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My British Grand Prix review

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Murray Walker | 10:51 UK time, Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Hello everyone, what a wonderful weekend at Silverstone, a venue which is very close to my heart as it was where I began my broadcasting career in 1949.

It looked as if it was going to be another dominant race for Red Bull but how wrong we were. There was drama on the very first lap and the race maintained the view that this season is one of the best ever.

Watch my thoughts on the British GP in the video below and send me any questions you might have about F1 in general, or the races specifically.

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Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    It was amazing, wasn't it. And very glad to see you in the forum afterwards.

    My question is what do we have to do to get you back in the commentary box?

    Alternatively - what's the best thing we can do to make future seasons as exciting as this one? Do you think the testing ban helps or hinders the action?

  • Comment number 2.

    Nice review as always Murray! :)

  • Comment number 3.

    Given the current testing ban in F1, do you think it would be a good idea to run a practice session on the Friday or Saturday of a grand prix event just for test/third drivers to gain experience?

  • Comment number 4.

    Its really shaping up nicely for a phenominal finale in Abu Dhabi, I think the thing with Alonso is that if we include him in the title battle then we have to include Rosberg as he's only 8 points behind, I agree with what you have said about Schumacher, he says he's having fun and if Mercedes can give him the car there is no doubt in my mind that he could win races this season. all in all 2010 is the greatest season i'll have ever seen in my 9 seasons of watching (since i was 7)

  • Comment number 5.

    Brilliant Race review Murray!

    Loving the changes they've made to Silverstone, a big thumbs up from me. I think the new section of the circuit provided some excellent racing, Damon Hill and co. should be very proud of themselves, 1 for keeping Silverstone on the calendar and 2 for improving the circuit.

    This season has been highly entertaining, it's certainly the best I've seen and I have seen some quality seasons. Knowing that we are yet to see Spa, Monza, Singapore, Interlagos, Abu Dhabi and the new Korean race it almost guarantees this season has a lot more to offer. All this season needs is a classic finale, with the improved points system it's highly likely we could see one.

  • Comment number 6.

    Not quite sure about your comment regarding Alonso not deserving the penalty, from where I sit its quite clear he jumped Kubica by going off the track, which the regs say is illegal and that he should give the place back, it was Alonso and Ferrari who didn't give the place aback and pure bad luck springing from that which ruined Alonso's race.

    If Alonso had given the place back (and not overtaken at the next corner) then the stewards wouldn't have needed to get involved.

  • Comment number 7.

    Hello Murray Walker. It a pleasure to send comments to you. I couldn't agree with you more on the comments made on Mercedes team on providing a car for Michael Schumacher to get the job done. I seen on saturday when you was interviewed you said that the Senna Prost Mansell Piquet era of the 80's was wonderful time in the sport. Once again i couldn't agree with you more. My question is do you think the Silverstone track layout needed changing ? All the best to you.

  • Comment number 8.

    Great review Muzz. The Alonzo v Kubica incident is exactly what F1 needs. The for the stewards to bulldoze in and penalise Ferrari is sending out completely the wrong message to drivers. F1 is about overtaking and drama, steward think of the bigger picture please.

  • Comment number 9.

    Yep i agree, this season just gets better and better. I wish the FIA would just leave the regulations as they are and let this formula develop. Its weird that they want to keep costs down but then they introduce rules like no double diffusers and moveable wings which will require a totally new design of car. Its brilliant as it is, leave it alone!

    Excellent review Murray, i was lucky enough to have been there and im really looking forward to seeing the new look Silverstone in 2011.

    What would be brilliant is if they could open up the new Arena section to general admission, then we can all see the cars on that section.

  • Comment number 10.

    @1 Easy answer fire Eddie Jordan. Great team boss as a pundit it's seriously easy to loose any tolerance and hit the forward button.

    Two other options to boost activity would be to quit heel dragging and allow points for the fastest lap. Make it tangeable say 5 points and force the racing cars to RACE.

    The fuel situation is easily resolved too - provide a minimum fuel level to be carried by the cars. Max distance +2 laps to be safe, and cars to finish after the line with fuel, not doing a cheeky Hamilton. The FIA has finally put slick tyres back in but basic things like fastest lap and the fuel do make the sport a joke when cars coast for the last 10 laps.

