Wonderduck's Pond

November 22, 2017

F1 on NBCSN: Abu Dhabi 2017

So this is it. Race #20 of 20. The last of the season. The last race to be covered by NBCSN and the Legendary Announce Team. The last time we'll see F1 cars without an ugly piece of structure over the cockpit. Perhaps the last time we'll see the well-known F1 logo. The last race of Felipe Massa's career... again. And the last weekend you'll have to listen to me whine moan and complain about Formula 1 for the season. Here's the track map for the 2017 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi:

I've said it before, I'll say it again probably: it looks like a great track to drive on. It's proven, however, to be not so much of a great place for a race. Like so many Tilkedromes, of course. Maybe now that Liberty Media owns F1 (essentially) someone else will get a chance to design a race course? Please?

Weather should be dry and hot, perfect for the Mercs, assuming they're not bolting 2018 test pieces onto their car for race experience. Even then, they'll probably run away and hide. But who knows? Not I, for I am just a humble fan.

Who will be sad when the race is over, for it means that Steve Matchett and David Hobbs will no longer be providing coverage for Formula 1, for the first time since I became a fan in the modern era... 2004. Those two, along with The Varsha and yes, even Leigh Diffey, have been the voice of F1 for me for 13 years. But ESPN is going to go with the international feed and announcers next year, rendering the LAT mute... and moot. So here, for the final time, is the broadcast schedule for the Legendary Announce Team:

Friday

Practice 2: 7a - 830a live on NBCSN

Saturday

Quals: 7a - 830a live on NBCSN

Sunday

2017 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi: 630a - 9a live on NBCSN

All times Pond Central. Accept no substitutes. Coverage of Quals will likely be delayed as Saturday is when I'm going to the Old Home Pond for the Thanksgiving meal.

So there we go. Let's all get ready, shall we?

Posted by: Wonderduck at 09:41 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Do we know what the announce team have lined up after this? Honestly, I genuinely enjoyed listening to their coverage and it added a lot to the sport. I wouldn't mind watching Le Mans or Australian supercross or whatever they end up announcing next, assuming it's not competitive motorized cross-stitch or something...

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at November 22, 2017 11:07 PM (h+ox1)

2 Well, The Varsha routinely works with Fox Sports as part of their more... esoteric... race coverage. He's a big part of their LeMans team, for example.
I think I read somewhere that Hobbs is going to retire back to Milwaukee, help his grandson with his racing career. Consider that "unconfirmed".
Matchett has apparently taken up poetry, just released a book of his writing. I expect he'll end up doing written F1 stuff.
So... no, not really. Just guesses.

Posted by: Wonderduck at November 23, 2017 12:30 AM (EVb8m)

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