Formula 1’s managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn has apologised to fans for the failed launch of F1 TV – the sport’s own over-the-top streaming service which launched at the weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix. The service, which offers fans the opportunity to watch live sessions, pick from 20 driver onboard cameras and more, costs between £6 and £10 a month ($8-12) depending on the local market, with the ‘Pro’ version only available in select territories. The launch of the service was delayed from the start of the season in order to conduct ‘beta’ testing during the opening four races, with its public debut set for the Spanish GP. However users reported on social media that it rarely worked during the weekend, with long buffering screens and a jumpy image the main complaints. On Sunday the service offered up a message saying live coverage of the race would be unavailable. Formula 1 sporting boss Ross Brawn admitted the launch … [Read more...] about Formula 1’s managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn apologises for failed F1 TV launch
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Formula 1 to launch F1 TV at Spanish Grand Prix in May
Formula 1, the pinnacle of motor sport, will launch F1 TV in May, ahead of the Formula 1 2018 Spanish Grand Prix. Until that time, Formula 1 will continue to run a closed beta version of the service to a small subset of fans for viewing and testing during the upcoming Formula 1 2018 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix and Formula 1 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as reported by formula1.com today. F1 TV is F1’s over the top (OTT) subscription video platform, produced in conjunction with world leaders in the field of streaming video and subscription services. NBC Playmaker, iStreamPlanet, CSG, and Ostmodern will join Tata in delivering the solution for F1 fans. The launch of the service marks F1’s biggest investment in its digital transformation to date. F1 TV will have two service levels at two different price points. F1 TV Pro, the premium tier, will feature live races and all 20 driver-cameras, as well as side-by-side live race viewing and additional exclusive feeds. Subscribers … [Read more...] about Formula 1 to launch F1 TV at Spanish Grand Prix in May
Mario Andretti: Last IndyCar win 25 years ago at Phoenix ‘seems like it was only yesterday’
The Valvoline 200 on April 4, 1993 marked the 52nd and final win of Mario Andretti’s illustrious IndyCar career. It came at a track – Phoenix International Raceway (now ISM Raceway) – that was one of the most significant tracks in Andretti’s life. It was in 1964, when the Italian-born driver first embarked upon an IndyCar career, that Andretti began a love affair with the one-mile oval that continues to this day. And now, in fitting fashion, the legendary Andretti will be honored today and throughout the weekend at ISM Raceway, paying tribute to his career and his final win there 25 years and one day ago. That final win is something that has stuck with him throughout the years. And tonight, he’ll help the track kick off the race weekend with a dinner in his honor, paying tribute to all he did not only for racing in general, but for ISM Raceway in particular. It will be a start to three days of memories of Andretti’s career, including a display of the … [Read more...] about Mario Andretti: Last IndyCar win 25 years ago at Phoenix ‘seems like it was only yesterday’
Florida Winter Stories – Part 1
The first two lights illuminate in the gantry over the start line. As the third red beam flicks on, the engine notes rise around me. With the fourth light the vibrations begin, rattling the car and me inside it. By the fifth my sight is becoming blurred, my eyes moist as my focus tightens on the spots of red, and on them alone. The lights hold. I draw in a steady stream of air and hold my breath. My hand tightens its grip around the wheel. It is the calmest I’ve felt all week. The lights extinguish, my left foot leaps from the clutch, the rear tyres squeal and squelch around for grip and I’m off, past the white car in front and to the right of me and tucking under the wing of the blue car in front. For the first time in my life, I’m watching a race from inside the cockpit. And what’s even more astonishing… is that I’m completely silent. … [Read more...] about Florida Winter Stories – Part 1
How will Formula One reckon with electric cars?
Drivers take turn 11 at Circuit of the Americas pretty slowly. It’s tight, and they’ll only hit about 60 miles per hour, depending on the car. Then they’ll charge down the main straight, a three-quarters-of-a-mile descent that lets the right machine clear 200. As I stand in the grandstands before turn 12, a black-and-gold racecar quickly fills my field of view. It’s Texas-hot in Austin today, close to 90 and humid, but the car brings a wind with it. The wind is made of noise. Fans come to Formula One races for this kind of sensory experience. When the series spun up in 1946, following the exhaustive end of World War II, fantastic machines replaced the terrifying cacophony of bombs with the joyful chorus of speed-linked sound. Over the years, millions of fans have swarmed the edges of racetracks to hear F1’s roar. But you don’t just hear an F1 engine. You feel it. As the car flies by the grandstand, the concussive wave emanating from its eight … [Read more...] about How will Formula One reckon with electric cars?
What Cars Do The World’s Best Drivers Drive?
