BAHRAIN POSTPONEMENT & KUBICA INCIDENT DRAMATIZE SPEED'S OPENING of 2011 FORMULA ONE SEASON
POLITICAL UPHEAVAL in BAHRAIN MOVES SEASON OPENER to AUSTRALIA; TWO WEEKS of ADDED PREPARATION a DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
LIVE COVERAGE FROM AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX STARTS MARCH 25; FOUR RACES TO AIR on FOX, STARTING WITH CANADIAN GRAND PRIX, JUNE 12
Postponement of the season-opening Formula One race and an injured Robert Kubica are among the many intriguing storylines being followed as SPEED heads into the first live Formula One broadcast of the 2011 season.
Political unrest in Bahrain forced Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to wave off the March 13 lid lifter, moving SPEED's first live Formula One broadcast to the Australian Grand Prix on March 27 at 2 a.m. ET. As always, SPEED is covering practice and live qualifying starting early that Friday morning, March 25 at 1:30 am ET, while the other two weekend sessions are to be live streamed at SPEED.com.
SPEED is slated to broadcast 16 of the 20* races this year, while FOX is set to televise four races during the mid-portion of the season starting with live coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 12.
Ratings for Formula One on SPEED had increased by 13 percent year over year in 2010, buoyed by a tight finish in the World Driving Championship and the announced return of the United States Grand Prix (Austin, Texas) for 2012.
Bob Varsha, the Voice of Formula One on SPEED, once again heads the broadcast booth, while former driver David Hobbs and team engineer Steve Matchett continue their color duties. Will Buxton is set for pit side and 'on-the-grid' coverage for each race this season as well. He's also on Twitter (@willbuxton), if you want to follow any instant insider news from the circuit. This team will handle on-air duties for every telecast throughout the season.
"I think this is going to be a bit of a bonus to the teams," said Varsha, also noting that Bahrain is going to cause a minor hiccup in early season travel planning. "This will give them an extra two weeks to prepare and I think they will appreciate having that time."
Last year, Sebastian Vettel, who had shown great promise dating all the way back to 2007 when he became the youngest driver to lead a Formula One race during the Japanese Grand Prix, was a dominant force last season – at times. Suffering numerous mechanical woes throughout challenged the German driver to come back from a 15-point deficit in the final race of 2010 to capture his first title, making him the youngest World Driving Champion in F1 history at 23. He also became the first Formula One driver to win the Mario Andretti Trophy as SPEED Performer of the Year.
"I think Vettel and Red Bull are the horses to bet on going into the season," Varsha predicted. "We tend to forget that Vettel had to charge from third to first in the final race of the season because he had the car fail under him on several occasions. I think everyone acknowledges that Vettel could have locked up the title with several races to spare in the season. But it didn't work out that way, and you can't count on it working out that way this year."
The other big story of the offseason was the debilitating injuries suffered by Renault's Robert Kubica, following a massive incident while competing in a rally car earlier this year. Thought extremely serious at first, the 26-year-old driver is on the road to recovery, but is scheduled to miss part of, if not all, the 2011 season. Varsha talked about the incident, the impact on the team and Renault's replacement driver, Nick Heidfeld.
"It's great that Robert Kubica appears to be on the trail to recovery," Varsha said. "It does put that team (Renault) in a significant hole because he is very much the team leader, and they seem to have a car that's done well in testing. There's tremendous potential there.
"Now, a car that was basically tailored to Robert Kubica, has to accommodate a different driver," Varsha continued. "Heidfeld is a very good tester, has not won, but this may be the car in which he will do it. That will be a great story going forward if Heidfeld can break though in his substitute role for Kubica."
SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority, is also increasing its coverage of Formula One this year, highlighted by exclusive content from Varsha, Buxton and long-time Formula One journalist, Adam Cooper. Also during the season, live streaming from the first and third Formula One practice sessions can be seen on SPEED.com not available on the linear network.
On SPEED2, the network's growing broadband online network, live coverage from each race of the GP2 Championship, along with various F1-oriented shoulder programming throughout the season, is on tap for 2011.
*The Grand Prix of Bahrain has yet to be scheduled.
2011 SPEED Formula One Broadcast Schedule
(All Times Eastern; Subject to Change)
Fri., March 25 Australian Grand Prix Practice 1:30 a.m.
Sat., March 26 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying 2:00 a.m.
Sun., March 27 Australian Grand Prix 1:30 a.m.
Fri., April 8 Malaysian Grand Prix Practice 2:00 a.m.
Sat. April 9 Malaysian Grand Prix Qualifying 4:00 a.m.
