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There is a prize for winning the championship too. I had not realised that one. Apologies Chrissie, another mistake from me!

I have high hopes for the BBC coverege of the Formula 1 I look forward to seeing more than 3 laps after the start without adverts and then every 4-5 laps for the whole race. I really won't miss the sponsors music or the crappy itv music and titles that are burnt into my brain from seeing it 30 sodding times each race weekend. The only way the BBC could mess up would be to fall at the first hurdle and not re-introduce Fleetwood Macs "The Chain" as the theme tune or of course to get murray (bloody) walker in to do comentary.

It was great to see Hamiltons first championship win, I hope we get to see many more but the competition now is more like its ayrton/prost/mansell heyday. seeing schumi's all concquering records beaten? who knows but it would be good, I however doubt it the feild is just too close now. I eagerly await the next season and hope that the BBC gets its act together and sorts out their website. I also hope the new regulations reducing reliance on downforce further and giving them proper slicks tyres again for good old fasioned mechanical grip coupled with the ditching of tranction/launch control this season will make next season even better. Roll on March.

firstly,
WHAT A RACE! I don't WATCH F1 as a rule, but figured I'd give it a go for such an important race. I'm glad I did! (I confess I didn't pay much attention till the end (I was doing other things and keeping half an eye out for drama). WHAT DRAMA at the end! You couldn't have written a more thrilling end. I felt sorry for the ferrari mechanics going into ecstacy and then having it snatched away (how big would thier win bonus have been??)

Secondly, as someone who doesn't watch F1 as a rule I'm praying BBC send in the dream team... Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine and anchoring the whole show (like a 5th division Des Lynam wannabe) Dougie Donnelly! It'd keep them away from spoiling coverage of every other event! If you're interested in the sport and love it (as some of you seem to, which is fair enough) you could resort to my usual tactic when watching champions league on ITV... tv on silent and BBC radio 5live commentary!
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I remembered this was on after looking at the BBC site with the text updates, then legged it downstairs. Stan promptly informed me Hamilton was in sixth place, then ten seconds later he overtook Glock. Hell yeah. I think I may have sworn in disbelief. Several times.

Glock must've been going so slow, seeing as Hamilton was about five seconds clear by the time the race finished a couple of corners later. Then again, I found out post-finish Glock was still on dry tyres so that explains most of it.

On a final note: goodbye ITV coverage!

Prior to the end of 2008 Honda have announced that they will pull out of the Formula One championship in 2009. This is not really a surprise considering the economic downturn and the estimated £300 million pound cost of running the team with minimal advertising each year. The team is up for Sale and puts Ross Brawn, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello out of a job. . . . They are looking into efforts to sell the team but lets be honest, who what that amount of money to throw at a hobby sport?!

Even the Roman Abramovich's of this work would burn through their trust funds in a couple of decades at that volume of spending.

Its pretty safe to say if anybody does buy the team that their title will have to start with the word sheik.

Its such a shame. The pundits were really focusing on the team for next year. The FIRST full car by the technical director Ross Brawn is something to have high hopes for!