Moving teams, TV and half a car

There’s been lots of driver move chatter in the Formula 1 press this week, particularly focusing on Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber.

Hamilton is out of contract with McLaren at the end of the season, but what are his options? I can’t see him going to Ferrari to partner Fernando Alonso for obvious reasons, nor Red Bull where it may upset Sebastian Vettel’s equilibrium, although having said that rumours are that Red Bull boss Dieter Mateschitz thinks Hamilton’s image would fit well with the Red Bull brand.

Mercedes looks to be the most likely option if he moves but only if Schumacher retires, which I don’t think he will. So to me at least I think he’ll stay with McLaren.

The most interesting move, and I think entirely more probable is Mark Webber to Ferrari. Let’s face it, even with the improvement in form in Monaco, Felipe Massa’s days at Ferrari are probably numbered unless he somehow wins the title.

Webber is coming to the end of his career, he’s on a rolling one year contract with Red Bull. I think he’d expect to play second fiddle to Alonso, but we know he’s more than capable of upsetting the pecking order occasionally as seen in 2010.

I think if you’re going to end your career in a top car, why not with Ferrari? Webber and Alonso are great friends, and I think would work well together. Also I believe after four years of the same driver line up at Red Bull, they might believe it’s time for a change too.

They also might want to make sure a star is established such as Hamilton or a new coming star from their young driver programme in the event of Vettel leaving at the end of 2013 to go to Ferrari. Rumours go that he’s signed a pre-contract agreement with Ferrari depending on various performance clauses for next year, so Red Bull will want to combat that.

At the moment though, it’s all just rumours.

BBC vs Sky

Quick mention about the television coverage, the BBC have broadcast the last two races live and their quality has shown. Switching between them and Sky, you’re left with the impression that the only thing that holds Sky’s race coverage together is the large contingent of ex-BBC personnel, especially Martin Brundle and Ted Kravitz.

The BBC have a great sense of camaraderie with their presenters, while Simon Lazenby for Sky is still coming across as nervous and prone to a few gaffes and not quite sure what to say or do. I’d quite like to see Georgie Thompson take the helm for a few races as she seems a much more natural presenter.

Lee McKenzie, the BBC pit lane reporter, will be taking over from Jake Humphrey for four of the next five races as Humphrey covers the European Championships and Olympics which is good for her as I still feel she’s under used in the coverage and has an obvious depth of knowledge.

BBC also seem to be a lot more relaxed with their sharing of the coverage typified by  the opening of the Monaco F1 forum on the red button. The opening shot was of the Sky team before you hear Jake Humphrey telling the cameraman he’s looking at the wrong presenters! I can't imagine Sky doing that at all.

Half an F1 car

Finally, it’s been in the press a bit, but if you missed it, below is a five minute video of a Sauber cut in half, showing you just how complex and compact a Formula 1 car is. It’s well worth checking out.