James Allen became ITV Sport’s lead commentator on Formula 1 in October 2001, having deputised for Murray Walker at six races during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
During James’ tenure as commentator, ITV’s race coverage won three consecutive BAFTA awards and the Royal Television Society’s Sports Programme of the Year award. In 2008 James and Martin Brundle were presented with an Autosport Award for their dramatic coverage of the final laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix, ITV’s last F1 race. The BAFTA judges also indicated that the commentary on the final laps had been the decisive factor in swinging the BAFTA ITV-F1’s way.
James joined ITV in 1997 as pit lane reporter having fulfilled a similar role on the American sports channel ESPN since 1993. His sharp, often humorous analysis of team’s race strategies and the goings on in the pit lane quickly became a feature of ITV’s coverage.
James was born into a racing family: His father Bill was a works Lotus driver in the 1960s, enjoying success in sportscar events like the Le Mans 24 Hours.
James studied English and modern languages at Oxford University and joined the Brabham team as press officer in 1990. The following year he drew the short straw when the team hired Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell and James was responsible for ensuring them a good press!
He moved into journalism in 1992 as Autosport’s news editor. Two years later he went to America to present Nigel Mansell’s IndyCar 94 on ITV. He was also an F1 pit reporter for American sports network ESPN from 1993-96.
He co-wrote Mansell’s best selling autobiography in 1995 and in 1998 he followed it up with a second book: Michael Schumacher, Driven to Extremes. His biography of Schumacher, The Edge of Greatness was published in 2007 and is considered the definitive book on the seven times world champion. James has also been the F1 correspondent for the Financial Times since 1999.
He lives in North London with his wife Pip and sons Enzo and Emerson. They prefer motocross to F1.
allenonf1.wordpress.com 
James
Excellent commentary at all the races. Well done.
The depth of knowloedge is clear to all when you speak and your enthusiasm brightens up even the most boring of prosessional races.
Only one criticism, stop shouting an extended, “GO” at the begining of every single race please. It’s annoying.
However, not anywhere near as irritating as that TW*T who shouts “CHAMPAAAAAAAAAAAAGNE” during the podium celebrations. Does he think it sounds good or something?
This begs a serious question – he the hell is he and does he get paid to travel to every single race just to shout champange into a micriphone? Hopefully it’s just a recording. Maybe you could arange for it to be lost?
All the best and keep up the good work James.
Tim Coe
p.s. Being north London are you a Gooner or Yid?
James,
Fantastic Blog, great work.
Finally some information on what is actually happening behind the scenes in F1 without all the formality!
This is actually my homepage now! i read this first before going into all the F1 news sites.
Keep up the great work mate.
Regards
Tony
I was shocked not to see Martin teamed up with James Allen again.
There was a sense of ease and camaraderie
between Martin and James that is so obviously missing
now with that new commentator forced onto Martin
With Martin and James commentating on races was like
having two friends talk about a subject they are both
passionate and knowledgeable, connecting with the
audience and to pass on to us their exuberance.
Which makes for a very enjoyably experience for the viewer.
I only hope the beeb comes to their senses,
and gives us back that which never should have been taken away!
James,
Kimi suggested that the relative sector times in the Malaysian GP tell the value of the diffusors–in the relative speed of brawn, toyota, and williams in sector 2.
Have you made anything of this? I’ve read they’re worth 0.3 sec per lap–considerable amount, but nowhere near enough to explain the McLaren/Ferrari gap. I realize there’s knock-on benefits from downforce that showup elsewhere, but I figured you’re best guess is better than most!
Thanks!
Kent
Eagle, Idaho, USA
(yes, someone in Idaho watches F1…)
I’m not sure it’s all about sector 2. The cars just creates a ton of downforce everywhere, which is also why it was so sure footed in the wet.
James, we all want you back on the BBC, your relationship with Martin made races special. I will never forget last years Brazilian GP, an amazing showcase for the sport, not just for the action, but the way Martin and yourself brought it to the viewer with your excitement and knowledge.
We all want you back in the commentary box.
http://www.petitiononline.com/f1legard/petition.html
James, as Im sure Ive said before, love your blog, it is fantastic. I like it so much actually that I really wish there was an equivalent in MotoGP and/or WSBK.
Are any of your fellow journos doing this or anything similar do you know?
I meant to reply to the blog in general, not this response 🙂
Thanks Jake, I’m afraid I have no idea what goes in on Moto GP and WSBK.
I’d like to disagree with Tim, yourself and the grid walker are pure brilliance, legen-dary!
I really do hope you both get the BBC jobs next year since over a number of years your partnership has been witty, informative and exciting – it would be a same to lose a top commentary duo.
Will ITV be doing anything special for the Brazillian GP being its last for the forseable future and what are the network’s plans IF Lewis wins the title?