Sun., April 10 Malaysian Grand Prix 3:30 a.m.
Fri., April 15 Chinese Grand Prix Practice 2:00 a.m.
Sat., April 16 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying 2:00 a.m.
Sun., April 17 Chinese Grand Prix 2:30 a.m.
Fri., May 6 Turkish Grand Prix Practice 7:00 a.m.
Sat., May 7 Turkish Grand Prix Qualifying 7:00 a.m.
Sun., May 8 Turkish Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., May 20 Spanish Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., May 21 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., May 22 Spanish Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Thur., May 26 Grand Prix of Monaco Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., May 28 Grand Prix of Monaco Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., May 29 Grand Prix of Monaco 7:30 a.m.
Fri., June 10 Canadian Grand Prix Practice 2:00 p.m.
Sat., June 11 Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying 1:00 p.m.
Sun., June 12 Canadian Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., June 14 Canadian Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., June 24 European Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., June 25 European Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., June 26 European Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., June 28 European Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., July 8 British Grand Prix Practice 9:00 a.m.
Sat., July 9 British Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., July 10 British Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., July 12 British Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., July 22 German Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., July 23 German Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., July 24 German Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., July 26 German Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., July 29 Hungarian Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., July 30 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., July 31 Hungarian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Aug. 26 Belgian Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., Aug. 27 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., Aug. 28 Belgian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Sept. 9 Italian Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., Sept. 10 Italian Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., Sept. 11 Italian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Sept. 23 Grand Prix of Singapore Practice 9:30 a.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 Grand Prix of Singapore Qualifying 10:00 a.m.
Sun., Sept. 25 Grand Prix of Singapore 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 7 Japanese Grand Prix Practice 1:00 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 8 Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying 1:00 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 9 Japanese Grand Prix 1:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 Korean Grand Prix Practice 1:00 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 Korean Grand Prix Qualifying 1:00 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 16 Korean Grand Prix 12:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 28 Grand Prix of India Qualifying 3:30 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 29 Grand Prix of India Qualifying 3:30 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 30 Grand Prix of India 4:00 a.m.
Fri., Nov. 11 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 8:00 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 12 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., Nov. 13 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Note: Grand Prix of Bahrain is TBD.
**FOX Broadcast (Check Local Listings; Canadian GP Live, European, British & German SDD)
***SPEED Replay of FOX Broadcast
POLITICAL UPHEAVAL in BAHRAIN MOVES SEASON OPENER to AUSTRALIA; TWO WEEKS of ADDED PREPARATION a DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
LIVE COVERAGE FROM AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX STARTS MARCH 25; FOUR RACES TO AIR on FOX, STARTING WITH CANADIAN GRAND PRIX, JUNE 12
Postponement of the season-opening Formula One race and an injured Robert Kubica are among the many intriguing storylines being followed as SPEED heads into the first live Formula One broadcast of the 2011 season.
Political unrest in Bahrain forced Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to wave off the March 13 lid lifter, moving SPEED's first live Formula One broadcast to the Australian Grand Prix on March 27 at 2 a.m. ET. As always, SPEED is covering practice and live qualifying starting early that Friday morning, March 25 at 1:30 am ET, while the other two weekend sessions are to be live streamed at SPEED.com.
SPEED is slated to broadcast 16 of the 20* races this year, while FOX is set to televise four races during the mid-portion of the season starting with live coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 12.
Ratings for Formula One on SPEED had increased by 13 percent year over year in 2010, buoyed by a tight finish in the World Driving Championship and the announced return of the United States Grand Prix (Austin, Texas) for 2012.
Bob Varsha, the Voice of Formula One on SPEED, once again heads the broadcast booth, while former driver David Hobbs and team engineer Steve Matchett continue their color duties. Will Buxton is set for pit side and 'on-the-grid' coverage for each race this season as well. He's also on Twitter (@willbuxton), if you want to follow any instant insider news from the circuit. This team will handle on-air duties for every telecast throughout the season.
"I think this is going to be a bit of a bonus to the teams," said Varsha, also noting that Bahrain is going to cause a minor hiccup in early season travel planning. "This will give them an extra two weeks to prepare and I think they will appreciate having that time."
Last year, Sebastian Vettel, who had shown great promise dating all the way back to 2007 when he became the youngest driver to lead a Formula One race during the Japanese Grand Prix, was a dominant force last season – at times. Suffering numerous mechanical woes throughout challenged the German driver to come back from a 15-point deficit in the final race of 2010 to capture his first title, making him the youngest World Driving Champion in F1 history at 23. He also became the first Formula One driver to win the Mario Andretti Trophy as SPEED Performer of the Year.
