91Èȱ¬

Great blog as usual!! Really loving hearing all about the adventures of you and the team!

Is the 91Èȱ¬ the host broadcaster for this event? Does that mean you will be able to bring additional features/coverage? We haven't seen much of the side-by-side comparison of cars this year, which I thought was supposed to be a new feature?

One thing I've always wanted to see is the control room - I'd love to see how the director/editor/whoever controls what we the viewers see on the official broadcast and how he does things like follow one car round a lap from the 15 different cameras I'm sure they have to join together.

Just an idea - I know I'd love to see it, I'm sure others would too!

Enjoy the weekend - I'm sure it will be great!

Rik

I am eargerly anticipating the grand prix this weekend. I imagine it will be an emotional occasion for many people who have a speical place in their heart for the ciruit. Lets hope the race is a memorable one for Silverstone to sign off with.

I hope Rubens Barrichello can break his duck and grab his first win of the season. However the Silverstone fairytale would be complete if Button could add his name to the long list of past british winners.

Thanks for the blog. The balloon footage at dawn should look spectacular. Well done 91Èȱ¬ for another innovative idea for coverage of the race. Roll on Sunday.

Absolutely loving your blog Jake - do you have to pinch yourself every morning to check this is really happening? What a life - I bet Harriet has a hard time coming to terms with your new jetset lifestyle? Thanks for the great coverage and for asking the questions I would want to ask if I were in your position - a positon I must say which is the envy of many. My pal is also hooked which is amazing since up until this season he dismissed F1 as boring and not even worthy of being called a sport. The 91Èȱ¬ and in particular the frankly hilarious banter between yourself, EJ and DC is TV gold - looking forward to anotherr exiting race this weekend and I hope you manage to avoid getting run over in the pit lane this time!!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Hey great blog. Its a fab build up to what will hopefully be a brilliant weekend. Hopefully Jenson wins and Hamilton follows close by.

I am loving the show and every weekend has been a plaesure to watch and seeing behind the scenes is a great bonus that we have not had in previous years.

I look forward to a great weekend and DC's newest pink shirt. Should be brill.

Another top notch blog Jake. You don't half get some amazing jobs to do,I'm sure this weekends coverage will make up for the fact I couldn't get tickets this year... well at least any in my price range being a student, also on a sidenote If EJ or DC need to be replaced one weekend don't be affraid to look me up :D Roll on the weekend!!

oops, got modded. my goodness, Jake, i thought it couldn't get any better after you driving with Lewis and Jenson, and now you're up in a hot air balloon! you are the jammiest guy ever :) and I never got to go to St John's Ball and I went to Cambridge!

Hi Jake

Thanks for another great blog. I'm really enjoying following your adventures. Your blogs have very quickly become something I look forward to.

This weekends race should be something really special. I hope Jenson wins as it would be a fitting farewell to a special circuit. I've never been to Silverstone for an F1 race but have been there for the touring cars. That was a great experience.

I'll be glued to the TV on Sunday. Can't make Saturday as I'm working :-( It'll be good to see your laps with Jenson & Lewis and now this spectacular balloon ride.

Good luck to the whole crew for this weekends coverage and good luck too to Jenson & Lewis.

Take care,
Julie

I'm still laughing at EJ's quote: "I need breakfast, I've just been up in a balloon." Classic!

Stop teasing us, Jake, let's see some photos of the circuit from the balloon?

Yet another brilliant blog Jake.

You've really got the knack for this stuff. Your stories and experiences make a lot of the fans here who read it feel very 'involved' - and that's a special ability.

Can't wait for the weekend to begin, here's hoping some rain could spice up the race and help Lewis towards some points :-)

Dossan in #1, there are no local host broadcasters anymore as all the races, except Monaco and Japan, are produced by Bernie Ecclestones' FOM TV. The details are on Wikipedia.

I love the schoolboy enthusiasm Jake. That picture with the ketchup is another classic!!!

Result! I knew the obsessive clicking on the RSS feed would eventually pay dividends, I've been waiting for a new blog all week!

