Sidepodcast

F1 Digest 2009 - Singapore Qualifying

• Length: 11:00 
• Size: 10.1 MB 
• File: digest131.mp3 
• Transcript: digest131.pdf 
• Torrent: digest131.torrent 

Today's F1 Digest takes a closer look at all the action from Free Practice 3 and Qualifying, covering all the teams and drivers thoughts on the early end to the finaly session of the day.

Free Practice 3

An hour of practice before qualifying saw plenty of drivers trying to keep facing the right direction, as they figured out just how dusty the circuit really was.

Qualifying

Barrichello really threw a spanner in the works for all involved, but it's unlikely the results would have been vastly different to how they ended up. The fuel loads are intriguing though.

Team By Team

Hamilton and a few others are very happy with how their day went, and finding themselves back up towards the top end of the grid. Liuzzi is learning, Fisichella and Trulli are struggling. Let's see how tomorrow goes.

F1 Digest 2009 - Singapore Free Practice

• Length: 10:07 
• Size: 9.3 MB 
• File: digest130.mp3 
• Transcript: digest130.pdf 
• Torrent: digest130.torrent 

Today's F1 Digest runs through all the action from Singapore, with two Free Practice sessions completed. We were hoping to move on from last year's debacle, but with history repeating itself right under our noses, what are you gonna do?

Free Practice 1

We didn't see any rain, but the drivers might have hoped there was some precipitation, to help wash away the incredibly dusty track. There were a few spins but Grosjean topped them all.

Free Practice 2

It was Webber's turn to meet his fate in the barriers, but obviously the track hadn't improved that much as he retained a decent grid position throughout the session.

Team by Team

Red Bull are looking strong despite their lack of running in Free Practice, Brawn are also right up there and ready for the fight. Those who haven't driven at Singapore or in a night race before are starting to realise what a challenge they have ahead of them.

F1 Digest 2009 - Singapore Preview

• Length: 06:42 
• Size: 6.2 MB 
• File: digest129.mp3 
• Transcript: digest129.pdf 
• Torrent: digest129.torrent 

Teams and drivers gear up for Singapore - a race with many challenges, including a lack of overtaking, floodlighting, and a controversial history. Listen to this preview show to find out who's feeling confident and who isn't.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 27th September
• Circuit: Singapore Street Circuit
• Length: 5.1km
• Laps: 61
• 2008 Winner: Fernando Alonso

Preview

It's all still a bit awkward, with the Renault hearing only just out the way, but teams are starting to turn their attention back to the racing, with a few upgrades here and there, and a couple of drivers starting to score points.

F1 Digest 2009 - Italy GP

• Length: 9:54 
• Size: 9.1 MB 
• File: digest128.mp3 
• Transcript: digest128.pdf 
• Torrent: digest128.torrent 

Our final F1 Digest of the Italian race weekend runs through all the racing action, including the action packed first few laps, and the many retirees. We also hear the team's view on their weekend at Monza.

The Race

The rain held off which meant we got to see a nice mixed up race without the need for wet tyres. There was plenty of overtaking to behold, along with strategy work, and the pole sitter didn't win.

Team by Team

Many of the teams are ruing their unreliability this weekend, whilst a couple of drivers could have done with bigger mirrors to see their opponents more clearly. Still, Brawn are happy, and Red Bull are determined.

F1 Digest 2009 - Italy Qualifying

• Length: 10:44 
• Size: 9.9 MB 
• File: digest127.mp3 
• Transcript: digest127.pdf 
• Torrent: digest127.torrent 

There was no rain as expected, but things were still interesting with a fast Force India, and a Ferrari in the wall. The fuel loads mean strategy will play a big part in the race tomorrow. Listen on to find out more.

Free Practice 3

Fisichella had a tough start to the day when he crashed his Ferrari into the barriers. He wasn't the only one struggling though, as Alguersuari had gearbox issues that meant a qualifying penalty.

Qualifying

The first few sessions went as you would expect, but the final shoot out for pole saw a battle between Hamilton and Sutil for the top spot. The pair of them line up on the grid next to each other, with McLaren in front.

