´óÏó´«Ã½

Good video preview Murray! Thanks :-)

another great preview Murray!

My money is on Trulli, I've got a good feeling about Toyota.

but, I suppose we'll have to wait and find out!

Love these race previews!

Dont blame you for not sticking your neck out and picking another winner for this weekend Murray, its impossible to predict at the moment.

Gonna take the easy option and pick Jenson myself but I think there will be a Ferrari on the podium with him, they've always been strong in Bahrain!

Nice Preview Murray as Always

im going to go for Jarno Trulli as well this week i just think it will all come right for him and has been unlucky so far,his certainly got enough about him to stick it on pole position anyway

Nice Insight Murray! I thoroughly enjoy taking my time to watch these.

Heres a question for you. Although youve probably already had it asked quite a bit over the last few hours.

If Donnington Park was not able to host the 2010 GP, due to the financial reasons. Which track do you think would be the best possible replacement? Some have mentioned Brands Hatch, but as far as Im aware its no where near the Formula One safety regulations. The only other viable option I see is Silverstone. Would Bernie Ecclestone be willing enough to take the British GP back there?

Regards,
Aaron

Another great preview thanks. But have a word with the camera man please, what was all the zooming in and out about, it looks like my granny was doing it after a few sherries!

Dear Murray,

It is not like you to be all coy and reticent not to stick your neck out in predicting a winner at Bahrain, although your comments are forever insightful, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. I will stick my neck out however and predict that unlike Red Bull with its years of trying, Toyota will NOT win a race all season (sorry Toyota fans but the drivers ain't cutting it). I will also say that if Bahrain turns out to be a "normal" race (one that finishes without the aid of rain, safety cars,red flags and unsuitable starting times), then the Brawns should be able to stamp their authority yet again.
Red Bull were strangely advantaged by the wet conditions which impeded all the other cars on the circuit - a car that hasn't yet facilitated the need of KERS or diffusers.God only knows how much magic stuff Adrian Newey can add to an already awesome car, though Brawn still edges it with the complete package.
However brilliant Vettel's win was in China, his two wins came in the wet and, significantly, from the front. He is yet to prove his precocious talents in the dry, and I think that's still a little ways yet...!
The Joker in the pack is Alonso/Renault. The Renault engine is working well for Red Bull (as proven so far this season). The chassis seems in harmony with the engine. If Team Renault, with diffusers and updated tweaks, can at least catch up with Newey's chassis in Bahrain, and they don't mess up their tactics as they have done so in the previous 2 races, then I can see Alonso finish strongly with a podium finish (don't laugh). I don't think he'll win the race but he could get pole. (Your idea for awarding a bonus point for pole position is genius). So, with head firmly placed on the chopping block here is my prediction:
1. Barricello (His time has come)
2. Button
3. Alonso (please don't laugh...and I've written this very late and been on a Jolly)

so, Mr. Walker, I have given you plenty to sharpen that axe of yours......


ps. Eccelstone's master plan of fazing out a Grand Prix in this country is coming to fruition. Critical of the facilities provided by Silverstone for many years,the shift to Donnington car park will only guarantee its accelerated withdrawal from the calender. With other countries desperate to be part of an already tight schedule in the Eccelstone Circus it is sad to see the apathetic and truncated manner in which this country has tackled the issue of providing a world class motor racing facility. Russia would only be too happy to take over a June date, although a return to North America would be welcome - so would a race on the African Continent. Shame on you Great Britain - the Land that houses the majority of F1 Teams.

Ole!

Carlonso

Oooooh Thanks Murray, as everyone (nearly everyone) else has made predictions, I'll go for:
1) Vettel
2) Button
3) Barrichello/Webber :)

Thanks Murray love all these features your doing.

at last a comment from someone talking sense about F1---well done murray walker----the sport is missing a legend and we miss your superb commentry

Lewis Hamilton fastest in first practice.

Who saw that one coming??

Button
Vettal
Hamilton

Just off to the bookies

Well given that he was fastest in one of the practice sessions in China and had his best grid position and(technically) best result of the season, I'm not that surprised. Question then becomes, what can he do in the rest of the weekend!

where was this taken... whats that mad looking bus that goes past in the background?

