大象传媒

大象传媒 BLOGS - Andrew Benson
芦 Previous | Main | Next 禄

Mark Webber - Classic F1

Post categories:

Andrew Benson | 06:00 UK time, Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Red Bull's is the latest driver to pick his five favourite all-time races for 大象传媒 Sport's classic Formula 1 series.

Unlike some of his rivals, our columnist was a fan of F1 before he started racing in it and has a good knowledge of the sport's history.

So it is no surprise that his selection is an aficionado's list of five all-time great races.

Mark Webber

In his 10 years in the sport, Webber has been involved in plenty of classic races himself - but he has not picked any of his six wins, nor great moments such as, a move that will go down in the annals as one of the best and bravest there has been.

Instead, the sole race among his five choices in which he took part is one in which he played only a cameo role - albeit an important one. But we will come on to that later.

Webber's first choice is one he remembers watching as a child in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, the . It is the race that brought to a climax what some have called the greatest F1 season in history.

Held on the Adelaide street circuit, it is famous for the tyre blow-out that robbed driver of the title and for driver Alain Prost's unexpected - if thoroughly deserved - second title, won against great odds. As Webber says: "It was a big battle for the championship and obviously Nigel Mansell had the tyre failure. It was a grand prix packed with great drama."

took his maiden F1 victory on this damp day at Spa-Francorchamps, on the first anniversary of his debut. Schumacher's win actually hinged on an error. He ran off the track and lost a place to Benetton team-mate . On rejoining, Schumacher noticed that the Englishman's rear tyres were so he decided to pit for new ones. The decision won him the race.

There were also starring roles for those two giants of the era, McLaren's and Mansell. Webber recalls: "Senna tried to make the slicks work in an inferior car while Schumacher got the tactics right although Brundle was just as quick. As was often the case, Michael made a mistake and ran off the track but managed to get back on to notch up his first race win."

A favourite of F1 drivers this year - arguably Ayrton Senna's defining performance in the rain at Donington Park. As Webber says: "The original yellow helmet. Say no more!"

The race Schumacher has said was his best ever - it won him his first title for Ferrari after a flat-out race-long battle with his most respected rival, McLaren's Mika Hakkinen, in which both men operated on a separate level from their rivals at Suzuka, one of the most demanding circuits in the world.

Webber says: "This was Hakkinen and Schumacher at their best. It's only after you've driven this track and competed there in F1 that you appreciate what a great grand prix those two contested."

The 2005 Japanese Grand Prix

"Which is a race I competed in," Webber says - and one, it should be added, that is arguably the greatest F1 race in history. It featured two of the best overtaking moves there have ever been, and it was won by McLaren's from 17th on the grid, the Finn overtaking Renault's for the lead at the start of the last lap.

It might well have been won by Fisichella's team-mate , who led Raikkonen in the early laps. But the Spaniard was delayed by a controversial intervention by the stewards, which impacted on his strategy. And when he might have been battling for the lead, he was fighting to pass Webber's Williams for third place.

Alonso finally forced his way past the Australian in a brave move that involved putting two wheels on the grass halfway down the pit straight. But that pass was nothing compared to the one he pulled on Schumacher at the high-speed 130R corner earlier on in the race. Alonso took Schumacher around the outside of the corner, knowing that if they touched their lives would be in danger. Astonishingly, his apex speed as he passed the Ferrari was 207mph.

Webber says: "After a mixed up qualifying, we had some pretty fast guys in the best cars at the back. I enjoyed the race, driving a Williams car that was good in the corners but very, very inefficient aerodynamically and so I had no top speed. I fought for a podium late in the race with Fernando."

We have chosen Webber as our driver this week because he had selected this race, which is a fitting scene-setter for this weekend's action in Japan.

Highlights of the 2005 grand prix at Suzuka are embedded below, while underneath them are short and extended highlights of last year's Japanese race. It was dominated by Red Bull's , with Webber right in his wheel tracks for the entire grand prix, but unable to get past.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit 叠叠颁听奥别产飞颈蝉别 for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.



