ResponseMediaNZ:

Zippity:

Probably a bit late to ask, but do we know who will be providing the live F1 coverage on Spark?

Will it be UK SkyTV and who will the commentators be?

Please not some ignorant Yank :( 

From what I have heard it will be the UK team!  https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11646703/sky-sports-f1-gears-up-for-start-of-formula-1-2019

Including three F1 world champions, the Sky Sports F1 line-up in full will comprise:

Rachel Brookes

Martin Brundle

Jenson Button

Karun Chandhok

David Croft

Anthony Davidson

Paul Di Resta

Johnny Herbert

Damon Hill

Ted Kravitz

Simon Lazenby

Natalie Pinkham

Nico Rosberg

Wish TVNZ would put the feed on their smart tv menus (for OD) I cant find it.

(correction I think its Freeview that needs to do this)

davidcole:

I was watching the Brazil Grand Prix yesterday to try out spark sport...and couldn't get over how jacked up the rears looked.  Seemed to be about double the height of the front.

And then looking at these cars on the live stream today they look quite a bit lower and much more parallel.

Is that track differences or rule changes for 2019?

 

BTW, loving the lack of commentary, just engine noises, I mean how much babbling can they do in a practice.

 

Batman:

davidcole:

 

I was watching the Brazil Grand Prix yesterday to try out spark sport...and couldn't get over how jacked up the rears looked.  Seemed to be about double the height of the front.

 

 

 

And then looking at these cars on the live stream today they look quite a bit lower and much more parallel.

 

 

 

Is that track differences or rule changes for 2019?

 

BTW, loving the lack of commentary, just engine noises, I mean how much babbling can they do in a practice.

 

Commentary cures my insomnia

Just as well there is none then, or you'd be asleep during the day..

davidcole:

 

I was watching the Brazil Grand Prix yesterday to try out spark sport...and couldn't get over how jacked up the rears looked.  Seemed to be about double the height of the front.

 

And then looking at these cars on the live stream today they look quite a bit lower and much more parallel.

 

Is that track differences or rule changes for 2019?

 

 

 

BTW, loving the lack of commentary, just engine noises, I mean how much babbling can they do in a practice.

 

 

 

Depends on the aero requirements for the specific track and whether they can create enough downforce through normal means. Redbull are known for their rake and mercedes are usually quite parallel

snowfly:

 

Watching FP1 via tvnz.co.nz on demand, commentary working fine.

 

it does indeed, however 720p and 25fps, bitrate does not seem impressive either

will pass on that.

the commentary audio just came on, 27 mins into the session on sparksport now

the f1 feed sparksport are using seems to the same used on F1TV, its not as good as the Sky Sport UK Feed, it will have sky commentary but not the sky tv cut aways to pitlane etc

i really dislike this about the f1tv feed, as you often cannot see what the commentators are talking about

If anyone is using Plex and want to watch it properly send me a PM after the practice i will share a invite

davidcole:

 

Batman:

davidcole:

 

I was watching the Brazil Grand Prix yesterday to try out spark sport...and couldn't get over how jacked up the rears looked.  Seemed to be about double the height of the front.

 

 

 

And then looking at these cars on the live stream today they look quite a bit lower and much more parallel.

 

 

 

Is that track differences or rule changes for 2019?

 

BTW, loving the lack of commentary, just engine noises, I mean how much babbling can they do in a practice.

 

Commentary cures my insomnia

 

Just as well there is none then, or you'd be asleep during the day..

 

Erp there it goes. I think they found the feed for it! I hear Crofty.

Please!!!

Not another Lewis Hamilton year :(  :(

Jaxson: Thoughts after qualifying:

2019 looks the same as 2018

Based on Qualifying I would have said it was more one-sided than last year.

davidcole: Looks like he had to fight a bit this time. Not sure how close it’s been previously. Or was that just showmanship?

Given he had to make up .6 of a second to one-up Bottas, yeah the blessed boy had to work today. In saying that, Bottas was on a flyer and as he rounded the final bend I swear I saw his car get a bit leary on the kerb which probably cemented the grid position for him.

Very cool to see Verstappen and Red Bull actually get that Honda engine to work.

Jaxson: Thoughts after qualifying:

2019 looks the same as 2018

yup. all the pre season testing sandbagging merc false slow cars analysis by the expert media and merc playing along "oh we're the underdogs" rubbish as usual. let's see after tomorrow if that confirms.

The main thing though is that F1 is back; like an old friend that you know will let you down but you can't help be friends with.

Jaxson: Thoughts after qualifying:

2019 looks the same as 2018

The Williams cars are even worse than everybody feared, they've got a mountain to climb to get anywhere near the middle of the pack

The McLaren cars are surprisingly competitive: Lando Norris even got into Q3 and was quicker than the factory Renault cars

The 2019 Honda engine looks competetive

And, just like 2018 and 2017, Mercedes are quick as, depressingly so for Ferrari & Red Bull