Nice article Mr. Walker.
"Rafa's Magic Box Beard wrote:
where was this taken... whats that mad looking bus that goes past in the background?"
At a guess this is at Beaulieu national motor museum as I belive that Murray lives in that area?

PS Good to see you at Lydden Hill for the European Rallycross over the Easter weekend Murray. Nice to see you still have an interest in the sport that you helped become popular bringing it to our living rooms in the 70's and 80's. F1 being my 2nd favourite motor sport behind Rallycross.

I think Alonso will grap pole hopefully and will definantly get on the podium unless he is unlucky like the last race there is not a driver in formula 1 who is consistent and quick like Alonso He is the best driver in f1 since michale shumacher i would even say he is better than michale in my opinion, yes he has only won 2 titles and michael has 7 but Alonso could easily have had 4 if mclaren gave him number 1 status which he deserved Dont bet agains alonso Go Alonso!!!!!

I run an f1 predictor competition with my friends, and to show you how unpredictable f1 is, all the lucky guessers are at the top, whereas, all the experts (myself included) are fighting over the last few positions. While this is fun to watch, it isn't doing my wallet any good.

I am predicting
1.Barrichello
2.Button
3.Glock
4.Vettel
5.Hamilton
6.Rosberg
7.Heidfeld
8.Trulli

I reckon that we will see another red flag this weekend for the (also) unpredictable sandstorms. Brace yourselves folks.

I think there's going to be another Brawn 1-2 on Sunday, and it will be between Toyota and Red Bull for 3rd, most likely either Vettel or Trulli. Also Ferrari will get their first points if they can get through to Q3 on Saturday.

Those Toyotas look good.... my neck is feeling rather sore....

Hello Murray
Excellent commentary - but I want to ask why you think it has to be dry to be a proper race? Some of the greatest races (Lewis at Silverstone last year is the latest) and superb displays of driver skills (often in less fancied cars) have emerged in the wet, yet you dismiss the last two races as not "proper"?

Looking foward to a great race,thanks ´óÏó´«Ã½ for brill coverage great feature after race on the red button ..

1st vettel
2nd trulli
3rd button

Hi Murray,
Another fantastic result for Jenson, do you think the Brawn package is sufficiently developed to deliver him a world title ?

Great seeing you on the web, been a fan for years !

Tom

hello murray

in yesterday's race, there was only one retirement in Nakajima when he just pulled into the garage. However over the weekend many drivers got away with making mistakes due to Bahrains enormous run off areas.

Do you think these new generation of race tracks are too tame? And that do you think new circuits being built should have a more unforgiving nature? Having witnessed race tracks evolve over the decades, what is your opinion of these new circuits?

Will

Hi Murray

I'd love to hear some observations about motor racing now compared to days gone by. I'm fairly sure you're the only blogger out there who can claim to have seen and even met Bernd Rosemeyer before he died, 71 years ago - which of the current crop of F1 drivers do you think would cope best if they found themselves racing in the cars and conditions of the 1930s?

hi murray,
Another fantastic race.Jenson on top again and i think that with the cars difficulties he has shown his critics that he is a good dry or wet.
Now the question that i think will be the most asked of you.What about Donnington.I like many feel the British Grand Prix is a must,not only for the fans but the commercial aspect.With the motor trade suffering a motor spectical surely is a must.
stewart

Hi Murray,

Sad situation regarding the British GP. I know Silverstone has maybe been seen as a temporary solution to the Donington problem. But what of other British circuits? Brands Hatch for example? Although I am guessing the facilities aren't up to scratch.

I find the McLaren situation eerily similar to that of Williams and thier blighted Mecachrome package in 1998, where you could argue that Jacques Villeneuve and to maybe a lesser extent Heinz-Harald Frentzen eeked everything they could out of that car. Hamilton is obviously doing the same, and it is the mark of a great champion.



Finally, I fear for BMW Sauber. I am a huge Kubica fan and I felt it was brave of him and Heidfeld to criticise the team for lack of development. Who do you see as being the team to possibly up their game and improve their performance come Catalunya? Personally for me, Red Bull with the double deck diffuser, Williams need to convert quali and practice pace to the races and Ferrari obviously.