Kieran
Hi James
Please stop fawning over Lewis Hamilton.
Thanks
Thanks for your feedback. James asked me to pick up the slack while he recovers from post-Shanghai jet lag.
He had problems getting the blogging software to work out there, which is why there is no update from China.
But he will certainly post a response to your feedback soon. Be patient, because he is still getting used to having this conversation going on. Keep well. – F.O.J (friend of James)
James always a delight to listen to you as well as the engines on those special Sunday afternoons. Must confess was attracted to F1 by Murray Walker. Do we have a better successor? Excellent stuff all the time, well done hang in there.
Thank you for entertaining me with your commentries every race weekend.
Pleasure to listen to and have a good one in Brazil!
James, I hope Brazil goes well for you. I assume we won’t be hearing your voice on the BEEB next year and if that’s the case, I will miss your commentary.
I have always enjoyed your commentating and your very obvious enthusiasm for a sport (sic) that sometimes makes it difficult for us all to remain enthusiastic.
Do keep the blog up and I trust your writing and/or your words will be there for us poor, battered F1 followers for a long time to come.
Please stop yakking on about Hamilton please he isnt the god like genius you think he is
James,
please stop going on about Lewis Hamilton, there are 21 other drivers, 3 of them at least faster than him.
Thanks,
Hi James
Just wanted to thank you for the commentary over the past years on ITV.
You had big shoes to fill with Murray retiring and with practice you really made it your own. Big thanks and good luck.
Russ
Hi James, hope you enjoy what will be a exciting end to 2008, hopefully without any stewards having the final say.
Please keep calm if Hamilton wins the title 🙂 one sparta remix is enough although I would be tempted to make part 2 of it 😉
Here’s to a thrilling final at Brazil!
JerseyJH
James, if Lewis wins the championship this weekend, please don’t go crazy like you did when Jenson won in Hungary. That was embarrassing and cringe worthy.
Hi James,
I would just like to say that as a formula 1 fan since 1977 that I have been hugely impressed with your knowledge of the sport. Its strange……you seem to say whats in my head about 2 seconds after. You relate race incidents immediately to previous similar situations and I do the same.
Its not fair to compare you to Murray. Murray is a national treasure, and also the only F1 broadcaster since the beginning so obviously people are going to associate F1 with Murray, therefore you took on a seemingly impossible job, with knowledge, genuine enthusiasm, and a partnership with the brilliant Martin Brundle that easily rivals the one that Murray had with James Hunt.
Its a shame that the ITV-F1 forum was often full of fools only too willing to write silly things about you (and drivers many times), but we all know that negative contributors to forums are in abundance and also ignorant of the subject they are trying to disrupt.
I really hope yourself and Martin join the BBC. British F1 fans are not ready to accept anything less than the best, and you have filled Murrays shoes with honour, shared your highs and lows with us, and Ive never missed a race!
Good luck James. You make a lot of people smile. A wonderful man.
James, I think you have done a brilliant job commentating for f1. I started watching f1 full time in 2001 and for my generation you are the voice of f1. Your books on Michael Schumacher my all time hero are packed full of details that I would never have known about the great man. I really do hope to see you back commentating on f1 in the not so distant future but in the mean time I am so delighted to have found this website in which I will still get to read you’re fantastic reports. Keep up the great work James!
Why are there so many jealous people who slag off Hamlton! – Please face it. There are not 3 drivers who are better than Lewis ‘Faisal’, there are NONE! – If you really think Alonso is better then it took 3 of the final races of 2007 for Hamilton to virtually not score that made Alonso equal on him!
Thanks for your commentary over the years. I for one have always been a fan! If you don’t move to the other side I hope we will see more from you elsewhere.
All the best
MattB
James,
Why does Brundle hate Mark Webber so much? He seems to go deadly silent whenever you give Mark a deserved compliment…. i’ve assumed it’s because Brundle manages Coulthard and one by-product of Webber’s dominance over DC has been that effectively Webber’s forced DC out of F1 and Brundle’s lost that income. Discuss!
Hi James,
Just like to say many thanks for the years of entertainment youve given F1 fans.
Sadly the “minority” led by Sniff Petrol, have been hellbent on destroying your career, and you will be sorely missed next year on the BBC. No offence intended but people will get bored of Legard easily…..
Bring Back James Allen!
Your No 1 fan.
Thank you for commentating these past ten years or so, you have been great to listen to, and actually I think that the comments about you not being popular totally inaccurate. Dont let it get you down, its only a few people complaining for the sake of it. Excellent job! By the way do you think Mark webber will ever make it to be a race winner or a champion? When he came on the scene I felt that he would one day become champion, but he seems to have become despondant with poor results. Anyway tell him to keep his chin up and go for it.
thanks
kris
Melbourne
Space at BBC required. Name of James Allen would be preferred after radio presenters make a hash declaring Massa as champion not realising Hamilton finished 5th, something ITV commentators pointed out with relative ease.
