Sidepodcast

A Lap of Bahrain With Mark Webber

Red Bull have produced a stunning track guide for the first race of the Formula One season in Bahrain. Mark Webber is in the hot seat, and the two minute video takes viewers on a lap of the revised Bahrain International Circuit, from the cockpit of the team's F1 Simulator.

• Length: 02:17 
• Size: 26.8 MB 
• File: video27.m4v 
• Transcript: video27.pdf 
• Torrent: video27.torrent 

Production quality in the clip is second to none, and Webber does a fine job of covering the tricky points of the track. F1 simulators are becoming significantly more important as testing becomes ever more restricted, and this footage offers a great insight into the steps a modern F1 driver goes through to prepare for each race of the season.

There is a lot of information to take onboard in the lower third of the screen, and it's worth watching this one more than once. A fantastic effort from those involved and the only worrying thing is that there's nothing left for us to add.

Put Yourself Slighty Above the Driving Seat

We frequently accuse Bernie Ecclestone of being somewhat backwards when it comes to looking forwards, but despite appearing completely disinterested in furthering Formula 1's online footprint, small changes have been slowly appearing on the official F1 site and today the homepage is promoting new onboard video footage from every race this year and a few bonus races from last year.

There are a total of 17 laps to stream and as with previous race summaries they're available at various qualities covering most types of bandwidth. There's no commentary or musical accompaniment, just pure, unadulterated and uninterrupted engine noise. Jenson's lap from Monaco additionally offers FOM technical overlay information detailing engine revs, speed, track position and more.

It's not clear why certain laps were chosen over others. Vettel's lap from Monza last year was filmed during a practice session for example, while Webber's second place qualifying effort from Silverstone gets the nod over Heikki's pole-sitting flyer.

Regardless, we're not complaining. Some may argue other sports have been doing this and more for many a year, and that Bernie's doing the least he possibly can whilst simultaneously digging his 5" heels in to resist any possible hint of progress or change. However, it's rare the man offers up something for nothing, so we'll gladly accept any official online F1 video we can lay our hands on with open arms.

If you haven't check them out yet, we highly recommend you do so, as soon as possible.

Daily: 4th December 2008

Ah-ha! I have remembered to write the post. This is a good thing, but if anyone has any tips for remembering things, I would love to hear them. My memory isn't what it used to be, or something like that. However, enough about me, there's plenty going on in F1 at the moment, as well as in the comments.

• It seems to be the winter of discontent for our drivers. We previously heard Barrichello having a moan about certain employers in his past. Now we've got Alonso complaining about the direction the cars are taking (I agree, by the way), Kovalainen getting a dig in over apparent Hamilton favouritism, and Pantano just griping about F1 teams in general. What do you think is up with our drivers? Are they just missing the racing?
• McLaren made video of Hamilton's ideal track. We're still analysing the lap itself, but also having a look at the video and wondering why it's not as good as Red Bull's Singapore spectacle.
• I Spy is still on H, and in the Numbers Game, we've covered 61 and are set to look at 62.

We're halfway through the week and it's all downhill to the weekend from here, thank goodness. Don't be constrained by the topics I've listed above, feel free to discuss anything that comes to mind. I'll see you in the comments.

A Circuit Preview with a Twist

Is it a bit too soon to be discussing the Canadian GP already? I do hope not because I've just dug up a fab little video associated with the next stop on the calendar, and if I don't link to it now, I'll lose it again.

The clip below takes you on a short trip around the circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but the difference here is you get to experience it from the air, through the eyes of a remote controlled aircraft. Filming apparently took place a fortnight before the 2006 race, so you can see that most of the trackside furniture is in place, while sections of public road have been roped off.

Admittedly the video is showing it's age now, but two years ago this short film was at the bleeding edge of what is now known as First Person View pilot control, where live images are beamed from a remote camera to a set of goggles attached to your head. Turning left or right repositions the camera mounting so you can literally have a look around!

I've done some searching, but as these things have only recently become commercially available, no-one has yet taken the time to fly around any other racing tracks. It's only a matter of time though and the following film shows just how far the idea has developed in the past two years.

Nobody has ever asked me what I'd be doing if I wasn't working for Sidepodcast, but if they did, I'd tell them that is exactly what I'd be doing.

If I had the money I think I'd grab a set and have me a guided tour of every racing track I could find. Imagine following a Formula 1 test from up there... you wouldn't miss a thing.

So, You Want to be an F1 Commentator?

A couple of days ago I posted a suggestion that F1 fans should have more say as to who our designated TV commentators should be for the year, and what we really need is a chance to vote someone into that role.

The best I could suggest was a reality television show, but in the comments following that post Lynch came up with an even better suggestion - a Sidepodcast commentary competition! Scott seconded the idea and Jordan's already raring to go.

So that's what we're going to do.

The concept is simple. For every race over the past 12 months we've produced a preview video prior to each event which, in part, features a quick trip around the upcoming circuit. Christine has always done the commentary, but for one race only, we're going to put that opportunity up for grabs.

How many times have you ever laughed out loud at a mistake an F1 commentator's made, and said to yourself "I could do a better job than them"? Plenty of times I bet, and this is your perfect chance to prove yourself.

What we're asking is for you to take a look at the following lap of Istanbul Park in Turkey and imagine how you'd commentate on a lap:

If you think you can come up with enough things to fill a minute and a half of airtime, then grab yourself a microphone (or hairbrush if you must), play the video, and start practicing.

