A Newbie and How to Watch F1?

I am a newbie. No flames please. I have seen the races here and there, and back again. So I get the races somewhat on speed channel and can find the races other ways. So how does everyone watch this stuff???? Is is pretty typical to watch all the before shows that BBC puts on? I want to get a feeling for this, since personally I don't think I get the normal viewing pleasure living in the States.

I was recently in Amsterdam during the day, a weekend in May?, and saw a race in normal hours and my friends had to pull me away from the screen at the bar. Ugh so not fair this stuff isn't normal here. =?

 

Well, first off, maybe u can start by following free practise threads/qualifying/raceday threads.

Then maybe, get some F1 books, learn about the history, some of the greatest drivers, get some videos, etc. It'll help you to be more passionate bout the sport.

 

I normally use a TV. But occasionally I go to a race. There are TVs there too!

 

BBC1 on Filmon (superior to speed tv); Speed tv; Formula1 live timing; iPhone (At&T) if at other races when F1 race takes place (International data plan in effect when out of the us); Verizon phone with internet (us only phone not GSM); usually watch P1, P2, qualifying, race; F1-live - live timing; used to go to the races (Spa, Hockenheim, Magny Cours, Montreal)


(filmon doesn't work on the iPhone, need windows to be successful; Verizon has new HTC phone out - HTC Imagio, hopefully it will work on that phone it has Windows Mobile 6.5, global ready, the Verizon international data plan is a bit better than AT&T from the last inquiry I made) - another tip using iPhone, unless you are using a Morphie juice pak, turn off 3G and your battery life will definitely be longer

Carol

 

If you want to really upgrade your viewing pleasure, I would highly recommend activating the Formula1.com live timing screen on your laptop whilst watching live practice, quali or races on TV. You can loads of insight into how each individual drivers race is developing by tracking his lap and sector times. Highly recommended.

If you can get it, the BBC also does live 'in car' footage which just upgrades the viewing excitement even more - although you will now have the TV, f1 Live Timing and the In Car screen to watch. Trust me, with that lot all singing along, even the dullest race of the year can be fascinating! (or have i just lost the plot...)

 

F1 can be a bit boring to watch unless you are intimately involved and cognisant of the goings on. It IMO is more about tactics than wheel to wheel competition. Like a high speed game of Chess. Seeing Kimi and LH go wheel to wheel at Spa was astronomical and rare. Only to be ruined by off track politics.

What I do is to pick a driver and a team which I like. Something different from the crowd. Or an upcoming new star and watch his progress. LH's march to the top was pretty cool if you caught the wave when it was forming.
Some who like winners every weekend pick Ferrari or Axis of evil Mclaren. ( At least until this year ). Pick a car brand you own or enjoy. Ferrari,Toyota, BMW, Mercedes etc.
I like Williams from their past accomplishments and David vs Goliath status now. Williams in the middle of the points is a victory for me. Podium is Nirvana. A win ? I might ask for world peace as well.

As far as technically; I watch Recorded practice, qualifying, and the race sequentially when I have time. Speed chanel. Stay away from papers, news, etc until you have seen the race. Sorry to say Fchat is almost out until the race has been viewed as to not pick up a random spoiler.

 

Ah, touche.

 

Welcome--glad to see fresh blood showing an interest! If there is any way possible, no matter how remote, go and see a race in person. Whether you watch telecasts live, delayed, on the intraweb or on the radio (?), seeing the action in person will put it into an entirely new perspective. My belief has always been Formula 1 (most racing, really) doesn't create fans through television, it sustains them. Fans are created by seeing the action live. If you've fallen for F1 just through telecasts, you're in for the time of your life when you get to an actual race!

 

Also start watching GP2. It's the feeder series for F1. You will see most of the drivers that enter F1. SpeedTV shows it.

 

+1 I love GP2 because all the cars are IDENTICAL in every meaningful way, so
it really sorts out the driving skills of the drivers.

 

I used to have autosport.com as my homepage at work until I accidentally ruined 4-5 races that I had recorded. I would tell myself over and over to hit "stop loading," but forget several times.

 

+100, this is all excellent advice. Select a driver or team you can relate to based on ANY criteria. Many of us became fans through family interest (in my case) although it was exceedingly difficult because we followed F1 via magazine articles on races months old and the only televised race at the time was a tape of the Monaco GP.