Hi James,
Great commentary this season – and what a season!!!
Have to say, I wasn’t a fan of your commentary initially, to me always you seemed so biased towards Ferrari. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I really hope you and Martin get to keep your jobs’ next year. I think you’re now ‘the voice of F1’ and it’d be a shame to break up such a great team.
Chris
Hi James,
Thanks for your very enthusiastic efforts, in covering every single F1 race for the last 12 years, with ITV.
I too hope the BBC wil take yourself, along with Martin into their new commenting team. If not, I wish you well in what you do in the future.
Regards,
Mick..
James
Echo above really. Enjoyed your commentaries and hope you and MB end up at the Beeb.
Can’t believe the seemingly endless stream of morons on various blogs and the utter rubbish they write about you.
Good luck for the future and hope to see you in the new season.
Dear James,
I Sincerely hope that the BBC change their minds and award you a BBC F1 commentator post.
ps. that was wise, changing your different to’s to different from’s. Good Beeb move!
All the best although I’m sure that you never have cause to read such pointless twiddle,
M. Griffin
Hi James!
Dear James,
I’m Ace from Indonesia.I’ve been watching F1 closely since 2003,and since the local TV broadcaster here takes the commenting from ITV,I got used to your (and Brundle’s) commentary,and I shall tell you,from all the commentators I’ve heard commenting,yours were the most insightful and comprehansive.
2008 season may have ended beautifully.2009 may bring the slick tyres back.But nothing I will miss more than your comments in 2009.Thanks for all the entertainment you have brought to my living room.I’ll certainly miss the shouting “GOOOOO” at the beginning of the Grand Prix.
Best of luck in the years to come James,and please contact BBC to fill in the lead commentator position if it’s possible.Hehe…
Regards,
Ace.
P.S :sorry for the bad english.
I heard james allan back in 2001 and thought its something i cant miss. I wasnt a formula one fan at all but when i watched it on ITV with james it was awesome experience. Since then i never missed a single race. People in my office say you are too much a fan of James Allen. I would like to thak james for the wonderfull work he has done over the lst 8 years. I wat to know from you james wy you guys are leaving F1. Are you continueing commentary of formula 1 from some other channel in 2009? If somebody is not letting you do please start your own channel we will collectively buy your presentation of F1.
Your biggest fan in asia and middle east
thanks
I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your years at ITV F1! I for one have enjoyed your work over the years and hope you continue in F1 for many more!
My wife and i are F1 fanatics. We made a special trip to Singapore this year to see history in the making and still recorded the ITV show so we could listen to your commentating when we got home. I’ve really appreciated you and Martin for being able to appease the hardened F1 fanatics and the newcomers. Not an easy task but you’ve done a great job.
Wishing you well for the future!
James,
Thank you for the great commentary on ITV. Martin and yourself have been superb in commenting on the pinnacle of motor racing, providing equal voice to the match the performance of the sport.
I hope to see you on the BBC with the crew but in the meantime, my biggest thank you and commendation on your unsurpassable work.
James
JAMES WRITES:
Thanks to you all for your kind comments and, to JerseyJH and Clay, I hope that I kept my self control to your satisfation when Lewis won the title!
I took note of what you said before the race. In the end it was very important to be measured in that final lap. It’s easy to make a mistake and call the wrong option in a situation like that and it takes quite a lot of experience to know how to read those moments in a race.
Excellent comentary throughout the year and the other ITV years. I’m looking forward to the covarege going back to the BBC as I think ITV covarege has tried to make to much of a show and not sport out of it (NOT THE COMENTARY) that has been top noch. I just want to know are you going accross?. I think it would be a great shame if you don’t and the BBC would be at a loss.
Kind Regards
Chris
Thankyou so much for the past few years James. I hope you continue to commentate in future seasons, because you and Martin make a brilliant team. I said on the ITV website that ITV have turned me and millions of others on to F1; I was only 11 when F1 first came to ITV and it has grown up with me. I hope you make the move to the BBC, along with Martin and other dedicated members of the ITV team. They would be crazy to lose such a fantastic team.
Every success for the future.
Hi James
Hope you recovered from an amazing weekend and what a race!
I’ve lost my voice and on the final few laps I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I even spilt red wine on a cream carpet with all the excitement (Very thankful for white wine to clean it up).
Well done Lewis, we should all be very proud of him and well done to you on reading the race on those final laps.