Team By Team

It's nice that Lewis and Adrian are good friends as they are nice to each other in their respective press quotes. Less nice is the ongoing battle each driver has with traffic, with Buemi seeming to get mixed up in most of it.

F1 Digest 2009 - Italy Free Practice

• Length: 10:13 
• Size: 9.4 MB 
• File: digest126.mp3 
• Transcript: digest126.pdf 
• Torrent: digest126.torrent 

The action gets underway at Monza, with the cars out on track distracting us from the ongoing and neverending politics. The mixed up form from Spa doesn't seem to have been righted just yet, which could make for an interesting weekend.

Free Practice 1

The morning went smoothly, no rain, with the drivers taking it gingerly around those new kerbs and finding their way on the circuit without having the benefit of testing.

Free Practice 2

The track seemed a little more slippery in the afternoon, several drivers ran wide, but they soon figured it out. Sutil had an engine change, but managed to end the day on top.

Team by Team

For yet another race weekend, we are seeing new drivers come in and have to adjust to their surroundings. Today it was Fisichella and Liuzzi's turn, whilst some of the rookies drove Monza for the first time in F1.

F1 Digest 2009 - Italy Preview

• Length: 05:57 
• Size: 5.5 MB 
• File: digest125.mp3 
• Transcript: digest125.pdf 
• Torrent: digest125.torrent 

From the changeable conditions at Spa, we head straight over to the, well, changeable conditions at Monza. Fisichella races his home Grand Prix for the team he has always dreamt of, whilst the others just want to do better.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 13th September
• Circuit: Monza
• Length: 5.8km
• Laps: 53
• 2008 Winner: Sebastian Vettel

Preview

Glock is hoping to eradicate bad memories of his race here last year, whilst Barrichello is reliving some of the good old days at Ferrari, and Red Bull will be hoping for a repeat of Vettel's success.

F1 Digest 2009 - Belgium GP

• Length: 8:38 
• Size: 8.0 MB 
• File: digest124.mp3 
• Transcript: digest124.pdf 
• Torrent: digest124.torrent 

The Belgian Grand Prix was about as chaotic as qualifying, but most of the action was over after the first couple of laps. The team thoughts are a fascinating look at what happens when the order is turned on its head.

The Race

The first lap saw four retirements, three pit stops, and a safety car, but thankfully the rest of the race quietened a little. There was still room for drive through penalties, fuel rig problems and wheel spinners.

Team by Team

Several of the teams are happier than they have been all year, but there is still some wonderment about how the order got so messed up. Still, Ferrari are happy, and Force India have finally got some points!

F1 Digest 2009 - Belgium Qualifying

• Length: 10:54 
• Size: 10.0 MB 
• File: digest123.mp3 
• Transcript: digest123.pdf 
• Torrent: digest123.torrent 

Saturday at Spa could never have been predicted, not in a million years. Fisichella took pole position, and neither McLaren nor Button made it into the final top ten. Listen on to find out what happened.

Free Practice 3

It was a relatively normal start to the day, although we still couldn't read much into the final finishing order of the morning. Roll on qualifying.

Qualifying

What an afternoon at Spa! The first session of quali wasn't particularly surprising but Q2 saw some big names drop out, and by the time we got to the top ten, it was anyone's guess.

Team By Team

BMW and Toyota are feeling very optimistic for the race, whilst Red Bull and Brawn - those who need to be concentrating on doing well - have some work to do.

F1 Digest 2009 - Belgium Free Practice

• Length: 09:57 
• Size: 9.2 MB 
• File: digest122.mp3 
• Transcript: digest122.pdf 
• Torrent: digest122.torrent 

Catch up with the goings on at Spa, through the waterlogged morning to the much drier afternoon, including keeping a wary eye on Badoer, watching Vettel do very little, and pondering who will qualify well.

Free Practice 1

Just a few laps completed before the rain started pouring down, and held us up for a while. The rookies got in some good practice in the wet, though.

Free Practice 2

Badoer caused a red flag in the first five minutes, but it didn't halt things for long. Action got underway with increased running to make up for the morning.

Team by Team

Everyone is a bit on the quiet side today, but Hamilton is feeling confident and the Toyota boys are buoyed by their performance today. Even BMW are slightly optimistic.