Thanks

Dave

P.S. Can Mark Webber win a race this year? I sincerely hope so, he is the unluckiest man in F1. Reminds me of Hakkinen prior to his first win in 97.

what a race, what a win for button and the brawn team, how exciting was that.
F1 racing back on form a pure race on the track with no back room decisions.
can brawn win the constructors title in its first year ?
can jenson button win the world title this year ?
are we seeing the dawn of a new era in F1 ?
will the reintroduction of lola and aston martin be a good thing ?
should funds be pumped into aid donnington park or should brands hatch be given funding to be upgraded for a return of F1 ?
sorry a few questions but i hope worthy ones.

Do you think Ferrari's supposed upgrades will really be as good as they think they will be? To me it seems they are far to busy blaming everyone else for their poor form, when instead they should just shut up, stop whinging and get their heads down and work.

Listening to the interview with Luca di Montezemolo I was just waiting for him to start ranting on about those damn pixies and goblins that sneak into his factory at night and undo all the fantastic race winning designs.

I am actually shocked by his behaviour, and that of Flavio... but then I have always suspected Flavio has a screw loose.

Having been a fan of F1 since I was knee high to a grass hopper it seems that the "big" teams that make the most excuses do the worst, and the teams that keep stum do the best and improve their cars the most.

How many times have commentators and pundidts said the race isn't won on the first lap ?

Jensen proved you all wrong in Bahrain !

Hi Murray

we heard during the race that Rubens may be the first f1 driver in space, if given the chance would you join him?

If Vettel had got past Trulli early on, do you think Jenson Button would have still won?

Hi Murray.

How can the FIA check that the teams are not overusing their wind tunnels?

Hi Murray,

first full race with no rain nor safety car, on a "new generation" track this year.
Do you think the new regulations are working in terms of overtaking and wheeel to wheel action ?
Are you in favour of a single KERS solution like Mercedes is trying to push for?

Thanks Murray !

Murray, I heard a comment during the Bahrain GP that from next year cars will have narrower front tyres/wheels, could you explain what difference this is going to make to racing.

Thanks

Murray,

With refuelling being scrapped for 2010, does this mean that we will be having the third part of qualifying with the cars running on fumes or will the cars have to fuel up fully for the race before doing Q3?

Many thanks,

Tim.

Hi Murray

With the hearing in Paris this week, I would be interested in your views as to what has happened at McLaren in the past few years, previously in years gone by I don't recall this kind of bad publicity, do you feel that some bad management decisions have been made to try and obtain some advantage on the track or are McLaren being penalised unfairly by FIA ?

If McLaren were to receive another stern penalty how would that affect Lewis ?

Regards

Refuelling being scrapped seems a ridiculous idea, hope it doesn't come to fruition.

My question is, how long do you think it will be before Ross Brawn decides to use Barrichello as a rear gunner for Jenson Button in the title race, in the same way he was used at Ferrari?

why do the fia and the formula one body enforce limiting the revs on engines? i am for more competive cars but the cars should not be limited in terms of engine performance.

Dear Murray,

My head still rests on my weary neck (but only just!). The Toyotas are indeed trulli strong (typo intended) but what Alonso did in passing him in the move of the race to Vettel's inability in achieving the same goal encapsulates why:
1. Alonso is double world champion (though alas in an uncompetitive car) 2. Vettel,talented as he is, was unable to win the race (though driving in the fastest car)
3. Trulli seemingly lacking that special something that wins you races (with a car that was certainly capable).

Mark Webber was very unlucky to be hampered by Adrian Suttil in qualifying.
Although Suttil was punished as a consequence it made no difference to Webber's final grid position, ruining whatever strategy he had in winning the race.

My question is - should Mark Webber, or anyone else in the same position, be allowed to have an extra run (flying lap) on the track during qualifying with the clock paused or suspended if it was proved that they were impeded by another driver?

Also, did Nelson Piquet Jr. do enough in this race to justify his drive for Renault and silence some of the criticism labeled on him?

I hope you'll be allowed to commentate at Silverstone Murray. You are sorely missed on the box....and by the way - why can't the masters at the Beeb use you to head a discussion and analysis forum on TV, with guests including illustrious drivers from the past participating in a 30min/1 hour weekly programme?