Catch you later
Rgds
Howard
James, I have really enjoyed your commentary I will always remember your voice as commentator, for my generation. I can’t see anyone alongside Martin doing such a good job as you, at BBC. Hope to hear you commentate soon. Enjoyed every race both the good and the bad.
Mr Allen, you are a splendid gentleman! I am surprised that some people have the time to post negative comments about you on internet forums – these are probably the same people who lost Russell Brand his job at Radio 2?! Too much time on their hands?…
I have never felt the urge to contribute to a forum such as this, but what the hell!
For what it’s worth, I have enjoyed immensely your efforts behind the microphone in your ITV Formula 1 coverage. I have been a Formula One fan since 1977 (when I was seven years old!). I am not a fan particularly of Lewis Hamilton, more a neutral I would say, but if I had to make a choice then it is Fernando Alonso who really gets the blood flowing for me on a Sunday afternoon. I do however understand the ITV’s somewhat biased coverage these last couple of years of the Formula 1 World Championship and resent it not a bit! Hamilton is a worthy champion in what is essentially a team sport and in my mind, a Schumacher or Alonso in a competitive machine would probably have secured the title a couple or three races back. However, this was not the case and, as such we have enjoyed a nailbiting finale to an entertaining season of racing.
All of us armchair F1 “experts” think we can do a better job than the guys coming out of our TV speakers and that is an intrinsic part of the enjoyment of our sport, but in reality that is complete bollocks!
Long may you continue and now that the Beeb has saved a bit of cash due to the recent well-documented exploits of messrs Ross and Brand I see no reason why you, Martin, Steve, Louise and Ted, along with the rest of your esteemed team, should not be carrying on doing what you do best every other weekend.
All the best for the future to you and your family (if indeed you actually read any of this tosh! Cynical, I know, but as I said I don’t do forums…)
Kind regards,
Iain Angus.
I definately think a thankyou is in order, for some fantastic years of commentary. It’s genuinly refreshing to know that not all commenators are corporate and dull, some are actually genuinly enthusiastic about what they’re reviewing!
Best of wishes for the future.
Hi James.
What can I say, it was a thrilling championship conclusion, a once in a lifetime event I feel. I’m sure you and everyone at ITV enjoyed it and congratulations on the big ratings for you final grand prix.
Good luck in the future James, and thanks for the majority of the past 12 years. 🙂
Best regards
JerseyJH
I think the heart’s beating properly again after that last lap! When racing is that good, it doesn’t matter who wins in my opinion.
Bit of a lump in the throat at the end of the ITV coverage. I only wish they could have found a way of satisfying the advertisers and sponsors without the F1 fans having to miss so much of the action.
Apart from that, I think the coverage has been excellent – even when you’re at the mercy of certain foreign TV producers who think the guy fighting for 17th place is what we want to see! The Beeb are really going to have to go some to match your programmes.
Forget some of the comments on the various forums, they’re strange places inhabited by Escort-driving idiots who really haven’t a clue what they’re talking about. I think you and Martin have made a great commentary team – no-one gets everything right all the time, but you both made it fun to listen.
Good luck whatever you’re doing next season – just keep up with the written stuff please, it’s a pleasure to read!
I’ve been watching this sport since I was 10 years old (since the 2001 season), and I just want to give James the biggest of thankyou’s to him. The BBC would be idiots not to hire you. I watch LOADS of sports on TV, and James Allen is the only sports commentator (along with Brundle) who doesn’t get on my nerves, and that’s a great testament to the man. To me, your the Voice of F1 as I have grown up listening to you. It just seems like yesterday when I was watching my first grand prix – Brazil 2001, James was commentating, and a British guy in a McLaren had success in the rain! What goes around, comes around!
I hope to hear you commentating again very soon, because it’s been a pleasure listening to you these past eight years.
Ragards,
Matthew
James, I just wanted to say that if (as it looks likely) you won’t be following the coverage over to the BBC for next season, I am really going to miss your commentary.
I thought that the ITV coverage was the best free-to-air coverage of F1 anywhere in the world, and a big part of that was your commentary along with Martin.
I have been entertained and informed by your knowledgeable and passionate appreciation of motorsport, be it during your days as a reporter in the CART series in America, your time as the chief pitlane reporter for ITV through to your role as lead commentator following Murray’s retirement.
I really hope that we will get to hear you commentate on F1 again someday, and I join many others here in wishing you all the best for your future endeavours in F1 media.
An appreciative fan,
Richard
No spamming intended, but after becoming sick of all the James bashing, ive set up a James Allen appreciation thread, which id love for you all to join.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47469560725
And James, im still fighting the Allen bashers on Facebook for you mate. Tis not fair.
Whats your plans next season?
Hey thanks for the great coverage of formula 1 you have given us over the past few years. It really has been great and keep on reporting on Formula 1 in the future!! Try and get yourself on the BBC!!