Once you're feeling confident, we need to hear you. If you can record yourself onto your computer and email us an MP3 file then that's brilliant, otherwise you can call us on Skype or phone 0121 28 TRACK from any landline and record yourself that way instead.

We'll place your commentary over the video and play it during the next episode of F1 Rewind (if we get a lot of submissions we may only play a small part of each), after that we'll open a vote on this site and the winner will be used on the Turkey preview of Inside Track.

As an incentive, that show is currently getting between 10,000 and 20,000 views per episode on YouTube alone, so it'll be a sizable audience that'll hear your words. Are you convinced yet?

There's every chance this could fall flat on its face but then Christine can do her usual duties and we'll pretend this never happened! Just a couple of rules for you (because what kind of competition doesn't have rules?):

• The competition is open to everybody, you can submit as many entries as you like, but we'll only take the last one. That way if you mess up a Skype call just ring again.
• Entries must be received by Monday 28th April.
• This is a family show, so please keep it clean.
• Winning this competition does not guarantee you a job at the beeb, it's just for fun.

Good, any further questions?

Video 17 - Belgium Preview

• Length: 07:03 
• Size: 79.9 MB 
• File: video17.m4v 
• Transcript: video17.pdf 
• Torrent: video17.torrent 

Following on from the politics and the controversy surrounding the FIA hearing in Paris this week, it'll be good to get back to some racing. Luckily, there's no place better to go racing than the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

After a one year hiatus, the circuit returns to this year's calendar with a revised final chicane and revamped pit-area. Eau Rouge may be flat in a modern F1 car but there are plenty of challenges in store for our drivers, so join Christine as she takes a fantastic roller coaster ride through the Ardennes to see what all the fuss is about.

We also discover what the ING Race Index thinks of this place, as well as taking a look at the championship tables to see how the FIA's verdict on Thursday mixed things up.

Music played: Ethereal, Play Like Children

Music comes from music.podshow.com, with special thanks going to Allianz SE, Brembo, Toyota Motorsports GmbH, ING Group and RTV GmbH for the use of their video footage and images.

Video 15 - Italy Preview

• Length: 04:10 
• Size: 46.2 MB 
• File: video15.m4v 
• Transcript: video15.pdf 
• Torrent: video15.torrent 

It's the penultimate European race, and that means we're heading to Monza in Italy. Ferrari's home Grand Prix stands out as the only low-downforce event remaining on this years calendar, so expect to see some very skinny rear wings as the team's fight to tame the legendary asphalt.

The status quo won't change much though, the two leading teams will still be battling it out at the front in one of the closest run championships for a long time. Don't miss Sidepodcast's preview of the Italian Grand Prix as we look at the recently revised circuit.

Music played: Jahmila, Amandola

Music comes from music.podshow.com, with special thanks going to Allianz SE, Brembo, Toyota Motorsport GmbH, ING Group and RTV GmbH for the use of their video footage and images.

Video 14 - Turkey Preview

• Length: 06:35 
• Size: 74.4 MB 
• File: video14.m4v 
• Transcript: video14.pdf 
• Torrent: video14.torrent 

Turn 8, now there's a phrase to bring a smile to faces of Formula 1 fans the world over. The F1 circus descends onto Turkey for round 12 of the championship and one of the best designed circuits of the modern era. Join Sidepodcast as we take a look at what makes this place special as well as catch up with the movers and shakers in the driver market since the last race in Hungary.

Music played: Yalcin Konuk, Sonando

Music comes from music.podshow.com, with special thanks going to Allianz SE, Brembo, ING Group, Honda Racing F1, Red Bull Racing, Champ Car World Series and RTV GmbH for the use of their video footage and images.

Video 12 - Hungary Preview

• Length: 04:31 
• Size: 50.1 MB 
• File: video12.m4v 
• Transcript: video12.pdf 
• Torrent: video12.torrent 

It's been 12 months since Jenson Button won his first Grand Prix. This season's not been as kind on the Englishman, but with a bit of luck the weather might be changeable and Christine's favourite bloke might, just might, stand a chance of bagging some points at the Hungaroring.

Qualifying well here is almost as important as it is in Monaco, so Saturday afternoon is when all the action will happen. On a dry day, there's not much to recommend about this dusty circuit - overtaking opportunities are few and far between, meaning strategy is everything.

Music played: Brother Love, Summertime

Music comes from music.podshow.com, with special thanks going to Red Bull Racing, Honda Racing F1 and RTV GmbH for the use of their video footage and images.

Video 10 - Europe Preview

• Length: 07:35 
• Size: 85.7 MB 
• File: video10.m4v 
• Transcript: video10.pdf 
• Torrent: video10.torrent 

After a short break following on from the British Grand Prix, it's time to head across the water to Germany. Or to be precise, to Nurburgring the home of the European GP.

On the show this week Christine takes a look at Nick Heidfeld's recent run in a Formula 1 car around the Nordschleife track, plus we take a quick lap around the comparatively mini F1 circuit and catch up on the ING F1 Race Index. Finally we look at how the championship standings look following Lewis Hamilton's relatively poor showing (by his standards) at his home Grand Prix.

Music played: Petzel, Coaster

Music comes from music.podshow.com, with special thanks going to Allianz SE, ING Group, Toyota Motorsport GmbH and RTV GmbH, for the use of their video footage.