Carlonso

With all the mess about donnington/silverstone. Is there any chance that brands hatch will ever get the chance to host the British Grand Prix again? also which is your favourite British Circuit?

Hi there Mr Walker, I have been a fan of F1 since my dad talked me into it in the 50's. The question I have to put to you is this;
Given the issue is not so much drivers any more, the arguments are more to do with tech advances how long will it be before we get to a decision that drivers must drive identical cars as we see in the latest of the racing formula. Its all very different from the days of Surtees, Brabham etc when cars were constanty developing along side the drivers. Button and Hamilton have both been proving that when you stick them in the fastest car they win and I rapidly coming to the conclusion that the Hamilton Championship was not much more than a publicity stunt.

Hi again Murray,

Do you now see the championship as a straight fight between the Brawns and Sebastian Vettel?

How come the bigger team you are the worse you fall?

Hi Murry,
I need your opinion about the races of last season and all the Stewards decisions. Hamilton was stripped of a win when clearly he should not have. I feel sorry for MClaren as the FIA seem to have their gun's pointed at them. When are we going to see racing like it used to be. We never heard of the stewards deciding a race it was first past the post Now if a driver sneezes on the wrong part of the track that's his race over.So what do you think of all the interventions by the Stewards and FIA.
Mike Charlton

HI murray clearly fernando alonso is the best f1 driver at the moment i think most people would agree however do you think his car will improve with the new upgrades this season?

See #11

Didn't do too bad, failed to make it to the bookies though.

OK Murray, try this for size. If someone had told you back in 1950 that F1 would become as big as it is today with the amount of money involved, races all over the place etc - would you have believed them?

Hi Murray, looking forward to another good blog as usual?

My question is, like most on here, should the British GP be funded by the Government like Bernie wants it to be?

Also, what is your view on Bernie's medal idea? Based on the fact Massa won 6 races last year (the most) and Raikonnen was similar the year before, surely the fact Button is already at 3 races won would mean the championship would be odds on in his favour with the medals system, despite the large number of races left?

And finally, do you think Nelson Piquet jr should be replaced? I feel sorry for the kid but he's over 20 races into his career and doesn't look much better than he did at race one.

Thanks Murray!
Tom

Hi Murray,

Having forged a reputation as one of Formula One's most respected aficionados, what is your opinion on your first year at The National? Could it have gone any better? It's nice to still see you on TV (weekdays, Al Emarat TV)

RandyB

Hi Murray,

Do you think Bernie always knew that donington could not be finished in time and that he only did the deal knowing it couldn't be done, and so he had a genuine excuse to get rid of the British grand prix and move it to a country like India?

Hi Murray,

do you think Bernie is becoming a liability to F1?

Hi murray, huge fan by the way!
Been watching the sport since that famous belgian GP in 1998 when i was just 8 years old :D

But few quick questions to ask you?

Do you think alonso would relish a move to ferrari in 2010?
Do you think Kimi Raikkonen has lost all motivation for the sport? (Remeber in malaysia, he jumped out the car and quickly got an ice cream and a coke? Dedication is where?)
Do you think that with the whole field being so evenly matched on pace and lap times more or less, that force india and toro rosso can have some brilliant races this year?
Staying on force india and Toro rosso, how surprised are you at Sebastien Buemi and Adrian Sutil both absically beating their more experienced team mates?
Do you think Mclaren and ferrari can get their form from last year back in time to fight for this years world championship?
Finally, who is your favourite at the moment to win the drivers and constructors championship?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated =]
Thanks murray

TheF1King

Hi Murry,

Bernie said that if Donnington is not ready the British GP will definitely not go back to Silverstone, Eddie Jordan said that this means it definitely will go back to Silverstone. Who should we believe?

What’s gone wrong with BMW?

Dear Murray,
Can F1 make up it's mind how the use of technological advances are implemented?
One minute they want to outlaw traction control and any other aid that strips away the driver's true racing ability.
Next thing you know they introduce a magic button that, once pressed, makes them go a little faster.
I remember watching Knightrider as a kid.
Am I to assume that in the near future these cars will not only talk to the drivers, but once certain buttons are pressed will fly across each other through corners and chicanes?
Is this what the Ecclestone Circus wants - aerial combat with fast cars?
Vettel named his car Kate (and now drives it's dirty sister apparently). Does he know something we don't?

