Watched the end of the TCR touring car series race in Bahrain held immediately after the F1 Qualifying. Same track, cameras, parc ferme (directly behind the F1 cars), podium, Bizet's Carmen Overture, etc. Even had Bob Constanduros doing the post race interviews.

For free on the official TCR channel on Youtube.
Don't tell Bernie. He might ask for his cars to be blurred out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwN5CtFff4w

Thanks to clewsy for the link.

Enjoying Karun Chandhok's contributions from the pitlane so far, much better than anything Tom Clarkson ever offered on the BBC.
Not really sure what Susie Wolff has to offer, and she speaks too quietly.
Overall really enjoying the C4 coverage just seems fresh somehow and not running through the motions.

Nothing. She didn't add anything that DC or Mark Webber couldn't have said. I'd much rather listen to something worthwhile from Mark instead of her.

Jennie Gow just introduced FormulaE Qualy as "the qualifying that does work!!"

Just caught up with qualifying. Nope, it definitely doesn't work.

She has a big point too!!

If it ain't broke...

Smash **** out of it according to FOM!

Is it just me but with the new exclusive Sky F1 deal has the whole buzz about how Ch4 will do F1, fell on its backside as it means very little over the next 3 years context wise?

Also the 11pm 1 hour highlights show on CH4 tomo be the sign of the future of Sky highlights?

Pretty much nailed it

With respects to the F1 quali, yes, but I'm not entirely sure the Formula E quali format is all that great itself. It's not fundamentally flawed, but its just a bit...weird.

Dumped in the graveyard slot already?

Also note the title of the film that follows. 'I Love You Philip Morris'. Who says TV schedulers don't have a sense of humour?

I'm sure the F1 Qualifying would work if it was edited down to 2 minutes only.

Have to say, I think Bob Varsha is struggling with this Formula E commentary. We've heard far more from Dario.

I think he's taking the energy-saving philsophy too far, he seems to be rationing his input severely!

Don't think he made any meaningful , specific comment on any of the on-track action until lap 3. As you say Dario's totally carrying him.

Also (pedantry alert), I'm pretty sure the series has spelt "through" wrong on captions for drive-through penalties since the very first race of the series, which (if I'm right) is just sloppy. 3 captions so far today with "throurgh".

The director seemed to miss the few exciting moments that actually happened in that race including the Vergne/Turvey battle after the SC. Poor show.

Also just noticed that ITV seem to have lost the Black Circles sponsorship.

Turns out Webber is a decent broadcaster, you could see his professionalism in the podium interviews at Aus. Enjoyed listening to the old hands at CH4, DC has taken a step forward since Whisper came in, which is good to see.

I like Jones's approach generally, but couldnt help cringe when he did that interview with Horner, it was painfully clear he didnt really know what to ask. These thing take time of course, might be an idea to shield him for a bit until hes learned more.

Wolff is a slow burner, she has the knowledge, i think the potential is there. Time will tell.

When she did commentary on the FP session on Sky F1 i thought she was really good but in a pundit-role she seems almost intimidated and meek

Talking of DC improving, he sounds more engaged in commentary, which is having a knock on effect on the dynamic with Ben, for the better i should add.

I noted on Friday that Ben sounded a little out of sorts when his old sparring partner Karun joined in FP, no doubt rusty after years of dour DC to contend with. This new mix might contrive to make CH4 comms the one to watch over the high standard set by Sky, which despite Croftys niggles, has been my preferred choice recently.

Thats pretty easy to fix, some time with these acting coaches on how to project more can work wonders. Remember how rough Hill was at Sky early on, he disappeared for a few races and came back a new man, hes now one the best pundits on Skys lineup.

But they get a shitload of media training with the teams anyway (If they haven't already had it for reasons such as being a rookie and not been with a team etc) and she was fine on the few times she appeared on SkyF1 (Infront of camera) and didn't seem troubled at all so its strange she is suddenly a very different person on C4.

Anyone else see Wolff cringe when Webber commented on one of the young rookies deserving to be there on talent and as a championship winner?

The R5SX coverage has definitely gone downhill with C-List commentators. Listened to the FP sessions live while working then watched the CH4 coverage with Ben and Karun later which was like night and day. Is there any way of listening to the CH4 coverage live on audio only online rather than needing a good mobile data signal for video streaming? Doesn't help that CH4 are taking far too long to make the sessions available for download, whereas last season I could download / watch the BBC coverage of FP1 over lunch then finish watching it during a gap in work in the afternoon (for a typical European round) leaving only FP2 to catch up with in the evening.

Interestingly, TCR's official website makes no mention of the YouTube live stream at all... Still though is this the first ever F1 support event live-streamed on YouTube?

Just thought I would check out some of the c4 coverage, but just looked on sky and there is no on demand of any of the practice or qualy. Do they not have any on demand rights?

Formula e commentary was ok, Bob Varsha did a fair stand in job. Happy for Bob to do the other ones that Jack will miss.
Not sure what happened at the start, seemed he was not sure how to describe it.
Also, a bit hit and miss at the end with championship positions.

FP1/2/3/Qualy are all on the C4 website, if that's any good to you.