Otherwise detained in London, a rare weekend free from attending a grand prix live allowed me the unusual pleasure of watching Sky’s coverage as the action unfolded in China.
I usually rerun the televised action on my return, but I never have it in my ear or watch the feed when I am at a race. This has a disadvantage, namely that you miss out on access to bundles of information Sky garner from their team out in the field. It has the advantage – if you can call it such – that at least I can make up my own mind about what is going on, uncluttered by the views of TV group think, and report it as I see it, which I have always thought is the point of being there.
Anyway, tuning in on Sunday morning, the star of the show to my mind was Nico Rosberg. He was in the commentary box with my old pal David Croft, the lead commentator, and the very slight tension between the two made for a successful calling of the race.
Rosberg can be disdainful. Crofty is always matey. And the collision of styles worked.
Rosberg’s task might have been daunting because he was standing in for no less than Martin Brundle, who holds the honour of succeeding Murray Walker as Formula One’s voice, and, sometimes, its conscience.
Nico Rosberg was the star of Sky Sports coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend
The 2016 world champion stepped in for Martin Brundle, who is now only travelling to 16 races
Rosberg possesses rare credibility when praising or criticising F1 stars like Lewis Hamilton
Brundle, the reluctant maestro of the grid walk, is now only travelling annually to 16 races under his new contract, I can reveal. The coverage, too, was hosted from a studio in London rather than on-site – a sense of belts being tightened amid a season of 24 rounds that reeks of greedy expansionism.
As well as articulacy, and a certain disregard for what other make of his views, Rosberg brings two invaluable strengths: one, that he drove in Formula One recently, and, secondly, that he did so to such a standard that he even beat Lewis Hamilton to the world title in the 2016 season.
It gives him rare credibility when he both praises and criticises Lewis, or any of the grid’s glitterati. The latter requirement came to the fore in China this weekend, given that Hamilton’s qualifying performance fell below his top standard (a point Lewis acknowledged after setting only the 18th best time).
Rosberg said: ‘That is seriously painful. It was really unnecessary to push the limit and, as a seven-time world champion, that is a mistake which should be avoidable.
‘He braked three metres too late, and he had the brake balance too far forward. He lost at least four tenths which easily would have put him in Q2. That’s a disaster.’
A disaster? In a sometimes anodyne TV world, I’ll take the slight overstatement.
F1 can do without messing about with the numbers
Talking of Martin Brundle, he provided one good reason to reject the suggestion that points be awarded to 12 drivers rather than the top 10.
He said world championship points are precious and shouldn’t be reduced to the status of a lucky dip.
Another objection from this quarter is that it would be no more than unnecessary tinkering. This sort of meddling over the past 70 years has rendered redundant comparisons by points from generation to generation. At various stages, a win has been worth eight points, nine and 10. It’s now worth 25 – a ludicrously inflated figure.
After the introduction of sprint race weekends, and all sorts of innovations since Liberty took over the sport in 2017, messing about with the numbers is a distraction Formula One can do without.
I am glad the F1 Commission, meeting in Geneva on Thursday, kicked the idea down the road. I am told the issue is due up for future discussion. It can stay in the in-tray, chaps.
The F1 Commission has so far knocked back the idea of awarding points to the top 12 drivers
Generational star made to wait to appear on F1 grid
The FIA have knocked back appeals from Mercedes and Williams to make an exception to their super-licence rules for Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian is 17 and so a year too young for inclusion in Formula One, the rules having been rewritten after Max Verstappen entered the grand prix scene barely beyond GCSE age – indeed before he had a licence to drive on the road.
Antonelli, a Formula Two driver with Prema, is seen as a possible replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, though he remains a little untested for now. Hence, Mercedes want him to brush up his experience at Williams in the interim.
Williams are open to a decent replacement for Logan Sargeant, having shown the American astonishing elasticity of patience through a trying F1 career. It is impossible to see him succeeding at motor racing’s highest level.
Another part of the jigsaw is that Williams team principal, James Vowles, scouted Antonelli in his old job as talent-finder at Mercedes and put him on their young driver scheme.
Vowles is confident that Antonelli, who has been schooling himself at the Mercedes wind tunnel in the last few weeks, is a generational star in the making who will win the world championship one day.
But, however good Kimi is, he won’t be on the F1 grid until he turns 18 on August 25.
The FIA have knocked back appeals from Mercedes and Williams to make an exception to their super-licence rules for the talented 17-year-old Italian driver Kimi Antonelli, pictured
No word on KC for Horner inquiry
At the 15,956th time of inquiry… Still no word on the identity of the KC who conducted the inquiry into the Christian Horner affair.
Answers still awaited. A bottle of Red Bull for anyone who can track down our Lord Lucan.
Perez poised for another year at Red Bull
Sergio Perez, whose role is to be the support act to Max Verstappen, may well land another year at Red Bull.
He is a good driver and deserves it. As he has been referred to in Mexico, ‘Minister of Defence’.
Sergio Perez, pictured, may well land another year at Red Bull as Max Verstappen’s support act
Why would Norris take on Max at Red Bull?
Lando Norris drove a fine race in China at the weekend to second place. Which is the only spot available at the current time, barring a miracle.
His contract binds him to stay at McLaren for years to come, but would he relish talking on Max at Red Bull in any event?
My hunch is nobody would, and that’s why he isn’t. It is the quick way to career suicide.
Lando Norris drove to an impressive second place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai
