiences than us",
particularly when the live races are at unsociable hours. But
still, David Croft reckons that it is "not a competition" between
the two broadcasters, and Brundle broadly agrees - "we don't need
to worry about the BBC and they don't need to worry about us. We're
both just trying to make the best coverage possible, and the
audience will decide which they prefer." When asked what sort of
year one ratings would constitute a success for Sky, Crofty
skillfully avoids a giving a figure and states that their success
lies in people enjoying the coverage.
This year Brundle has resumed his role as co-commentator, after
a brief season as lead man alongside David Coulthard. Brundle says
he is happier to be the co-commentator, admitting that "I had to
force being the lead" and that he "realised that during rehearsal"
with Croft, which we will hear later. Still, Martin reckons that
his spell alongside Coulthard "will make me a better commentator",
as he now better understands the requirements of both roles.
A good first impression...
Damon Hill brings the session to a close by telling the room of
the occasion on which he was a driver steward and bitter foe
Michael Schumacher was summoned to his office [cue Croft
impersonating a Bond villain], with the former Williams driver
admitting that he wanted "a big hole to open up and swallow
me".
We are taken to an adjacent room and shown a clip of Brundle and
Croft commentating together on last year's Australian Grand Prix,
and it is immediately clear that the partnership will work. What is
even more impressive is the much hyped adoption of surround sound,
which (at neighbour-annoying levels) essentially puts you at the
track.
What is clear is that Sky's new team have real chemistry, and a
serious passion for their new sport. Executive producer Martin
Turner promises a "three-hundred-and-sixty-degree" package which
has something for everyone - from "bloody technical" features to
"stunning" archive footage. Those that can't or won't make the
switch will have to make do with a watered down package, there's no
concessions there - but those tuning in to Sky Sports F1 HD from
9th March are in for a real treat.