Hello James,
I can’t say I was ever a fan of your style of commentary, however, having reading some of your blog I’ve realised that your real talents lie in writing.
Please keep up the blog, it’s insightful, honest and an interesting read.
All the best for next season.
James, I had left a message on itv-f1.com so just to add here a big thanks for the last few years, you have done an excellent job and hope to hear you again commentating on F1, for now I have subscribed to your site and will visit regularly, best regards
I’m absolutley GUTTED !!! finding out that you won’t be part of the commentary team next year has ruined my day. I think you have done an awesome job over the last few years. My Sundays aren’t going to be same.. Well done and best wishes..
James, would you be interested in doing a Q&A section of the blog?
We, the dirty un-washed public, email you an F1 related question and you answer it?
I am sure you have thousands of great F1 stories from the paddock over the years [ Well, it’s developing a little along those lines already. Posts are certainly influenced as much by your questions as they are by events in the sport. But keep the suggestions coming. We are mulling over the plans for next season right now. – Moderator ]
Hi James,
I think as a commentary you were good, perhaps better than good. Even though Murray had gone a bit mad, his voice, his enthusiasm, his style – he definately left a legacy that would make it difficult for anyone else to follow. Perhaps in years to come the peeps that were mean to you will realise what we’ve lost.
As a writer you are something else! I loved The Edge of Greatness, your columns on the itv site were excellent and always much anticipated. I’ve only just discovered your site here, I’d like to say thank you.
I’d be very interested to know what your plans are for the future and whether keeping this site running features in them. [ There are plans afoot – moderator ]
Good luck and all the best.
Col
Hi James,
Thanks for all your commentary work over the years – your partnership with MB was always informative & entertaining – it’s clear that you’ve had a long relationship with and are an enthusiastic follower of the F1 paddock.
Also enjoyed your writing, both on the ITV site & your Schuey book, which was a pleasant trip down memory lane (Adelaide 94 excepted!).
Sorry to hear you’re not part of the BBC crew – I don’t know much about the new team members but I certainly hope they’re regarded better than that lass who does all the “interviews” for the Red Bull Air Race stuff!
Just a minor suggestion – wouldn’t it be better to post these comments in reverse date order? [ Agreed. as soon as WordPress make it possible – Moderator ] Especially once you get more traffic, it’s going to become harder to keep up with the latest chat…
All the best for next year,
Trevor
russia loves u, James 🙂
Hi James, The blog is great and I really appreciate your insights. However I have one tiny complaint about the layout. The page 1,2… breaks in longer posts are intrusive. Why not just a longer “scroll to read” single page/post? – Plans are afoot to review the website this year. Thank you. – Moderator
Hi James, really enjoyed the last race of 08 and the commentary by Martin and yourself. I was on the edge of my seat, even though it was 5 in the morning and I’d stayed up all night (because of the time difference here in Aus).
After your 7 and a half years of commentary, despite not being your biggest fan, in my opinion you and Martin (and Ted and Lou) provided a quality service picking up on all the little details as well as the major ones which occur during a GP. Many years ago I thought I’d give the ITV commentary the flick and watch it with the SPEED Channel guys. That was very much a 1 race experiment and it was straight back to you and Martin!
After all the races you commentated on, my favourite bit was in 2005 at the Nurburgring after Kimi crashed on the last lap, and you said something like, “I told you they should have pitted, the common sense man said come in, and McLaren have thrown it all away” It was exactly what I was thinking and captured the situation really well!
All the best for 2009 and beyond.
James, you are a decent journalist, but I can’t say I’ll miss all the pro-Lewis comments … It’s no point to deny it, it is so obvious from the last two seasons that you are so biased. Which is fine, but we have a lot more talented and less arrogant drivers to care about. And no, Lewis is not God’s gift to humanity.
No hard feelings
First off let me start by saying how much I’ve enjoyed your commentary over the past eight years. I’ve always found your style a bit easier on the ears than Murray’s, I like that you don’t take it all too seriously and I think you do a good job of explaining some of the more arcane aspects of F1 to fans who may not be familiar.
I’ve been browsing this site recently and I think your carefully selected tidbits and informed speculation could lead it to be something of a hub for informed F1 fans seeking a window into the more secretive side of the sport.
Also, I’d be interested to know what you’ve got lined up for the future. I was disappointed to hear that neither yourself or David Croft would be providing race commentary for the BBC.
Gonna miss you Jimbo, top drawer stuff for the last few years, Murrays shoes are damned hard to fill and you did a stellar job. You’ll be back in the hotseat soon!
Hi James,
Really enjoying reading your blog. Are you going to join Twitter?
I both have enjoyed and been annoyed by your commentary in the past.