Webber's classic races will be available on the 大象传媒 red button on satellite and cable television in the UK from 1500 BST on Wednesday 5 October until 0155 BST on Friday 7 October. Freeview viewers will be able to watch them between Friday's first and second practice sessions, from 0340 to 0550 on Friday.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    good choice on the 2005 japanese gp, that doesnt get mentioned much.

  • Comment number 2.

    First comment of the Japanese Grand Prix! Come On Jenson!!!!!!! Win and Vettel retires and the battle goes on. You've been brilliant this year and murdered(yes murdered) Golden boy. Brilliant wins in Montreal and Budapest, Jenson you're a legend and the Hay family are so proud of you

  • Comment number 3.

    Some times people ask me why as a Brit I support an Aussie, well there's lots of reasons; his talent, his attitude, his professionalism and also... he's an F1 fan, just like us. And he doesn't need to always be the centre of attention; not one win, podium of his included here.

  • Comment number 4.

    Japan 2005 has always been my favourite race, but sadly it hardly ever gets mentioned. Good choices.

  • Comment number 5.

    @ 3 Kate Derby:

    I completely agree. He is such a likeable, down-to-earth chap and absolutely honest. Loved his "not bad for a number two driver" in Britain last year!

  • Comment number 6.

    Some really good non-self indulgent choices. 2005 was an epic. Went for Donington in the rain, not a great race but has gone down in history.

    Good stuff Mark.

  • Comment number 7.

    Good choices Mark.

    No to Sky.

  • Comment number 8.

    2005 is my favourite race. This is the first time I have seen it since watching it live.

    Did anyone notice the incident between Alonso and Klien? It was similar to the Kimi and Hamilton incident in Spa 2008 when Hamilton was demoted to 3rd after his `win'. I always thought that was an injustice but it seems the FIA are consistent with these things.

  • Comment number 9.

    Nice choice and some cracking overtakes.

  • Comment number 10.

    some nice races .. but from Webber's point of view it seems like F1 didn't exist before '92. ...

    just to mention:

    1979 French grand prix ... Gilles Villeneuve vs Rene Arnoux race was unbelievable!

  • Comment number 11.

    Kanochal - never knew 86 came after 92.

    Most people say the 79 French Grand Prix - I'm guessing Webber was just trying to be original with his choices.

  • Comment number 12.

    Don't like the swipe at Lewis 'The _origonal_ yellow helmet, say no more...'


    Meh, go watch Silverstone 2008, son.

  • Comment number 13.

    Great choices there, Mark! Some refreshingly different choices to the norm here. Looking forward to watching these later on!

  • Comment number 14.

    PS... 14 posts and no mention of a certain sattelite-based broadcasting company! Have people finally got bored of whingeing about it? ;)

  • Comment number 15.

    10. At 10:23 5th Oct 2011, Kanochal wrote:

    1979 French grand prix ... Gilles Villeneuve vs Rene Arnoux race was unbelievable!

    =================================

    Bear in mind he only gets to pick 5. Maybe 1979 was his 6th choice :P

  • Comment number 16.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 17.

    @ 10 Agree that Villeneuve v Arnoux was/is an absolute classic duel - always worth a re-run imo.

    @ 14.............how very dare you lol, err nope :) It's only that Mark's great choices deserve an airing before the WUM's appear....oh, too late.

  • Comment number 18.

    ps. great news about Jenson re-signing here:

  • Comment number 19.

    Andrew, quick request.

    When you post the links to the videos can you also include a direct link to the one you're embedding?

    I would prefer to watch the 2005 Japanese GP in the separate page, as the video player is (ever so slightly) bigger. However, each week I have to embark on a little search of the 大象传媒 website to try and find the page myself, as you don't provide a link to the one you're embedding.