Sadly I am in New York, and haven't seen the 91Èȱ¬ coverage since Malaysia. :( I'm telling you right now, SpeedTV could learn a thing or two from good old Aunty Beeb! And what's even worse is that Fox are showing the next three races, as they did the last one, and they're not on until 3pm here! Have you any idea how hard it is not to find out the results between waking and the middle of the afternoon?! Especially this weekend, the biggest F1 weekend for Brits.

Rant over. I have a very good friend back home in Blighty who has committed all the races so far to the wonders of modern technology, and I shall feast on all the 91Èȱ¬ coverage when I return in July.

I cannot wait to see your hot air balloon escapades, nor your interview with poor Piquet Jr. whom I feel is having a rather torrid time in F1. I hope you get him to open up a bit so the fans can get to know him. Another excellent blog, Jake. Truly the highlight of my week. EJ is a man after my own heart; the first thing I shall do on my return is seek out a full English!

I just know the 91Èȱ¬ team will make this a weekend for the fans to remember. We all adore Silverstone, but I think you know that already.

Cool Blog Jake,

WOW! what a bizzare week for you Jake, but from reading that it sounds like you loved it!

Looks like you all had a lot of fun in the hot-air balloon, loving the pics!
The Full English Breakfast looks like the one I had a work lol and it looks tasty.

It would be good to see the piece at the weekend and im so happy I do not have work.

Enjoy the Weekend and I will be watching all the way!, and remember to take your camera lol

Keep Up Fantastic Work!

Jon

Brilliant stuff as usual! with all the glamour and money involved in F1 it's really great to hear about the day to day stuff that you all get up to. (like eating breakfast!) It just adds to the 'one of us' feeling we get from you and the team. EJ is such a laugh and it was a stroke of genius getting him on board. The 91Èȱ¬ is doing a wonderful job with the F1 coverage, the 'non-race day' stuff adding brilliantly to the coverage all round. Any chance of getting Johnny Herbert around for some chat over the Silverstone weekend? He's always seems like a nice bloke.

anyway, have fun over the weekend... I wish I could be there.

A classic blog. EJ saying "I need breakfast, I've just been in a balloon" was quality and it sounded like a cracking start to the day.

Not only do you get to present coverage of the final British GP at Silverstone, you also get to go up in a hot air balloon. If you weren't such a likeable guy I'd be extremely jealous!

Loving this coverage Jake (and friends!).

ITV's was always particularly soul destroying so Rosenthal and Ryder etc wouldn't have taken a lot of beating but the whole thing is done so well now. The level of interactivity has added a whole new dimension to it. Thanks guys, keep it up!

More Excellent insights Jake, I do love reading the blogs!

Looking forward to the weekend, can't make it to Silverstone unfortunately but hoping to get to Donnington Next year...

Great blog. Will that EJ picture with the balloon make your F1 christmas card montage?

Did you lose a sausage as well when you had breakfast? EJ seemed quite keen.

It's great to see how you prepare the show. Keep up the great coverage.

Hi Jake
I live in Silverstone village and the Grand Prix weekend is always a great atmosphere - any chance you guys will be finding your way to the White Horse in the village to share the inside stories over a pint?

I'm the one standing at the bar wearing a pink carnation and carrying a newspaper.....

I won't see the opening as I'm off at 5:00am to Silverstone for qualifying itself, yes! Great blog per norm.

Ahh Jake great pics the Air Balloon idea was great cannot wait to see it on the TV. Just picked up my tickest this afternoon, there all three days had to be done. Thanks to a lovely wife for the suprise. Looking forward to a great weekend, will catch up with the 91Èȱ¬ commentory when I get back on Sunday Evening. Hope you have a cracking time mate, eveyone else to. Come oooon Jenson!

"I need breakfast, I've just been up in a balloon" EJ is a legend!

Enjoy the race weekend. I can't wait.

Pink shirts at the ready everyone

Yet another top notch blog Mr H! Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences...they do help widen the whole scene and bring a great perspective to your life in F1. What a job!

Looking forward to hearing the next installment of your backstage shenanegins from the final (possibly?!) Silverstone F1 meet.

Agree with Dossan's earlier post, could we see inside the trucks and the big old 'brand centres' at some stage please.

Enjoy your weekend!