You always keep up with the current news and could relay that to the viewer. You brought an enthusiasm and drama to the races. And you were never afraid to correct Martin if he made mistakes about a car or a strategy (everyone’s human and makes them but it’s good to correct them).
I can’t lie and say I enjoyed the last 2 seasons as much. They were a little tainted commentary wise. I think both you and Martin let your love of Lewis get in the way a bit. Back when it was Button, when Honda were banned from 2 races there was no noticable difference in the coverage. It was top notch whether Button was in the race or not. Where as with Lewis it got in the way a bit. Ignoring the other drivers and sector times a little bit too much. Also some other things, like for example, Bahrain 08 with Lewis and Alonso’s collision, or in Fuji when it wasn’t even conceived that Bourdais could be the one penalised instead of Massa as they went into turn 1. I’m not saying that was the correct decision but we all know how the FIA works and it was obvious where they were going with that “investigation”.
My favourite moment of yours was when Button won the Hungary GP. Yeah you were excited but you had every right to be, it was a good race and I watched it again a few weeks ago. As Button crosses the finish line it still makes me laugh, even today. 🙂
Speaking of Hungary, it’d be nice to know why Martin misses the Hungary GP every season. There is a bit of mystery surrounding that, and some whispers and rumours but no solid answers.
Looking forward to the new season. I have to say fair play (I’m from Dublin) to you for getting on with your web site. Its brilliant. It’s right on the pulse of what we need to know. I thank you for this new insight into the world that you have access to and I have would like to have more access to (hopefully now if FOTA’s plans go ahead I will). I just wanted to say a big congrats and I look forward to following you through-out the season. I’m not sure how many people are that interested in the constant changes in the Business called F1 but I’m glad to say I am. I started following F1 after watching Schumacher drive to victory in Spain in the heavy rain (I think the last Spanish GP on the BBC??? in 95 I think). After that onto ITV and with you in the pit lane. ~Anyway, keep up the great work… Steve.
James, as Facebook is sooooooo popular.. are you doing any pages on that?
cheers [ Once Facebook has bedded down the new stream-friendly (a-la-Twitter) home pages, we might review it when the season kicks off – Moderator ]
For the record … it’s your voice that plays the soundtrack to all my best F1 memories … most of my friends I know who watch F1 … in Kenya and the UK are huge fans of yours … and I think even more people will miss your voice when the new season kicks off…wait and see.
This blog is brilliant as well… I check it religiously everyday… It’s your voice that commented on MS’s amazing 2004 campaign… FA’s first and second championship… the Lewis phenomena… MS’s epic final season and eventual retirement…
I remember once my brother and I even resorted streaming the ITV F1 programme off the net for a couple of races because we felt that the commentary provided by ESPN in India…just wasn’t up to par … anyway… just wanted to wish you all the best and keep up the good work.
For the 15 years of F1 TV’s translations in Russia I’m looking for every GP race and read about F1. I think you are the one of top writers. And I like your articles for open view point for situation at all and your tolerance.
Its really sad I can’t watch F1 with your voice.
PS: Also as I want to see DC career as TV commentator. Hope he will really good and proud as he is. What do you think about it?
Thanks for your creativity work!
I was a little disappointed the BBC couldn’t persuade you to join their team for the 2009 season. The only down side of ITVs years were the ad-breaks, so I was hoping with the move to a non-commercial channel we’d have more of the same with less of the interruptions.
I’m sure Martin will be a great job and I’m glad to see Murray is back for the Beeb’s on-line coverage, but I do hope we see you back where you had begun to look so comfortable and genuinely informative soon.
Glad to have found you are at least a fellow wordpress blogger. Lewis for the double?
James, I’ve always been a fan of your spoken and written word. I am dismayed that I won’t be hearing you commentating this year. JA.F1 has become my first stop on firing up the computer each day and I have particularly enjoyed your insights into the recent tests.
So the question is – and pardon me if I am the only person not to know the answer to this – will you be at the races during 2009? Will your words appear only on JA.F1, or will you be syndicated somewhere else as well?
In all honesty I was never a huge fan of your ITV commentary- but your new website is a revelation in F1 broadcasting. Some really insightful comments on here, and I look forward to reading your comments and analysis over the rest of the season.
Keep up the good work!
You said on your website to watch this space for your news of what you will be doing for 2009? Did I miss it?
Like the inside news – very interesting.
Hi James,
What are you up to this season? Is it just the FT or will you be popping up elseware?
Cheers
Danny
James, where are you? In Oz this weekend? We need you to be there, giving us your terrific insights!! [ JA is on his way South – Moderator ]
It’s a shame we will not be hearing your voice on the F1 commentary. You may have your detractors, but I for one think you are great and hope that we will soon be hearing your voice again.