    It'd be much easier if the search function on the 大象传媒 website was any good, too :P

  • Comment number 20.

    @14

    It was mentioned at #7, so I'm guessing you didn't actually thoroughly read the comments ;)

    Good race choices, always good to see what the knowledgeable guys think are the best races.

    @12

    Perhaps you should go watch the whole of Senna's career before deciding that one race means Lewis is better. I'd put Senna above Lewis any day of the week - perhaps when Lewis has won more than three titles we can recheck the position, but until then, Senna was THE original yellow helmet.

  • Comment number 21.

    @20 - "It was mentioned at #7, so I'm guessing you didn't actually thoroughly read the comments ;)"

    So it was.... *facepalm*

  • Comment number 22.

    Great choice Mark. 1986 was a classic year that is fondly remembered by many F1 fans but not many F1 drivers. 2005 Suzuka race is one of my all time faves - Kimi on a charge in the McLaren was always a great sight.

    I wish someone would pick Hungary 1989 - the classic race where Mansell stormed through from 12th on the grid to win - overtook Prost & Senna on track. An unknown fact is that Nigel was the only driver that year to pass Senna on track and hold the position and this was the race it happened.

    @12 Senna was the original yellow helmet whereas Lewis's is just a copycat - it's the only similarity between Lewis & Ayrton when they're in a race car.

  • Comment number 23.

    Erm, I'm fully aware of why Lewis has the yellow helmet. But Lewis' drive at Silverstone 2008 in those very difficult conditions (ala Donnington) was just as insanly awesome as Sennas drive. Don't jibe at a driver just because he has the same colour helmet.

  • Comment number 24.

    "it's the only similarity between Lewis & Ayrton when they're in a race car."

    Utter nonsense.

    In diabolic conditions at Silverstone, Lewis finished an entire minute ahead of second place and lapped every one upto around 5th place.

    To say theres no similarities between the two, is just utter tripe.

  • Comment number 25.

    Great choices, I remember '86 felt like it might have been Mansells only chance at the time but was glad when he went on to be F1 champ and Indy car champ in his debut season.

  • Comment number 26.

    Great choices from Mark Webber, as with his blog its obvious hes thought about his choices long and hard. Forgot what a great GP the 2005 Japanese one was!

    Miss the monster 2005 spec cars as well....sound awesome!

  • Comment number 27.

    #22 Stumm:-

    Do you not think that MAYBE Lewis Hamilton having a yellow Helmet is a show of respect to the driver who was his favourite driver and biggest influence to take up motorsport? I think its a nice touch...especially as hes a Mclaren driver.

    Have to agree with Peoples points about Lewis' wet weather drives aswell.

  • Comment number 28.

    Agree with you Mark, the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix was one of the best.

    Makes you wonder, what if, next seasons race matchs it, will we be able to see it in full on the 大象传媒?

    Yes to terristrial TV.

  • Comment number 29.

    27. At 13:26 5th Oct 2011, dontbeabitterlemon - we love Sandro wrote:
    #22 Stumm:-

    Do you not think that MAYBE Lewis Hamilton having a yellow Helmet is a show of respect to the driver who was his favourite driver and biggest influence to take up motorsport? I think its a nice touch...especially as hes a Mclaren driver.

    ============================

    There is no maybe about it - Lewis has said this himself in the past. the yellow helmet is a nod to his childhood hero, Senna.

  • Comment number 30.

    A good demonstration there of Kimi at the peak of his powers in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix.

    He might not have won the WDC in 2007, but at the end of 2005 he achieved four wins in the space of six races and could have been champion if not for having to retire from the lead of two races earlier in the season. 2003 was a similar story.

    That's the Kimi that I - and many others - would like to see return to the sport. Even if his car is off the pace, if the motivation is there, there will be excitement.

    And I really couldn't care less about his lack of enthusiasm for talking to the media. I thought his "I was taking a s--t" comment in the last race of 2006 was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in Formula One.

