F1Break

An article has appeared over at f1complete.com suggesting that the McLaren four-paddle steering wheel may not be as significant as first thought.

Mark Hughes, writing in the Telegraph, had previously hypothesised that the system may be a driver-controlled featured to limit wheelspin. Subsequent speculation has linked it with McLaren's recent improvement in form.

The photo on f1complete.com shows that the four-paddle system was in use as far back as Australia. The website goes on to report that Renault is thought to have had a similar set up on their cars since Silverstone.

We may have a visit to Hungary beforehand, but already the attention of the Formula One paddock has started to shift towards the European Grand Prix, at Valencia. The event is likely to be forced into a name change in 2009, although Bernie Ecclestone believes it was given the wrong title this year as well.

"It should have been the Gran Premio Mundial (World Grand Prix)," said Ecclestone. "This is not only the best street circuit in the world, it is one of the best circuits in the world."

If you are a little sceptical, and feel that Bernie may be doing little more than playing to his Spanish hosts, then take a look at franxd's video. As you can see, this is no ordinary street circuit. The scenary is truly spectacular, and will provide an unrivalled backdrop. The circuit is fast too, with top speeds estimated to be in the region of 200 mph.

Monaco is oft-mentioned as being Formula One's signature event, but that may all be about to change. The principality has iconic landmarks, but can they really be described as spectacular? A lap of the Valencian track takes in some magnificent architecture, including the stunning swing bridge.

Valencia doesn't just offer a circuit that's easy on the eye. It's wide and fast, built for modern Formula One cars. Monaco, on the other hand, is not. In actual fact, you'd struggle to find a course more unsuited to current Formula One machinery, unless you were to enter a car in a round of the F1 Powerboat World Championship.

There are few more impressive sights in motorsport than a Formula One driver showing his skills over a single lap around Monaco. That will continue to be the case, and the race will go on providing an opportunity for assorted Hollywood celebrities to lose a few quid in various casinos. But Valencia may be about to provide fans of the sport with something else - a Formula One race on a spectacular street circuit, designed with modern Grand Prix cars in mind.

I've noticed some discussion in the Formula One blogosphere recently about how the sport is covered by the various worldwide television broadcasters. As I result, I'm going to provide a brief overview of how the land lies in some key markets. If you have any information about countries I haven't listed, then please leave a comment below, and I'll amend the posting later in the week.

One country I haven't mentioned is the United Kingdom. The reason for this is that I plan to write a couple of more detailed posts, looking at Formula One television coverage in the UK, over the next week or so.

Catalonia - TV3 provides live coverage, and has been a longtime supporter of Formula One. They had been the host broadcaster of Grand Prix at Barcelona, up until Formula One Management took over responsibilities in 2007. Even when no nationwide coverage was available in Spain, TV3 broadcast Formula One live in Catalonia. Their loyalty hasn't been valued by FOM, though, and the television rights to Formula One within Catalonia will transfer exclusively to the Mediapro Group in 2009, who will broadcast races on their La Sexta channel. As La Sexta transmits only in Spanish, those within Catalonia will no longer have the option of watching Formula One races in Catalan.

France - The rights are owned by Groupe TF1, and broadcasting is usually split over two channels. Eurosport France shows live coverage of all practice sessions, and offers delayed coverage of both qualifying and the races. Usually, live coverage of the races is broadcast TF1, although the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix was televised live of Eurosport France, with TF1 providing coverage of Euro 2008 at the same time.

Germany - Coverage is split between three broadcasters, offering the most comprehensive Formula One coverage of anywhere in the world. Free-to-air broadcaster DSF televises both Friday practice sessions live, in addition to delayed coverage of qualifying and the races. RTL (Germany's largest free-to-air broadcaster) shows both qualifying sessions and races live. Finally Premiere, a pay-TV platform, offers a complete live and interactive service - of practice, qualifying and the races - with a choice of six screens.

Italy - State-owned Rai Uno televise races live, whilst qualifying is shown live on Rai Due. SKY Italia, meanwhile, provide a similar service to German pay-TV company Premiere.

Spain - Traditionally Formula One coverage has been limited in Spain. With the likes of Alex Criville and Carlos Sainz enjoying success in motorcycle racing and rallying respectively, Formula One struggled to hold much interest in the country. However, with two Spanish drivers set to compete in 1999, public service broadcaster TVE came to an arrangement with TV3 (who held the rights for Spain, but only broadcast in Catalonia) which allowed them to televise Formula One. More recently, coverage has been shown on Telecinco, and will switch to La Sexta in 2009.

United States - Speed has been the primary broadcaster for Formula One in the United States for some time. The channel has tailored its coverage towards more knowledgable fans, an approach that has earned Speed a great deal of respect. Their line-up of Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett and Peter Windsor is generally very highly regarded. Speed, however, has a limited audience reach, so FOM is keen to increase the amount of network TV coverage the sport receives. This year, the Canadian, French, British and German races were broadcast live exclusively on Fox Sports (part of the same media group as Speed). During the 2002 season, a limited number of races were broadcast of ABC, using F1 Digital+ commentators Ben Edwards and John Watson. Although in Europe they are often acknowledged as being amongst the very best Formula One broadcasters, their commentary was not well received in the US.

Sports people should really exercise a little caution when it comes to making comparisons to opponents. Following his dramatic win over Richard Gasquet on Tuesday, Andy Murray showed off his newly-enlarged biceps to the world.

Inevitably, subsequent questions from the press contrasted Murray's beefed up appearance with Spaniard Rafa Nadal, renowned for being one of the more muscular players on the tour.

"You've not seen me with my shirt off," enthused Murray. "I'm probably not going to be as big as him, but in terms of definition I think I'm up there."

This was some claim, and I suspect not entirely true. But despite Murray's declaration of matching Nadal in terms of physique, the world number two proved comfortably superior on-court, winning their quarter-final encounter in straight sets 6-3 6-2 6-4.

Jenson Button may not have enjoyed Nadal's sporting success, but there can be little doubting his commitment. Despite having something of a playboy reputation upon entering Formula One, Button has worked hard on his physical preparation and is acknowledged as one of the fittest drivers competing.

It's not all gym work for Button, though, and he's been willing to prove his fitness in public, regularly taking part in triathlons. Recently he competed in the Royal Windsor event, finishing an impressive 117th out of 1,700.

On the back of the widespread media coverage Button's exploits have received, this week Lewis Hamilton stated his belief that he is in fact fitter than the Honda driver. Somewhat unsurprisingly, this lead to Button laying down the gauntlet, and a challenge was issued in today's (Thursday) press conference.

After consulting his phone to ensure no prior commitments, Hamilton agreed to join Button in the Bath Triathlon on 27 July. Whoever came out on top would select a charity for the other driver to provide a donation of £10,000. All very sporting, and potentially could have offered great publicity for both men and the sport as a whole.

McLaren certainly had no objections, according to Ian Parkes of the Press Association. Sadly, though, someone else did.

"Lewis accepted the challenge like the good sport he is, and in the spirit with which he accepts things," stated Anthony Hamilton [Lewis' father]. "Unfortunately for Lewis, we are withdrawing him from this."

Oh dear. I'm not sure that welching on an agreement less than an hour after making said arrangement necessarily could be described as being a 'good sport'.

Image courtesy of JMP Photography