As far as I am concerned, the award you an Martin won for Brazil commetary alone shows that the bar is very high for the new BBC team to measure up to.
You will be missed. All the best
As the opening race approaches, it’s a shame you won’t be commentating.
I thought you did a great job and provided such valuable insight (and corrected Martin on so many occassions I’m left wondering why he got the role over you!!).
You’ll be missed but keep up the fantastic work on the website and let us know how you’ll be covering the races this seaons.
Cheers.
I’m very excited the new season is starting soon, but I am actually in mourning over the loss of your commentary! There must be a way to kidnap the new guy next to Martin and regain your rightful role?
BBC were wrong to replace you as commentator. You’re a massive loss. The coverage on qualifying this morhning was rubbish and your replacement is boring and unenthusiastic. Bring James Allen back is what I say!
completely agreed
Damn right Ben. Hearing Martin and this Leg-warmer bloke talking over each other was frustrating beyond belief. What I am most worried about is, whos going to shout “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”?
If we all do it ourselves that should do the trick. Still, I get the feeling Leggard will be back on 5Live before too long. And someone shoot that anchor. Loving the DC/EJ stuff though!
JA and MB had a real rapport that was missing from MB and John Legard. And the criticisms leveled at JA were usually about him asking questions of MB that were simplisitc but the ctiticisms failed to acknowledge JA probably knows more than anyone out there! You have to engage people at all levels, not just the tech-heads and petrol-heads.
Get JA back in the box!
James – If rights issues allow, why not do your own commentary and put it on the web? That way we could have the BBC pictures and your commentary. I’d even pay a bit for it; I suspect I’m not alone in that.
The BBC have clearly made a balls up – amateurish presenters, no BBC shirts or set for the pundits, JL not up to the task of TV commentary, etc. Like Brawn you could steal a march here James – go for it!
I missed you today from f1, i think the bbc should have picked you up but am glad to see you still writing on itv f1.
I have been a regular viewer of the F1 coverage coming out of Britain through it being carried on Canada’s TSN sports channel. Although I have been exasperated quite a few times by boredom on the track (lack of overtaking) and politics off the track (favouritism towards Ferrari, illogical steward rulings, etc.), the brilliance of James Allen and Martin Brundle still kept me coming back for more. Not having been in the know of the recent changes re British F1 coverage, it was a huge let-down for me not to find James and Martin in the driver’s seat of the commentator box for the 2009 season opener. I spent most of the race trying to catch up with news of the switch from ITV to BBC and the change of the commentator line-up instead of watching the race. Based on the parts of the race I actually watched, I have to say that the current commentator line-up is like an F1 car put on wood wheels. (Martin Brundle, of course, is the F1 car.) – Thank you very much, James, for the excellent reporting over the past years!! I thoroughly enjoyed your commentary on TV and I relished your analysis on itv-f1.com. (The latter of the two, I understand, is still around.) Other than that, I can only hope that the powers-that-be at BBC will do some rethinking…
Over here in Canada we seemed to be unaware of the change from ITV to BBC. Imagine my shock this morning when you weren’t on the coverage of the Melbourne Race. A quick scramble to the Internet and we discovered what had happened.
Wanted to let you know that we missed you this morning. Today’s coverage lacked a certain enthusiasm. Martin did his best – but there was a definite hole.
Sincerely
Jacqui
Toronto Canada
Bring back the cock all is forgiven! [ Order! Order! Watch the fowl language, son … – Moderator ]
sorry to say this james but i missed you comentry style on sunday satuday i wasnt sure but sunday sealed the deal,WE NEED YOU BACK
How do we get in touch with the BBC and tell them to hire you alongside Marting Brundle?!
Jonathon Leggard was shocking… Really bad! Martin Brundle really didn’t look comforatble stood next to him in the commentary box when the did a couple of TV clips from there.
We need someone who knows what they’re talking about, and can actually do the job… i.e. you!
Seriously, how do we get in touch with the BBC to complain?
no offence to the current line up but you and martin sort of thrived off each other in years gone by, on sunday i thought the comentry nearly came to a stop with lengthy pauses only for martin to restart it :o), it seems like a lenthy relationship when it ends you dont know what you’ve lost till its gone! on a lighter note loving the site james, your insight into F1 is definately from a fans point of view but not biased, which is nice, you ever going to add a forum onto this site? just a thought.
The current line up (with exception to Brundle and maybe DC and Jake Humphrey) is shocking. The commentary by Jonathon Leggard was awful!!!
James you have to come back and commentate besides Martin – you are missed!!
To complain to the BBC, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints
James – we miss your passion, enthusiasm, knowledge. F1 is certainly not the same!