Oh what a couple of weeks you have had, and now a hot air ballon ride with EJ as well. This is going to be a cracking weekend especially with all your filming in it as well.

So so jealous

Enjoy your weekend, can't wait for your next blog

Amanda

Excellent blog again Jake, im starting out at 5am on Friday morning for the weekend stay at SS. I cant wait for what will be an emotionally charged atmosphere and im so looking forward to the race. I know that i will be disapointed with the result ( im a McLaren fan so you know what i mean) but i suppose it would be a fitting end for SS if Jenson could do the business for Britain. I got my Sky+ box on record for Sat & Sun to re watch everything when i get back on Sun night. Have a good one and im looking forward to your blog afterwards.

cheers Carl

Just want to say that your blog is fantastic Jake! Keep it up!

Cheers,
Sean

Another great blog entry Jake, and a very entertaining one at that! Really looking forward to the F1 this weekend, for a change I won't be working and therefore can see the race live. :) Hopefully it won't be the Silverstone procession we've seen in recent years (bar 2003 + 2008).

I love the blog and the tweets. Thanks so much as it brings the GP events to life down here in NZ.

I was in London while the turkish Gp as on and managed to catch the 91Èȱ¬ coverage. we don't get any pre-race coverage in NZ. Any idea where I can watch that part online? It's an awsome show.

Thanks,

Andrew

Jake i want you job, lets hope the british drivers have a great weekend and Jensons dream season continues with another win. Looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere when i arrive at Silverstone late tomorrow night.

Look its 9.01 on friday morning and one of the biggest stories to hit F1 has happend and all we have on this site is one piece and a phono ( from yesterday ) , considering the might of the 91Èȱ¬ this is really not good enough.....sorry to rant but come on ........

Hi Jake. Glad you enjoyed your balloon flight on thursday morning.
I was the ground crew on that flight. EJ seems great fun to work with. You are doing a great job at presenting the lead up to each race and long may it continue. Im looking forward to the race as its my first time at the track along with my 10 year old son. Keep up the good work. Has Eddie finished eating yet.

just watch the mosley interview,
I thought your summaries were very good, even though max said a couple of times you have misunderstood me. I do not beleive you did, I think he did not listen to you, as he basically repeated your summary again. By the way you are an excellent interviewer
How do I feel? I wish they would stop throwing their dummies out the pram and get on with the sport I love and not make a mockery of it. I am finding this time so sad, we should be celebrating Button and Brawn and not worring will there be a F1 championship this time next year )-:

Amanda
(kordith)

Jake,

Fantastic blog as usual, what a great insight into the life of an F1 'pundit' :)

Even more excellent interview, you asked all the right questions, in the right way, and made some good points to Max. It is such a shame that this row is overshadowing what has been the most exciting season for several years.

Jake - definately met you on tuesday night, but, "security"?....if thats what you call watching your cousin holding up a security barrier, while you try to get him dristracted and dancing to calvin harris.

amazing night, if a little bit odd to meet you there of all places?!

I've just watched the Max Mosley interview......very very interesting. Man, I so glad we have you this year, keep up the great work we all appreciate it.

Hey, Just seen the edited version of Jake's interview with Max. WOW Dynamite interview. Can't believe Max would call these people "loonies"! Way to go Jake! Keep up the good work!

P.S My husband thinks David should have his own show!

so, Max thinks the teams are loonies and Bernie thinks the drivers are stupid? No wonder the teams aren't happy with the governance of the sport! The teams can't get rid of Max, but surely the FIA must be losing confidence is his ability to handle them.

I get paid by the 91Èȱ¬ to say that Jake Humpreys is brilliant.

Great blog jake, this feature is something that i never fail to miss. Like comment #1 i too would like to see a feature at some point in the future about how we get the great pictures each weekend from FOM, i would like to know how on earth they can not miss a single thing on the track... there would surley have to be hundreds of them???

The 91Èȱ¬ coverage has only improved over the course of the year... and even legard is becoming more bareable, although your 5 live comentators are supurb and if it wasn't for brundle i would switch to them.... i am sure i am not alone.

Hi Jake,
loving your blogs.

