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.