  • Comment number 11.

    Much has been made over the past couple of seasons regarding the benefits of qualifying 11th place from compared to 10th, allowing them to amend their strategies. Do you think it is still better to qualify as high as possible or is there something to be said about qualifying 11th.

  • Comment number 12.

    Hi Murray

    Great to see you at Silverstone, what a fantastic circuit.

    On that subject: which circuit(s) would you like to see return to the F1 calender? Personally for me: the Osterrecihring in Austria

    Thanks,

    David Walker from Dundee



  • Comment number 13.

    I have to second poster #1 comment about getting you back in the commentary box, would be amazing. Martin Brundle does a fantastic job but not so much a fan of legard. Anyone noticed how in qualifying he often shouts with excitement "...and he's just gone fastest, lighting up the screen purple", when referring to the first driver to complete a hot lap in the session...

  • Comment number 14.

    Murray, how F1 misses your avuncular observations! Glad you still do these snippets, you (and Martin Brundle) cut through the froth.

  • Comment number 15.

    @8 As was probably to be expected, Ferrari was prompted a number of times to give the place ( but resisted until the official line came in from the stewards, which ended up costing them far more dearly than if they'd done the right thing in the first place - don't they remember the drivers briefing after Spa a couple of years ago when Hamilton got penalised, the procedure for when you've had all four wheels off the track was made very clear then, I seem to remember.

  • Comment number 16.

    Great respect and admiration for Murray Walker but I feel he's misplaced in urging Mercedes to give Michael a car that can do the job since it can't be consistently inferior to Nico's. My view is that Mercedes should have let Heidfeld get the drive - a fellow German about the same level as Rosberg if not better in some respects but nevertheless denied by his fellow older countryman who has had so many great opportunities and rewards from the sport. This is really too indulgent yet the misplaced loyalty of Ross Brawn to Schumacher is likely to perpetuate these embarrassing results.

  • Comment number 17.

    1949! that is an incredible amount of time congratulations murray

  • Comment number 18.

    It was great to see you on the television again Murray, almost like the old days, and not just a token appearance either (although with you it never is), I think you made some good points in the post race forum and wish you'd make a more substantial return. The one thing I do want more than most things though is your continual good health, so if you are happy with the way things are then I respect that and wish you all the best.

    One question I have for you is this: If the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could provide facilities for you to broadcast remote commentary on races from a location which was suitable for you (somewhere near to your home), would you do it? The reason I ask is that I know all the travelling was the major reason why you retired from broadcasting, but with today's technology, you dont even have to be at the race to be able to commentate on it. Now I know this raises limitations. I know that you are a quality broadcaster who would prefer to be in the thick of it in order to feel like you're doing your job to the quality that people have come to know - I was just interested to know how you'd feel about an idea like that. Is something like that not feasible? To be honest the reason I ask is because I am easily pleased - when it comes to hearing your voice over a race, I could care less whether you were there or just commentating from TV pictures. I miss you!

  • Comment number 19.

    @ Cordas in post #6...

    I agree with Murray on this one, and against prevailing opinion. Maybe it's because we are both "old school" before this cutting the track rule became so black and white.

    In the old days, this incident would have been looked at on it's merits. There is a difference between cutting a chicane because you've arrived to fast and you can't turn in, and arriving in control of your vehicle and being pushed wide by the competitor on your inside.

    Before Schumacher came along, it was considered incredibly bad form amongst the drivers to shove someone off the outside of the circuit. Nowadays it seems to be de rigeur.

    No wonder there is so little overtaking in F1. The rules penalise the very people who are prepared to have a go and take a risk, and leave those who are prepared to bully people off the circuit unpunished.

    This is as big a travesty as Hamilton's penalty at Spa in 2008 when Kimi pushed him off the track, and it was Lewis who received the penalty.

    I completely agree with Alonso's comments... If that had been a wall, like Monaco, instead of a white line, Kubica would have pushed him in to the wall, and it would be Robert who was facing the stewards for causing an avoidable crash. But as it's a white line that he was shoved over, it's Fernando who has to take the pain.

  • Comment number 20.