On the preview of the British Grand Prix, the video montage does not include either John Watson (1981 winner for McLaren) or Johnny Herbert.

I know John is at the British Grand Prix this weekend, please could you feature him in your interviews on Race day....the research for the "home" British GP winmners wasn't very thorough if these 2 drivers are forgotten about :-(

Cheers
Michael

Morning Jake
Love hearing about all that goes on behind the scenes!!
Looking forward to the opening of the show today....
Cheers

Morning Jake,

Great blog. The breakfast looked very nice.

Looking forward to the race and lets hope everythings sorted out for next years event.

Just finished watching the silverstone GP coverage. Have to say, best coverage I have ever seen, and I've not missed a single race since 1968! ( well, just 2, honestly). I believe i've posted before to the effect that it's not too much of a surprise that EJ and DC are excellent, and of course MB is deservedly renowned, but I continue to be amazed by you, Jake, you make it look so easy, and of course its not at all!. You are consistently knowlegdeable, concise and entertaining throughout. Your interviews with Mosely and Ecclestone were masterpieces!. (I can forgive you for stepping out into the path of a car in the Istanbul pit lane..oops).
I have been to silverstone loads of times, and this year I'm glad i stayed at home. The 91Èȱ¬ coverage caught the drama, axcitement and sense of occasion just perfectly. Surely a bafta or two will be coming your way soon, if not, there's no justice.
Cheers
Iain McGregor
Glasgow

jake, you lot were stars in the reasonably priced car on top gear, do you really think it was michael schumacher, or it that just a stunt?! surely one of you would have suspected if it was him after all!

jake thort the whole show was brilliant you couldnt get some to find the music for the opening montage on silverstone

On the eveof the British Grand Prix I watched 91Èȱ¬ 4 excellent documentary on three legends of the Formula 1 stage,they were known as the three muskateers.Jim Clark Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill.No Bernie Ecclestone no Max Moseley motor racing was the name of the game winning was everything.Money was nice but getting their hands on the World Championship meant alot more.For Ken Tyrell and Colin Chapman we have Ross Brawn and Adrian Newey.This year will be played out by Brawn and Newey and to a certain extent the drivers will have a back seat although their importance should't be overlooked.The designers and technicians will be scratching their petrol heads to produce a car with the right balance the speed and reliability.Take Hamilton out of a competitive car.take Button out of a competitive car and take Vettel out of a competitive car and winning races is not an option.Schumacher may have been the exception to the rule perhaps but with rule changes weather conditions just like at Silverstone winners change.Vettel will have all Germany rooting for him at his home Grand Prix Red Bull are on a mission who said Button had it sewn up.Bernie knows you know he is a bit like that Ronaldo fella gives you a knowing wink dives under important questions likes being centre of attraction and commands a hefty sum.

Hi Jake,

Fantastic Blog as usual, you guys at the 91Èȱ¬ are doing a fantastic job with the F1 coverage, it really does stand head and shoulders above everything else that has been done before (loving the red button facility for practice sessions and the forum)!

Keep up the great work!

Thank you

During Sundays show you kept making comments about mclaren drivers working out in the simulator. Why is there still this big secret about this simulator, i worked on it 3- 4 years ago and i would have thought most teams would have built one like it by now.

Yes it is an amazing piece of kit as i am sure David has told you, but i cannot believe ferrari have not got one by now. After all Kimi did use the mclaren one even if he did not like it. Or is it still that the teams know its there but don't know how it works.

By the way great show glad to see it back on The 91Èȱ¬.

Hi jake
Great job your doing presenting the F1.
Just wanted to tell you of a picture i have of you at silverstone on the track just before you went live, your looking up over to the grandstand waving at us and i have to say you have the most nervous smile on your face! Whenever myself and my six year old son look through our pics he always laughs at that one.
To be honest i think he got more excited seeing you doing your pre race report than the drivers and the cars!
rob

Hi Jake, 91Èȱ¬ did F1 fans a favour by securing the broadcasting from ITV, please do us another favour by leaving the programme. We need someone with more f1 PASSION - sorry mate but you show no passion for F1 whatsoever.
Regards, Weejohn