    With that said, I am still not convinced it will happen. If it doesn't, I promise never to mention Kimi and F1 in the same breath again, and I think others should follow suit :)

  • Comment number 31.

    That was meant to read: He might not have won the WDC until 2007...

  • Comment number 32.

    I don't get why anyone is moaning about Webber talking about 'the original yellow helmet', as it's not a jibe, it's not having a go, it's not slagging off Hamilton, he's merely stating a fact, that Senna was the 1 with the original yellow helmet, the 1st person to wear 1 probably, and certainly before Hamilton came in, was the 1 driver you instantly recognised due to the helmet, and the 1 driver you associated with it, so I'm completely baffled as to why people think Webber is basically having a go at Hamilton. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. Had he said "The only driver who should wear the yellow helmet" then yes, maybe, but he didn't.

  • Comment number 33.

    @32 I know, that comment he made went straight over my head, it didn't register as anything sinister with me.

    If he wants to wear a yellow helmet then let him, if he wants a bright pink one, let him....it's just a helmet and no matter how much reading between the lines one does, it is just the colour of a helmet.


    Yes to RTL with 5LIVE.

  • Comment number 34.

    Hamilton's helmet design was never a copy of Senna's, or even a conscious nod to him. His father bought him a yellow helmet when he was karting and Lewis got to pick some colours to add to it. He chose red, blue and green purely because he liked them. The resemblence to Senna's helmet was just a happy accident.

    As for Donington 93 vs. Silverstone 08, I still think Donington, no contest. Hamilton's drive was outstanding, one of the best of that decade but Senna's drive at Donington was God-like stuff, especially that first lap. Don't forget that Donington is a lot narrower than Silverstone, so passing has to be very precise, even in the wet.

  • Comment number 35.

    Isn't Webbers Helmet design predominantly yellow and Nico Rosberg - oh and Bruno Senna?? will the lot of you leave Lewis alone!!

    Nice choices Mark, some entertaining races to watch whilst waiting for very early Friday morning!!

    Yes to RTL with 5Live

  • Comment number 36.

    The drivers' choice of races gives us an insight into their character. Many F1 drivers get admiration, this one, Mark Webber, gets my respect too.

  • Comment number 37.

    Some nice choices there!


    No to Sky

  • Comment number 38.

    That move by Alonso in '05 is the best overtake I've seen in my time watching F1. I hope the teams chasing this year will have considerably improved machinery next year i.e. Mercedes and Ferrari, even to an extent the Renault, Force India and Williams. Because the monopoly of Red Bull means that they are the only car that can make these high speed moves at the front of the pack.

  • Comment number 39.

    The Raikonen pass on Schumacher down the straight in SPA whilst overtaking a back maker was a sweet move as well

  • Comment number 40.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 41.

    Wasn't that H盲kkinen, spongebricknick?

  • Comment number 42.

    Congratulations to you Mark for some great choices. How refreshing to see a great range of exciting races (1st lap only in the case of Donington) that is not completely self-centred.
    I agree that it's a pity we don't see many opting for the older races, but it's hardly realistic to expect the current crop of ever younger GP drivers to be overly familiar with races before 1990. Perhaps they could all be forced to watch clips of the old races on YouTube after the season has finished!
    As for the comments about Hamilton, I am not personally a fan (and wouldn't be even if he drove for Ferrari) and just wish he'd stop acting like a big kid throwing his toys out of the pram all the time. I do, however, acknowledge that he is undoubtedly one of the fastest drivers around, and that when he finally grows up he could well be the best. Of course, so much depends on the equipment he has to work with, but I seriously doubt that he will ever be regarded in the same bracket as Ayrton Senna.
    And as to whether he did or did not doff his helmet to Senna by choosing the same colour is totally irrelevant and I do not understand why so many of the previous posters have decided to engage in an argument about it. I cannot seriously believe that Webber was a having a jibe at Hamilton in what he said.

