Sidepodcast

Thursday Thoughts

Earlier today, Christine published our plans to keep people entertained during the off-season. However, we weren't expecting anyone to find themselves at a loose end already.

One or two people, it seems, are beginning to suffer from the lack of on track action, and the conversation in the comments turned to what to do on a quiet Thursday evening. Ideas were bounced around and we've settled on a plan to group-blog a specified F1 subject once a week and all publish our posts at the same time.

We don't want this to be a Sidepodcast exclusive thing, it should be decentralised and open to anyone. This post is merely the jumping off point. As yet we don't know how the specific subject will be chosen, but we do have one for today. If you're interested in joining in the fun, all you need to do is blog your thoughts on the following subject:

Who Should Be Awarded Title of 2009 F1 Team Principal of the Year?

The idea for the post was inspired by the Professional MotorSport World awards, but you don't have to take your cue from those, all you need do is describe in as many or as few words as you like, who should be awarded the title and why.

To help you on your way, here's who you have to choose from:

If you title or tag your post Thursday Thoughts, your favourite search engine should do the rest. I think the plan is that everyone will schedule blog posts to publish around 9pm GMT on a Thursday. We've missed that deadline today though, so just jump in as and when you can.

If you're joining in, by all means leave a comment here, or on another blog taking part and hopefully we can contrast and compare after the fact. If you don't have a blog, guest posts are always welcome here, and I'm sure other bloggers will extend the same invite. Just yell and we'll sort you out.

Any questions?

F1 Digest - France GP

• Length: 10:05 
• Size: 9.3 MB 
• File: digest32.mp3 
• Transcript: digest32.pdf 
• Torrent: digest32.torrent 

It's been a while since the French GP has been eagerly anticipated, but with such a mixed up grid, today was one of those days. Tune in to F1 Digest for a recap of all the action, plus driver reactions.

The Race

A race of some serious fighting, Raikkonen battling his machinery, Hamilton trying to get through the traffic, Trulli holding off Kovalainen.

Conclusions

Whilst Honda and Force India seem to be feeling pretty low right now, Toyota and Toro Rosso are flying high. The others fall into various moods in between.

F1 Digest - France Qualifying

• Length: 10:36 
• Size: 9.8 MB 
• File: digest31.mp3 
• Transcript: digest31.pdf 
• Torrent: digest31.torrent 

When qualifying is preceded by a Free Practice with Piquet on top, you know you're in for a fascinating day. Listen to today's F1 Digest for details of the highs, the lows, and the many, many penalties.

Free Practice 3

Piquet led the way today, in a session where none of the regular's made an appearance in the top four, and there was no apparent reason for it.

Qualifying

Knowledge of prior penalties, plus one handed out after the event spiced up the results today, and keep us all guessing over strategies.

Conclusions

The usual mix of optimism and disappointment. Hamilton is apologising, Bourdais is worried that it's just too competitive and Raikkonen is honoured to help Ferrari hit 200.

Episode 65 - An Oddball Guy on the Podium Somewhere

• Length: 42:49 
• Size: 38.6 MB 
• File: episode65.mp3 
• Enhanced: episode65.m4a 
• Transcript: episode65.pdf 
• Torrent: episode65.torrent 

The shorter I want the show to be, the longer it gets, but there is so much to discuss, from Max to the race, from pit stops to marmots, it's all in this Canadian GP wrap-up.

Intro

Please can we do a short show? Pretty please?

Good Week / Bad Week

A good week for teams, but also a bad week for teams. And what number is Rubens really on? Read Ollie's Barrichello notes here.

News and Views

A little bit of an update on Max, and how the teams have reacted to his vote of confidence.

Feedback

The You Know You're an F1 Fan game continues, and Scott tells us about his day out.

Episode 64 - He's More Than Happy to Bring it On

• Length: 24:12 
• Size: 22.1 MB 
• File: episode64.mp3 
• Enhanced: episode64.m4a 
• Transcript: episode64.pdf 
• Torrent: episode64.torrent 

Yes, this one is all about Max, but it's worth sticking around to be fully prepared for the EGM on Tuesday, and there's a Feedback treat at the end of the show.

Intro

It's all about Max.

Good Week / Bad Week

It's been a good week for Max, and a bad week for Max.

News and Views

The Max Mosley timeline, and what we think is going to happen. Hmm. It really is all about Max.

Feedback

More about the Canadian Grand Prix meet-up, plus a new Autosport meet-up discussion, and a fun Facebook game.

Housekeeping

We went live on the internet this week, and get ready for Canada next week.

Australia: Qualifying

One more thread for today then. Finally the time for the real action is upon us. We're in Australia for the first qualifying of 2008.

No need for any Red Bull this evening, we're pumped full of natural adrenalin. It's been a cold and crazy winter, and today it all comes to a head as every team show their true hands for the first time.

The practice session earlier today was hectic and the results erratic but there's little to suggest that the form guide is about to be thrown out of the window.

The temperature has been steadily increasing during the break, it's hot, it's sticky and the track's beginning to come good.

Let's have your predictions as we while away the minutes to the start of Q1.

Australia: Free Practice 1

Something new we'll try today, as suggested by Lou is a live comment / chat thread throughout free practice.

Lord knows if many people are planning to stay up for one or both sessions today and there's probably a whole bunch of fabulous things we could do to make this better, easier, faster or whatever... but who's interested in forward planning, eh?

We'll post times, thoughts, and opinions live in the comments as the session progresses and feel free to join in the fun any time!

Oh, and try not to fall asleep, eh?