Podcasts

If you read back a few posts you'll see me talking about my new phone, the Nokia 5800. I've since discovered that it's awfully good for podcasts, and I now subscribe to quite a few and listen to them in the car to and from work as the phone's speaker is loud enough to use in the car, even on the M25!

My favourite podcast so far is the Stuff.TV podcast which is a geeky/techy podcast about mobile phones, televisions, MP3 players, gadgets and 'stuff'! The subject matter is right up my street and the presenters are pretty fab too. They also gave my new phone a glowing report so extra marks there!

Others I subscribe to are:

Chris Moyles - low brow humour at it's very best and I miss the morning shows now I listen to podcasts instead. Is there some irony there somewhere?

F1 Weekly - only listened to one show so far and it was ok, though being American based the bias was towards their quest to get a Grand Prix in America rather than the upcoming season. May try to find a suitable replacement.

Jonathan Ross - probably the funniest guy on radio and good to have him back. Always has a procession of great guests with whom he engages in lots of witty banter.

Guardian Tech Weekly - more technical musings with lots of web talk and as an eCommerce bod it's most interesting from a professional and personal standpoint.

I also have Stephen Fry and Mark Kermode's podcasts set up to listen to and am always open to some recommendations of podcasts I should listen to. Two that i didn't particularly like are the Adam & Joe and George Lamb podcasts - just didn't click with me. I also tried the Geek Squad podcast but they guy waffled on for so long about not a lot that I decided my life could be better spent on other things and turned it off.

Best of 2008

Film - Iron Man*
TV Show - GRΣΣK
Album - Chinese Democracy (Guns N' Roses)
Song - Human (The Killers)
Concert - Bon Jovi @ Twickenham (28th June)
Graphic Novel/Trade Paperback - Fables #10 The Good Prince
Sport - Formula 1
Moment - 6th May 2008, 9.25am - My Son, Lucas was born :)

*Still to see: Dark Knight, Wall-E, Indiana Jones 4, Wanted, Quantum of Sollace, Prince Caspian, The Clone Wars and Hellboy II

Alonso Stays At Renault

Amongst speculation that he may go elsewhere, 2 time former World Champion Fernando Alonso has signed with Renault for another 2 years. Given the progress Renault made in the 2nd half of the season and the fact that all the competitive teams have their drivers signed up for the 2009 season, this announcement comes as no surprise. What may surprise some is that he has signed for 2 years. Neither Kimi Raikkonen or Felipe Masa is contracted for the 2010 season and Ferrari is the team Alonso has been linked with on numerous occasions.

Also not going to Ferrari is 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Though his short term future is set with McLaren, through to the end of the 2012 season, Edie Ervine said earlier this week that Hamilton must drive for Ferrari at some point in his career. Hamilton yesterday confirmed what he has always said, that he wants to stay at McLaren and has no plans to ever drive for Ferrari.

Returning to Team Renault, it was announced yesterday that Nelson Piquet would be returning as Alonso's team mate in 2009. Having a somewhat troubled season, the rookie improved in the 2nd half of the season, much like his esteemed team mate, and obviously did enough to secure his drive for 2009.

Lewis Hamilton - World Champion

He had to finish 5th, he qualified 4th, he finished 5th...just!

What a way to end a Grand Prix season - the title was Hamilton's and then it seemed to slip away as Vettel passed him and Glock didn't pit - had it all gone wrong, again? As Hamilton's many fans watched on in dismay the impossible (or not as it would seem) happened as Hamilton passed a very slow Glock to come in 5th and claim the World Championship. Ahead of him, and almost an afterthought, Masa finished his season with the victory in Sao Paulo and 2nd place in the Driver's Championship.

Hamilton deserved to win, Masa deserved to win - we are guaranteed one heck of a season in 2009, especially with the improvements Renault have made and Alonso behind the wheel of that much improved car.

Congratulations Lewis Hamilton, 2008 Formula 1 World Champion, the youngest ever.

Victory in China

From pole to finish, Lewis Hamilton led the Chinese Grand Prix, with Kimi Raikkonen chasing until such time as it was right to let title challenger Felipe Masa pass.