  • Comment number 43.

    Nice to hear the Radio 5 live team over the video.

    Also good to see the low rear wings - make the cars look much prettier. And one has to say the overtaking didn't look too bad either !!!

  • Comment number 44.

    "The Raikonen pass on Schumacher down the straight in SPA whilst overtaking a back maker was a sweet move as well"


    Definitely Mika H盲kkinen that one, not kimi Raikonen

    No to sky

  • Comment number 45.

    I cant see Sky being happy with Monty B Eccelstone giving pubs free F1
    i thought it cost about 拢12000 a year for a pub license to show Sky Sports ?

  • Comment number 46.

    Has to be said, of all the drivers contributing to this, Mark and Karun were the ones who I knew would provide the best choices. They are just F1 fans first and foremost, so you can rely on them to roll back the years and bring out the good stuff. You dont have to feel weird to be a Brit and like Mark, its easy because he makes it easy. Top bloke. Plus I just like people who tell it like it is, people that have an ability to stand in front of a camera and not look like a cardboard cut-out was put there just to deliver cliches. What you see is what you get with Mark, a few other drivers would do well to have a close look at him, and how people feel about him, and exactly why people feel that way. One driver in particular should take a close, close look at him and maybe then he wouldnt have to worry about his standing in the popularity stakes.

  • Comment number 47.

    Good choices from Mr Webber, he is one of the few drivers who would have surprised me if he had only chosen races he had done well in.

    It's a pity all the highlights were already available from previous editions of the feature. There is a huge archive of material waiting to be exploited by an intelligent broadcaster. Will the 大象传媒 still have the rights to broadcast "old" F1 as part of the package next year? There is a demand for full, unedited repeats of archive footage, and that is not just for F1 but other sports as well.

  • Comment number 48.

    @46 Totally agree with you, I used to think he was just another stroppy ocker, but he had done ok this year even with all the bad luck, must be really tough having SV as a team mate, better luck next year, although sadly there won't be many of us watching you.
    No to Sky

  • Comment number 49.

    Superb choice with the Japan 2005 race. A true classic.

    No to sky. Shame on the 大象传媒.

  • Comment number 50.

    It was Hakkinen and that was a truly epic pass...

    Hope you get to see this before its removed.

  • Comment number 51.

    Nice choices

    NO TO SKY!

  • Comment number 52.

    Whoopsie - they both sounds the same, from the same country and both have the funny " in there names lol

  • Comment number 53.

    Just tuned in to have a look at what's on this week via the BSkyB Red Button, and the lip sync is WAAAAAAY out.

    Not that annoying 'just slightly out of kilter' - I'm talking several seconds. Brundle opens his mouth, and MacKenzie's words fall out. Funny, but so wrong!

    No to Sky....

    ...not least because the transmission fault on a number Sky branded channels (including Sky Sports), about which they're STILL not telling customers who 'phone Customer Services, has still not been fixed almost two months after it was first identified.

  • Comment number 54.

    Addendum to 53.

    Sound delay now fixed.

    Thanks.

  • Comment number 55.

    Ah, my 3rd favourite race of all time. The best ever overtake in F1 by Alonso on Schumi. Excellent choices Mr Webber.

  • Comment number 56.

    @ samson2009

    For me it's very late Thursday night.

    Yup, Webber's choice of races are excellent.
    So, gonna be a Japan on Auntie next year?
    What's Sky gonna let Auntie have?
    And when Sky tell you, how do you broadcast it in our best interests?

  • Comment number 57.

    Mark Webber's choices say it all about him - a real fan of the sport. That Alonso pass on 130R at Suzuka should never be forgotten...

    Bittuva contrast to certain other drivers (self-obsessed but nameless) whose top races of all time were all their own wins! :D

    On a related, more topical, subject - I see that despite his ever-extending string of penalties, Lewis still doesn't understand that he's ever done anything wrong. Hmm... present sanctions obviously not having the desired effect then.