One of the strangest things about motorsports is that we don’t actually see cars that we would drive on the road. We see some of the same manufacturer names, and sometimes the underlying build of a racecar is similar to something that can be purchased. But it’s not as if you can simply stroll into a dealership and buy your favorite Formula 1 model! Even so, many of us who are enthusiastic about cars look up to professional drivers as the most skilled and knowledgeable auto enthusiasts on the planet. And this begs the question: what do they actually drive on the road? We don’t always know, but these are a few of the world’s best drivers and some of the vehicles they’re known to possess and use away from the track. Sebastian Vettel Vettel was the biggest name in Formula 1 just a few seasons ago, prompting BBC Sport to rank him inside the top-10 of Formula 1’s greatest drivers. He spent the glory days of his career driving for Red Bull before switching … [Read more...] about What Cars Do The World’s Best Drivers Drive?
Formula 1 2018: Haas is First to Unveil New Car
Haas F1 has become the first constructor to reveal the 2018 challenger that will be piloted by Kevin “Suck My Balls” Magnussen and Romain Gorsjean. It’s an event which is worth noting double, too, since the Haas VF18 is also the first Formula 1 race car to be revealed with a fully integrated version of the controversial “halo” safety system that’s been made mandatory this year. We’ll talk about the halo more down the road, probably. For now, however, I just want to bask in the glow of fresh Formula 1 news and revel in Haas’ latest car launch, which happened yesterday on Twitter. You can watch that, below … Bigger. Better. Faster. Lighter. Introducing, the #VF18. pic.twitter.com/sMhqW8WpQ8 — Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 14, 2018 … and, if the car seems familiar to you, there’s good reason for that. The new Haas VF18’s livery is similar to that campaigned in team’s first F1 season. But, if … [Read more...] about Formula 1 2018: Haas is First to Unveil New Car
Is Porsche Really Planning a Formula 1 Comeback?
There is a rumor being circulated by German Magazine Auto Bild that might be of particular interest to racing fans everywhere. That rumor: Porsche is coming back to Formula 1. That’s right- after another convincing win at the 24 Hours of LeMans earlier this month, Porsche seems to be setting its sights on other racing series. The all-electric Formula E series is particularly interesting, sure- but the budget there (even on the high side) is barely a tenth of what a full-fledged assault on Formula 1 would cost. Even so, Porsche execs will be sitting in at the next engine manufacturers’ meeting in Baku, where they’ll discuss future options with Renault, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda. Speaking of Honda, Porsche has to be looking their way. Especially since, after Honda’s very public failure since returning to the sport with McLaren back in 2015, would Porsche’s corporate masters at VW might be willing to take a similar risk of public failure Would they … [Read more...] about Is Porsche Really Planning a Formula 1 Comeback?
Formula 1 2018: Official Full Season Race Schedule
Welcome to 2018, race fans! As the world’s fastest and most advanced hybrids, Formula 1 race cars have a special place in Gas 2’s digital heart. As such, the horrible, race-less winters weigh heavily upon us. That’s true. But, there is hope in this new year- and that hope burns ever brighter now that the official full-season schedule for this season of racing has been released! So, while the new, Next Generation F1 logo is horrific and the sexy sexist grid girls might be gone and the drivers’ safety halo makes the cars look more like the world’s fastest flip-flops than the world’s fastest hybrids, the on-track action is still what this is all about. You can see when and where that racing will take place using the handy-dandy schedule in the table, below. I’ve also included links to each of the grand prix’ wikipedia entries, so you can be better prepared to cheer on your favorite drivers on race day. Will 2018 fall to Mercedes’ … [Read more...] about Formula 1 2018: Official Full Season Race Schedule
Race reaction: Ferrari no match for Mercedes
The first race of the season is in the bag and some are not convinced by Ferrari’s victory. Planet F1 readers react to the race in Melbourne… You can join the discussion here, or if you have anything else F1-related that you want to get off your chest, you can also e-mail us at [email protected] No worries I don’t think Mercedes will be worried at all, a software glitch is way easier to fix than a inherently slower car. Lewis kept on Seb’s tail, putting in fastest laps in dirty air, with 7 laps older tyres. When he dropped back after his mistake he caught him again pretty quickly. Little to be concerned about, without Valterri’s crash and the VSC mess today could well have been a Merc 1-2. I expect Bahrain to be a comfortable win, for Mercedes, likely a 1-2. Let’s just hope Red Bull can stay close to Ferrari. Big shame for Haas, hopefully that wasn’t their one and only opportunity for a good result. Fernando vs Max could have … [Read more...] about Race reaction: Ferrari no match for Mercedes