Ole!

Carlonso

Hello Murray,

Dont take this as a slant on the entertainment that F1 brings, but do events like Lewis Hamilton being well off the pace this year despite being the man to beat last, hint at the element of sport being lost? It seems to be a lot of very talented drivers, where the car seperates them as a diffentiater?(spelling) Should it be considered sporting to move towards the A1 version, where they get similar cars, or atleast similar budgets? F1 to me has become entertaining along side Wrestling. It just doesnt sit comfortably with me.

hi Murray new member on here wil b great 2 cath up with ur views&opinions, if was 2 ask u random question it wud b if Hamilton,mansell,both hills,stewart,moss,hunt,coultard was all in identicle cars in ur opinion who wins?

ps. I had no idea BMW are into making tractors these days... they are good for agriculture and farming but a bit rubbish on a race track.

Hi Murray! We thought there might be a British one-two on the grid for Bahrain for a few minutes during qualifying. Has that ever happened before? I can't find any record of it happening before but I can't believe it hasn't! Thanks!

Hannah Collins, Uxbridge

Hi Murray. I was wondering how a budget cap on spending for teams would work. Would the richer teams still be able to spend more money on research and development using other parts of their business? For example, the Ferrari team could have development for their F1 car done at a separate location normally used for developing Fiats for example. They could then just put the resulting prototypes from this research into the Formula 1 car. Whta safeguards are there against this?

KERS is someone having a laugh with this system, it must be either all cars have it or they do with out it and move on!
I think KERS is a good idea but everyone must be have it or whats the point?
Thoughts Murray Love your work you are a legend!

Hi Murray,

Bahrain was the first real gauge of how the new overtaking-friendly cars are performing - no addition factors came to the fore. Do you think the new rules so far are working?

Hi Murray
It would be great if you came back to do some commentating, especially if it was for the last (British) grand prix at Silverstone. In the mean time, would you be so kind as to share your opinions to any of these questions:
Do you think we'll have a British Grand Prix next year?
If so will it be at Silverstone or Donnington?
Should Bernie Ecclestone contribute some money towards the British Grand Prix?
Is this one of the best starts to season ever?
What on Earth was Bernie Ecclestone thinking when he wore that red jacket?

Paul

Hi Murray, why is there hardly any hype over jenson button? he's won more than half of what lewis did last season and hasnt lied or cut corners to get it.
Jon Clark

Hi Murray just wondered having seen Kubica's crash in Australia and Sutil's in China i noticed that the tyre teathers to keep them on the car have not been working as well as the wheels have been flying off, is there any reason why?

Andy, Warrington

Hi Murray,

Do you think that the removal of gravel traps and sand traps at most race circuits leaves too much margain for error amongst drivers? Circuits such as Bahrain have mainly tarmac run-offs which simply allow drivers to re-join should they make a mistake. Do you think if a driver goes off into what used to be a gravel trap and can re-join this allows drivers to push the envelope more making it more exciting, or do you think going off the track should spell the end of their race as it used to during the gravel trap and catch-fencing era?

Murray
I have been a fan of yours for so long I cant remember. Also been a fan of Jenson Button sinse he came into F1 and it is good to see him reaping the rewards for his hard work and loyaly to the team he has stuck by through thick and thin.

The only thing I dont like about F1 is Bernie Eclestone and his underhand methods, he has got rid of the French GP and now it looks like he may have got his way in getting rid of the British GPwith the problems that Donnington are having. Dont you think it is time his control over F1 is curtailed?

When commentating you obviously travelled the world and experienced most of the circuits first hand, which venue was you favourite and why? on and off the track?