As mentioned above, attending a race for the first time is an out-of-body experience and you'll likely be indoctrinated for life afterwards.

 

I watch qualifying and the GPs live on TV. In the States we have the benefit of having at least half the races on Sunday morning, so they don't get in the way of the weekend.

I also play the same race that is happening on my PS3. That helps enormously with familiarizing with the track. Where you struggle in the game is normally where they struggle in real life too.

Right after the race we chat endlessly about it on here of course. In some cases (Spa 08) we do that for months and years to come...

Also once a year I go to a GP. No home theater can ever capture the sound and sights of the real deal.

After the GP weekend I read the international press on their respective websites.

Welcome to FChat.

 

I too use my TV to watch since I rarely have the time to fly off to a race. I TIVO the keyword F1 and get loads of programing to watch. Plus, I get to watch the races at a time convenient to me. In the USA you're not likely to hear the result and spoil the race on local news anyway.

 

Just go to http://www.formula1.com/

Don't waste time watching live, unless you're one of those freaks who can get up at 4AM and stay awake. Go to F1 website and read their commentary, they actually make it sound exciting ! Then watch the video they make for each race, they don't have one up for Japan yet, their still looking for something exciting to put in it (besides rock stars and pit babes)

 

I usually record the practice, quali & race, as most are broadcast live on the West Coast at 4:30 am. The two or three races I do catch live on the SpeedTV "live" broadcasts are a few ticks behind the live timing & scoring on the F1 website, but it's still fun & useful. Luckily, or maybe not, in the states it's very easy to avoid the results as the American media largely ignores F1.

Personally, reading about F1 and doing a few driving schools and track days really helped my appreciation/comprehension. It's easier to see the racing line, braking zones, driver style and finesse once you've had a little (tiny) taste of what it's like.

 

Have you ever heard of a DVR ?

 

Useless if you don't get speedchannel, it's younger brother "VCR" also useless.

 

Thanks guys. Thumbs down for the obvious no use responses. =( I never did have a chance to follow racing series as Speed is the only real outlet for me living in the states, and they seem to suck at coverage for anything non nascar right now.

I can't believe I am going through the hassle to download BBC episodes of this stuff, but I guess that will have to continue. I can follow any team easily, as I love Ferrari and Honda. So it's somewhat easy to follow this season, but as someone who doesn't watch as intently as I watch the Lakers, well I don't know the proper way to watch. My example is I like to watch the pregame Lakers shows.

So I guess I should be tuning into the entire pre-show for F1 races. I did actually see a race in the proper day time, but I was in Amsterdam in May when my friends had to pull me from the TV at some random bar in the red light district. I still would like to punch my best friend who is in London who got to watch one of the races last year with some clients. He is the completely opposite of a car person and still enjoyed.

 

IIRC Speed DOES show the races, at a +- 15 minute delay, that's how most americans on here watch it anyway (for those too lazy to download filmon, its not THAT much of a hassle: www.filmon.com > download > start up before the race > click BBC ). You have to remember most races take place in Europe and they start normally at 14.00 local time, so you have to get out of bed earlier if you happen to live in the states.

 

I refuse to watch anything on SpeedTV (How many times do I need to be told how the fuel rig works in a 2 hour race?). I download all the BBC coverage from RacingUnderground.

 

You have a point there. Which is why I find Matchett often so annoying because his "technical insight" is just stating what we know for years.

How many more times are they going to explain KERS or the super diffuser or the 2 different tires and their markings?

 

Actually, Speed delays the qualifying. It starts on time and slips later as they throw in commercials. The races are real-time.

The exception is the FOX tape-delay broadcasts, we're usually lucky enough to get 4 of those a year.

 

I never could get an invite to racing underground, but at least I have binaries.formula1 to help me out. Thanks again for the help, I will attempt to watch this thing live on Speed next time. Though Formula D is early Saturday morning. =)

 

A good and legitimate question Travanx.

F1, except the spectacle in Monaco, is best watched over a quaalude and a beer. Failing that a double pop of Haldol. Otherwise you will have you brain permanately scarred for life due to non-stimulation.