With his 5th victory of the season, Lewis is now 7 points ahead of Felipe Masa going into the last race of the season in Brazil in 2 weeks time. 5th place or higher and Lewis Hamilton is the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion.

As much as I was thrilled to see Lewis win and edge that much closer to the Championship, as a race fan it was a pretty dull race with little action. What it did reinforce was how much the Renault cars have come on as the season has progressed with Fernando Alonso spearheading that renewed charge.

Pole Position, but the enemy is close.

After a mistake in his penultimate lap of Q3 it looked like Hamilton could have some chasing to do at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix tomorrow, but a lightning quick last lap saw him streak to his 7th pole position of the season, more than 3 tenths of a second ahead of closest rival Kimi Raikkonen.

However, things are not as rosy as they seem; Hamilton shares the front row of the grid with 2007 Champion and team-mate of Felipe Masa, Kimi Raikkonen. Sitting in the second row of the grid are Hamilton's current Championship challenger and Raikkonen's Ferrari team-mate, Felipe Masa as well as Hamilton's ex-team-mate Fernando Alonso. Alonso said this week that he will try to help Masa win the Championship. In 5th place, and lining up in the 3rd row on the grid, is Hamilton's team-mate at McLaren and nearest ally, Heikki Kovalainen.

If Hamilton doesn't get a good start tomorrow he could be in for the fight of his life and it'll be time to truly test his mettle and rise to meet the expectations of his many fans, and shut the critics up. Hamilton can seek solace in the fact that Robert Kubica, who is currently 3rd in the Championship and statistically the only driver other than Masa who can beat Hamilton for the Championship, qualified in a lowly 11th place.

F-1 Disney...one step closer

The Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) have today announced that the 2009 French Grand Prix, due to take place at Magny Cours in June, has been cancelled. They are citing the current financial situation as the reason.

With the backing of former World Champion and F1 team owner Alain Prost, Val d'Europe (the site of Disneyland Resort Paris) has been announced by French racing federation Chief Executive Nicolas Deschaux as the frontrunner for the 2010 French Grand Prix and the only one of the 6 proposed sites that will be ready in time.

Just one step closer to a dream collaboration for some...

Faux Pas in Fuji

This picture of the podium in Japan shows Fernando Alonso as the winner, Robert Kubica in 2nd and Kimi Raikkenon in 3rd. Championship contender Felipe Masa gained 1 point with an 8th place finish while Championship leader Lewis Hamilton got no points finishing in 12th.

After being overtaken by Raikkenon at the start, Hamilton took a very aggressive strategy which led to him losing more places, colliding with Masa (well, Masa colliding with him!) and ending up at the back of the field. A drive through penalty for both Hamilton and Masa for separate incidents meant neither were going to add to their Championship totals by much.

Hamilton didn't need to attack quite so vehemently and in doing so he probably cost himself a decent haul of points and an extension of his lead at the top of the Championship. Hamilton races with the head of a Champion at times, but at others, like in Japan today, he races with a hot head which leads to unnecessary mistakes which put his potential as the Champion at risk. Hamilton needs to learn that he doesn't need to win every race to win the Championship and sometimes holding back a bit is better in the long run.

We look forward to China and Brazil with the Championship very much still up for grabs and a chasing Kubica even looking like an outside chance - remember Raikkenon last year?

UPDATE: Masa actually scored 2 points after Sébastien Bourdais got penalised post-race and relegated in the race positions, in what is a ridiculous call on the part of the stewards.

Forumla 1 at Disneyland Resort Paris

It's like somebody read my mind decided to put two of my favourite things together! The latest news is that Disneyland Resort Paris is the preferred venue of Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone for the 2010 French Grand Prix. The final shortlist of 4 venues will be released on October 15th - here's hoping!

Though it would be an immensely expensive trip it would be a once in a life time opportunity (unless my lottery numbers come up) to combine a holiday at Disneyland Resort Paris with attending a Formula 1 Grand Prix in person. Throw in a Pirates of the Caribbean 4 premiere and it'd be beyond perfect!

The French Grand Prix is held in June which is the perfect time to visit Disneyland Resort Paris, not that I've been in June! However, off season and nice weather make it a very attractive proposition.