I Want that First Hit

Soooo, was looking over the races for next year, well primarily of course  to see the BBC/Sky distribution.  Here’s the list, although if you are an F1 fan, shame on you if you haven’t already seen it!

	Race	Circuit	Date	Channel
1	Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park, Melbourne	March 16-18th	Sky
2	Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit	March 23rd-25th	Sky
3	Chinese Grand Prix	Shanghai International Circuit	April 13-15th	BBC/Sky
4	Bahrain Grand Prix	Bahrain International Circuit	April 20th-22nd	Sky
5	Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya	May 11-13th	BBC/Sky
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Monte-Carlo	May 24-27th	BBC/Sky
7	Canadian Grand Prix	Montreal	June 8-10th	Sky
8	European Grand Prix	Valencia	June 22nd-24th	BBC/Sky
9	British Grand Prix	Silverstone	July 6-8th	BBC/Sky
10	German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring	July 20th-22nd	Sky
11	Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring	July 27-29th	Sky
12	Belgian Grand Prix	Spa-Francorchamps	August 31st-September 2nd	BBC/Sky
13	Italian Grand Prix	Monza	September 7-9th	Sky
14	Singapore Grand Prix	Marina Bay	September 21st-23rd	BBC/Sky
15	Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka	October 5-7th	Sky
16	Korean Grand Prix	Korean International Circuit	October 12-14th	BBC/Sky
17	Indian Grand Prix	Buddh International Circuit	October 26-28th	Sky
18	Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	Yas Marina	November 2nd-4th	BBC/Sky
19	United States Grand Prix	Circuit of the Americas	November 16-18th	Sky
20	Brazilian Grand Prix	Interlagos	November 23rd-25th	BBC/Sky

The best races still on the BBC are of course Monaco, Silverstone, Spa, Brazil with Sky getting  Australia, Hockenheimring, Hungaroring and Monza. 

It isn’t a bad split, although am not happy that the first two races are on Sky.  Losing the first race is a real disappointment, it has become an institution with my F1 group of friends.

The race ritual of all coming together, drinks the night before, hot dogs during the warm up, waiting for that “Dum, dada dum dadadadada dum”.  The first race is always filled with a wave of excitement.  The whole season is laid out before you and it is a special feeling.  That first hit of the season after the Winter break, it’s intoxicating.

Going to a pub to watch the race just isn’t the same for me.  I have my race rituals, and they don’t include being in a pub.  Watching a race with the inevitable person in the back saying “They just go round and round” or my most hated “I could do that, there is no skill involved” is not going to play. I may not be responsible for my actions.

But, short of selling my soul to the devil or my body on the street I cannot afford Sky next year.  Am hoping to broker a deal with one of my F1 friends to pitch in on her Virgin deal so we can see the races the way we want to.

They say the best things in life are free, well in the case of Formula One, some of the best things, you have to pay for.