Hello again Murray my question and it probably is the most important question that will be asked is Would you have worn that bright red jacket that Bernie wore on the grid he looked like a Virgin Airline Rep. It might be plain with only the name Brawn and Virgin on the bodywork that includes Jenson's overalls but the World Championship is Trulli gripping and promises to excite once again.Jenson will never have a better opportunity to become World Champion and with Ross Brawn behind all the technical stuff he should grab everything going.Brawn Redbull Toyota three names you would'nt have mentioned at the beginning of the season.It's early stages but McClaren Ferrari BMW Williams etc need to kick start their season soon otherwise the gap will get wider and wider and sponsors will become frustrated.
I really hope the Jury don't penalise Lewis in Paris we saw a happier smiling Lewis in Bahrain and to come down hard on him i just don't know how much more he can take to lose the Hamilton clan would be a travesty.

Hi Murray. I'm interested to know just how much difference these new regulations have made to the sport.

I noticed that in Bahrain, teams were talking about pitstop strategies as being important and key to winning the race. Is'nt this something we were trying to get away from? Have the new regulations really changed things that much? Or is Bahrain the type of track where strategy is always going to be important because of its nature? If so, should we not be concentrating on tracks where the actual on-track racing is what determines the result?

Another question I wanted to ask you, is how long do you think it will take before the "status quo" sets back in? (i.e, how long will it be until everyone gets used to the new rules and the old guard re-emerges? Something which I believe will be inevitable in the long run), and will they just keep changing the rules every now and again, or will they let the old guard (i.e, ferrari, mclaren, etc) get back into their comfort zones?

A lot of questions I know, but if you could give an answer to even just one, I would be grateful.

Brilliant to see a broadcasting legend still doing his thing. Keep it up Murray.

Do you really think we can believe Ross Brawn when he says their car has nothing left to give, after they just won a race by controlling from the front (after the 1st pit stop)?

Surely people know that if Ross Brawn didn't create sandbagging he became the best in the world at it when he was at Ferrari...

I am sure all the other teams are going to expect Brawn GP to struggle to develop their car after the saga the team suffered before the season even started. It seems logical to me that that is a card Ross will play to try and give his team every inch of room he can get for them.

Personally I expect Brawn to struggle to improve the car a bit, but with Ross at the helm and the team flying high with 2 on form experienced drivers I expect they will remain as a top runner for the rest of the season at least.

hi murray,

do you reckon brawn will become dominate like ferrari were in 2000-2004 with schumacher?

Hi Murray,

Really enjoying your blogs! My question to you is:

Do you feel that the new regulations have failed in generating more overtaking in the races? The cars seem to be able to follow slightly closer, but there was a big middle section of the Bahrain GP where 3 cars (Trulli, Vettle and Hamilton) were stuck behind each other.

Thanks,

James Thomas

Hi Murray

Who do you think is the best driver outside F1. I think Sato was unlucky not to get a race seat and was the GP2 champion Pantano overlooked. I also think Hulkenburg, Senna and Di Grassi will be in F1 soon. What do you think?

Thanks Murray

Hi Murray, if they both had the same car, who would be faster, Hamilton or Button?

Hi Murray,

Would love to know your thoughts/comments on the following as I find a few things a little perplexing !

Why is it that so many people seem to want to run Button down now that he has, finally, hit a good streak ?

I hear, read and watch comments of 'oh, he can only win in a fast car', 'it's only because of Ross Brawn', 'it was the safety car that won it for him', 'the rain did it'..... hello, is anyone there..!?

The Prancing Horse won so much with who at the helm ?

Do I remember anyone saying that Shu only won what he did because of Brawn (and Todt). No I don't.

So many say that Shu was the best driver ever, if so, how many titles did he win on his own merit. Not many, does anyone remember Oz in '94..? Didn't Shu drive into Hill on purpose so that he would win the title and not Hill. How many races were 'gifted' to Shu via an Irishman and a Brazilian ( Eddie and Rubens). I reckon with Oz and the other stuff we can safely remove 4-5 titles.

Hum, that means not so good, but nobody will ever admint it.

On top of that, Sir Stirling Moss, a great driver (and i mean that) but he never won a title and everyone gives the impression he may well of done. He could have, but his pride in honesty and justice meant he gave away a title (Note to some:- read history). That one act alone makes him greater than many, to me anyway.

I have a feeling Bernie only thinks Alonso is so good as he is 'in bed' with Brav..... QPR, need I go further.

I have a feeling if Brawn GP and Jenson win the title there will be many that will snipe at it.

I know it's long but hope you may be able to comment.

Mark - Sussex