    So what can we do to deter a repeat offender, who regularly compromises the races & safety of others, but will not apologise, & indeed expresses an eagerness to take future penalties "as and when they come"?

    Obviously the line between offences and racing incidents can sometimes be fine, so massively increasing the penalties for any given isolated incident would be unfair. But here's a thought. We can avoid the unfairness of a huge penalty for a first offender, while clamping down on the problem of serial offending, by the simple measure of Doubling Up.

    First offence you get a drive-thru. Second offence you get a 10 second stop-go. Third offence a 20 second stop-go. Fourth offence 40 seconds, etc.

    I'm willing to bet that the offender would suddenly & miraculously realise that he Was Indeed doing "something wrong" and would stop doing it. Isn't human psychology amazing? ; )

  • Comment number 58.

    57 - "So what can we do to deter a repeat offender, who regularly compromises the races & safety of others, but will not apologise, & indeed expresses an eagerness to take future penalties 'as and when they come'?"

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Simple - get rid of the cause of the problem that is named Massa. Ferrari know how poor he is, and over the last few races he has gone out of his way to prove it to the world :)

  • Comment number 59.

    Loved those choices, got to be the best selection so far this season. We can look up 1979 on the website as well anytime so they're all there as far as I'm concerned. Japan should be an exciting one this weekend, can't wait for it.

    @ helmet argument people.
    Senna's trademark was his distinctive helmet, Webber made a reference to it, it wasn't a dig. Loads of drivers have yellow helmets with Rosberg (though design isn't his, sponsor design), Massa, Webber and Kubica's (yellow to fit with sponsors as well). Irvine's was red and green at Ferrari, doesn't mean he was ripping off Villeneuve's.

    @cleanlang
    Not sure Massa's the problem, pretty sure it's been Hamilton triggering those bits of contact.

  • Comment number 60.

    Sad to say that we are only going to get highlights according to Mark Thompson /iplayer/episode/b015cnm2/Shelagh_Fogarty_06_10_2011/?t=17m02s
    I can not believe that 大象传媒 has not made a public announcement of this, what a disgusting way to treat F1 fans! Is it not about time that Barbara or Ben at least crept out from under the rock that they have been hiding under for the last few months and tells us what races we can see and what races that they are going to butcher in order to fit into the correct time slot! Lets hope that this weeks race is a great one as it may be the last Japanese Grand Prix that a lot of us will see for along time

  • Comment number 61.

    Has anyone else noticed that F1 blogs are only staying open three or four days now
    are the 大象传媒 trying to hide the amount of posts on F1 blogs ?
    they never used to go over about a hundred post's now they are always in the multiple hundreds
    大象传媒 Stop censoring the publics opinion
    no to Sky

  • Comment number 62.

    In case my link is removed please check out Shelagh Fogarty's interview of Mark Thompson on the radio section of the 大象传媒 I player the date is 6/10/2011 at about 17 mins in! Important news about 大象传媒 F1 deal.

  • Comment number 63.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 64.

    @61 yeah I notice that also if I did know better I would swear they were happy with the 大象传媒/SKY deal and would like all the people to carry on praising them for their great move .....NOT !!!!

  • Comment number 65.

    @62 Jazzotang

    Just listened to it what a load of waffle he said they got the general public's opinions what a load of tosh they did tell a soul even the 大象传媒 f1 team were unaware of it.

  • Comment number 66.

    Below is a draft of a letter we want to submit to the OFT who can then refer the matter to the Competitions Commission unfortunately the OFT will not take up the complaint from the public even though they were formed to protect the Consumers of the UK?

    Therefore we ask that you sign this petition so we can then ask Consumer Focus to refer this to the OFT on our behalf.