"I think Vettel and Red Bull are the horses to bet on going into the season," Varsha predicted. "We tend to forget that Vettel had to charge from third to first in the final race of the season because he had the car fail under him on several occasions. I think everyone acknowledges that Vettel could have locked up the title with several races to spare in the season. But it didn't work out that way, and you can't count on it working out that way this year."
The other big story of the offseason was the debilitating injuries suffered by Renault's Robert Kubica, following a massive incident while competing in a rally car earlier this year. Thought extremely serious at first, the 26-year-old driver is on the road to recovery, but is scheduled to miss part of, if not all, the 2011 season. Varsha talked about the incident, the impact on the team and Renault's replacement driver, Nick Heidfeld.
"It's great that Robert Kubica appears to be on the trail to recovery," Varsha said. "It does put that team (Renault) in a significant hole because he is very much the team leader, and they seem to have a car that's done well in testing. There's tremendous potential there.
"Now, a car that was basically tailored to Robert Kubica, has to accommodate a different driver," Varsha continued. "Heidfeld is a very good tester, has not won, but this may be the car in which he will do it. That will be a great story going forward if Heidfeld can break though in his substitute role for Kubica."
SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority, is also increasing its coverage of Formula One this year, highlighted by exclusive content from Varsha, Buxton and long-time Formula One journalist, Adam Cooper. Also during the season, live streaming from the first and third Formula One practice sessions can be seen on SPEED.com not available on the linear network.
On SPEED2, the network's growing broadband online network, live coverage from each race of the GP2 Championship, along with various F1-oriented shoulder programming throughout the season, is on tap for 2011.
*The Grand Prix of Bahrain has yet to be scheduled.
2011 SPEED Formula One Broadcast Schedule
(All Times Eastern; Subject to Change)
Fri., March 25 Australian Grand Prix Practice 1:30 a.m.
Sat., March 26 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying 2:00 a.m.
Sun., March 27 Australian Grand Prix 1:30 a.m.
Fri., April 8 Malaysian Grand Prix Practice 2:00 a.m.
Sat. April 9 Malaysian Grand Prix Qualifying 4:00 a.m.
Sun., April 10 Malaysian Grand Prix 3:30 a.m.
Fri., April 15 Chinese Grand Prix Practice 2:00 a.m.
Sat., April 16 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying 2:00 a.m.
Sun., April 17 Chinese Grand Prix 2:30 a.m.
Fri., May 6 Turkish Grand Prix Practice 7:00 a.m.
Sat., May 7 Turkish Grand Prix Qualifying 7:00 a.m.
Sun., May 8 Turkish Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., May 20 Spanish Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., May 21 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., May 22 Spanish Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Thur., May 26 Grand Prix of Monaco Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., May 28 Grand Prix of Monaco Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., May 29 Grand Prix of Monaco 7:30 a.m.
Fri., June 10 Canadian Grand Prix Practice 2:00 p.m.
Sat., June 11 Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying 1:00 p.m.
Sun., June 12 Canadian Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., June 14 Canadian Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., June 24 European Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., June 25 European Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., June 26 European Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., June 28 European Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., July 8 British Grand Prix Practice 9:00 a.m.
Sat., July 9 British Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., July 10 British Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., July 12 British Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., July 22 German Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., July 23 German Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., July 24 German Grand Prix FOX**
Tues., July 26 German Grand Prix Noon***
Fri., July 29 Hungarian Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., July 30 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., July 31 Hungarian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Aug. 26 Belgian Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., Aug. 27 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., Aug. 28 Belgian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Sept. 9 Italian Grand Prix Practice 8:00 a.m.
Sat., Sept. 10 Italian Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., Sept. 11 Italian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Sept. 23 Grand Prix of Singapore Practice 9:30 a.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 Grand Prix of Singapore Qualifying 10:00 a.m.
Sun., Sept. 25 Grand Prix of Singapore 7:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 7 Japanese Grand Prix Practice 1:00 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 8 Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying 1:00 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 9 Japanese Grand Prix 1:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 Korean Grand Prix Practice 1:00 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 15 Korean Grand Prix Qualifying 1:00 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 16 Korean Grand Prix 12:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 28 Grand Prix of India Qualifying 3:30 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 29 Grand Prix of India Qualifying 3:30 a.m.
Sun., Oct. 30 Grand Prix of India 4:00 a.m.
Fri., Nov. 11 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 8:00 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 12 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying 8:00 a.m.
Sun., Nov. 13 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 7:30 a.m.
Note: Grand Prix of Bahrain is TBD.
**FOX Broadcast (Check Local Listings; Canadian GP Live, European, British & German SDD)
***SPEED Replay of FOX Broadcast
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