    Post 18 is a great idea:

    "One question I have for you is this: If the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could provide facilities for you to broadcast remote commentary on races from a location which was suitable for you (somewhere near to your home), would you do it? The reason I ask is that I know all the travelling was the major reason why you retired from broadcasting, but with today's technology, you dont even have to be at the race to be able to commentate on it. Now I know this raises limitations. I know that you are a quality broadcaster who would prefer to be in the thick of it in order to feel like you're doing your job to the quality that people have come to know - I was just interested to know how you'd feel about an idea like that. Is something like that not feasible? To be honest the reason I ask is because I am easily pleased - when it comes to hearing your voice over a race, I could care less whether you were there or just commentating from TV pictures. I miss you!"

    A fantastic idea - surely an option?? It'd be a fantastic Red Button addition.

  • Comment number 21.

    Well Murry I have been listening to you for 50yrs and have enjoyed it. Yet this Alonso affair at Silverstone! Every kid in Karting knows that if you cut a corner and gain from it you must give the place back. No questions or excuses, just do it! If a seven year old knows, I am sure, Fernando does too. He's being petulant in my view and it's cost him dearly this year. As for the season,what an one say,GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. A superb job Done by Damon Hill and the BRDC at Silverstone. Jenson's drive was brilliant as was Lewis I believe we will have another British World Champion!!!

  • Comment number 22.

    Regarding Toy Trumpet's view on the Alonso affair.
    If you are so old school as you say, then as a pre-requisite, you wouldn't put yourself in that situation in the first place. Taking your 'wall' scenario, and say the drivers were at Monaco, only a madman would have attempted the move, such that you NEVER see that move on such a track.
    Alonso is having such a rubbish season in quite a good car, and you can see the other drivers dislike him. He needs a team principal like Briatore, someone fiery. Stefano Domenicali and Ron Dennis are too 'nice'.
    He'll leave Ferrari like he left Mclaren, with his tail between his legs.

  • Comment number 23.

    Hello Murray.... As always a great review of a great race,,one of the best ever. I have followed your musings and commentary for many years and am looking forward to your future observations on the best sport in the world.

    Thumbs up to having you provide commentary as an observer at each Grand Prix,, what about it ´óÏó´«Ã½???

    Looking forward to Hockenheim....

  • Comment number 24.

    Not sure I agree with your comments about Alonso's penalty. I appreciate two racing drivers going at it hammer and tong, so to speak, but there were so many other options. Racing incident is too easy? if he couldn't make the pass then abort the move. Have a clear advantage or try somewhere else. OK the move didn't come off, you've gained an unfair advantage which we now know Ferrari were advised about - give back the position, go racing again, you've got the faster car and you're the better driver. I guess all i'm saying is Ferrari didn't help themselves with this one

    As i said, appreciate this is all split second stuff, but i guess that's why Formula1 is a team sport.

    All of that said an interesting weekend's racing, the season is coming to the boil nicely.

    One final comment Sebastian Vettel's post race interview, where he makes thinly veiled comments about him and Hamilton's recent coming togethers - is this an example of "German" humour or something more sinister? It would be great to hear your view Murray.

  • Comment number 25.

    All respect to Webber but where Red Bull have the fastest car, Mclaren are the stronger team and the championship standings reflect that. As for Ferrari, Alonso needs to learn a thing or two about good sportsmanship before he can achieve the results he thinks he deserves.

  • Comment number 26.

    Hi Murray, it's always a pleasure to hear the thoughts of a true F1 legend. I really enjoyed this review, just as much as the Australlian GP one aslo.
    My question for you is: In a McLaren race, who would win between the team of Jenson Button & Lewis Hamilton against the team Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna?
    Or alternatively - in a British Drivers race who would win between the team of Jenson Button & Lewis Hamilton against the team Nigel Mansell & Damon Hill?
    Great review from you, Murray, and I look forward to more in the future.

  • Comment number 27.

    briliant sounds like a great idea to me murray back full time comentary.and its GO GO GO BRILLIANT.and getting the drivers names mixed up ha ha your the best.great reveiw and we hope to be back up silverstone next year.our little baby daughter born on the monday the 12th:)

  • Comment number 28.

    Murry
    With regards to team orders, the FIA should make it a rule that each driver as his own team with in the team. So that they are still racing for the main team but also for each other

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