    If you are not aware of what this is about here is a general outline,

    On the 29th July the 大象传媒 announced it has signed a deal with SKY TV to share the rights to Formula One for 7 years with SKY showing all Races live and the 大象传媒 only allowed to show 10 (50%) of the races Live this in effect means that to watch the sport in its entirety fans would have to subscribe to Sky + Sky Sports equating to a bill of 拢600 p.a this is on top of your licence fee that you have to pay regardless.

    We feel that the deal is illegal and was made purely to prevent the other TV companies from acquiring the sport.

    鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌-

    Firstly can I ask that you treat this report as a Anti Competition report and not a Broadcasting report as this does not fall within the remit of OFCOM.

    Below I list a number of points that I think break both
    Chapter I prohibition prohibits agreements between businesses that prevent restrict or distort competition to an appreciable extent in the UK.
    Chapter II prohibition prohibits the abuse of a dominant position. Holding a dominant position is not unlawful but it is unlawful to abuse that position. The prohibition therefore relates to the conduct of the company not its position in a market.
    of the Competition Act 1998

    As you may be aware on 29/07/2011 the British Broadcasting Corporation (大象传媒) announced a 7 year deal to share control of the Broadcasting rights for Formula One within the UK with British Sky Broadcasting (BskyB), This new contract I believe breaks the above Chapters for the following reasons.

    Chapter I
    I believe the 大象传媒 have Restricted/Distorted competition as they have entered into the deal during a period of dominance.

    The 大象传媒 had exclusive rights under contract with the Formula One Management (FOM) to F1 until the end of the 2013 season and whilst this contract was in place the FOM could not consider any bids from any other companies who had shown interest in bidding for the rights.
    On the 29/07/2011 the 大象传媒 entered into a deal with BskyB and extended the period for a further 5 years (to 2018) effectively preventing other interested parties from making a legitimate bid once the existing contract came to an end.
    Bernie Ecclestone (head of the FOM) was qouted as saying

    鈥楨cclestone added with the 大象传媒鈥檚 original contract not due to expire until the end of 2013, it effectively scuppered any moves to go with Channel 4 or even return to ITV.
    also when Asked 鈥 if the 大象传媒 鈥檋eld all the cards鈥 over the new deal, Ecclestone added: 鈥淵es, absolutely. If they [Channel 4] had said they wanted to sign a contract today to start Broadcasting for 拢45m a year, then we would have probably done it.

    鈥淏ut that鈥檚 the problem. We couldn鈥檛 deal with them, even if they had wanted to.鈥
    鈥淚 spoke with ITV and came up with the same problem as Channel 4 had. We had a contract with the 大象传媒 which didn鈥檛 run out until 2014.鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 very well do a deal with other people for them to start doing something next year, because we had that contract.

    As you can see from the above quotes ITV & Channel 4 were interested in bidding for the contract but were unable to do so until the existing 大象传媒 contract had ended
    The 大象传媒 had also stated that they themselves may have had end the original contract at the end of this season (2011, two years early) due to finances.
    So in effect the 大象传媒 have extended a contract by 5 years whilst they were in a dominant position although they were in no position to make a new bid once the contract ended thus preventive other interested parties from making a legitimate bid.

    Chapter II
    I feel that the 大象传媒 while in a dominant position (being in control of the contract and rights) abused this dominance be inviting BskyB to an extended deal preventing other interested parties from making a legitimate bid once the contract in place and ended.

    鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌

    If you would like to discuss this deal please visit and/or

    and sign the petition here :>

  • Comment number 67.

    @66 Moderators I have made a complaint for you have wrongfully removed the post as it does not in any way break house rules.

  • Comment number 68.

    Japan '05: Alonso had just claimed the title and at the time I saw him as a breath of fresh air for F1 after the years of Schumacher dominance. Still I got up for the Japanese Grand Prix and went on to see a move that said "Hey MIchael you're not World Champion any more!"

    Well worth getting up for!

大象传媒 iD

大象传媒 navigation

大象传媒 漏 2014 The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.