James and the whole ITV team – we miss you. The BBC coverage was shockingly bad – no sense of build up to the race and terrible during EXCEPT Ted and Martin of course. Great blog btw.
It’s a real pity you’re not there at the BBC James, while some may argue that your voice was not particularly ear-friendly, at least you knew what you were talking about and that’s the crucial thing for any commentator.
I’ve never taken an exception to a commentator until Jonathon Legard came along. He hasn’t grasped the art of commentating for TV instead of radio and therefore always states the blindingly obvious.
But most critically of all he’s never given the impression that he knows what he’s talking about, not to mention the unforgivable comment that he made in Oz where he said Button was going for his first win.
Please come back James, we need an enthusiast alongside Martin!
I’m so pleased that you’re continuing to update your blog. I was hugely dissapointed that you weren’t taken on by BBC to continue your outstanding commentary.
I believe you were a victim of politics rather than ability. With BBC taking Martin I got the impression that they didn’t want to take you too as it’d lessen their s’posed impact on the ‘new Beeb’ F1.
Sadly your intellectual insights are missed. And i’m sure Martin misses you too.
People did used to critisize you over the internet. That was because you often said what you though. The same characteristics that made people love Murray.
My father has always spoke of just how much of a nice chap you are. My father is Chris Whyte previous CEO of F1 News magazine. We were only talking today of how much you’re missed.
I really do hope that the BBC swallow their pride and we can see you back where you belong again soon!
Failing this i’ll reguarly check your blog and enjoy your insights.
Keep up the greatness.
James,
Must agree with many of the comments. Whilst you had a technical mind, you made F1 accessible to people like me – I don’t know the ins and outs – but listening to your commentary always certainly helped me to “get” what I need to “get”.
Not a very big fan of much of BBC’s Sports output, mainly because of their blazé and almost too relaxed to care approach – didn’t like Legard, and as much as I like to think I’ll warm to him, I don’t think I will – which is a shame.
Didn’t realise as many as 12.5m UK viewers saw your ITV F1 finale!!!! Unbelievable figures!
the first piece of commentry james legard said for bbc was “this is formula LON”!!!! he couldn’t even get the name correct
during qualifying he was making mistakes and kept talking over brundell. He was using phrases like “turn 2, into turn 3, now trun 4, fast around turn5” – this is not F1 COMMENTRY at its best 🙂
but when it came to the race, he did very well and was very good
but james allen was a great commentator and after watching j.legard mess up in qaulifying, i wanted james back.
Hey James,
Love the Blog and your books. Didn’t like your British biased ITV commentary most of the time (to put it mildly) but really enjoy this blog (most free websites seem to just publish superficial press release type stories).
Anyway, keep up the good work.
PS: don’t you posters slagging off the BBC commentary team see any parallels with what happened to James over the years (via Sniff Petrol, etc)? Just seems funny to see people complain about the treatment James recieved and then go on to do the same thing to Legard (who I actually though was OK).
Hi James,
I wasn’t a fan of yours on ITV. Alongside Brundle seen as the expert is a tough act to follow with his knowledge and sharp wit and there will always be comparisons. I suppose the ‘Sniff Petrol’ brigade didn’t help your cause either with their pretty unkind remarks.
The blog though is tremendous as are the Twitter updates as well. It gives a real insider feel to the weekend and you write from a fans perspective getting inside info which I think is unique in F1 journalism. I loved the bit about going to dinner with McLaren after the suspension of Davey. Real tension.
Keep it up James (the new Roebuck?). It’s riveting reading!
Good week/Bad week had me in stitches. The only item with which I can’t fully agree is your comment about Mr Whitmarsh.
Methinks he’s history.
Can’t help, though, getting a picture of Max Mosley as Dr. Hannibal Lecter out of my head, with him dreaming of having Ron’s head served up on the 29th.
James
Please please please come back to our TV screens!!! Get JL out and JA back in!!
Thanks for the years of great veiwing
Craig
Hey James Allen,..
I love your comments, the in detail information and articles about formula 1!-without people like you!,.formula 1 would be alittle bit boring thats for sure!-i have your website in my favorites on both my laptop and pc:)
With Bharain coming tommorow!-am certainly excited!0-am definately looking forward to James Allen’s verdict on the itv site-i looove it-and always enjoy reading it hoping it can go on and on hehe-you should make the verdict articles much more longer thats for sure!
I havent seen you much on Tv-or even on the races!-we should see more of you than that young kid blake[bbc presenter!!]he’s too young to teach us anything about F1 and he’s knowlegde about F1 isnt as sharp or creative as yours!!-it pains me to say this-but i miss you on tv!!!!come back James Allen-why would BBC choose blake over you!!am very puzzled!!
We need amature and intelligent man like you James to run the bbc F1 presentation,..it would be atreat to have you presenting it thats for sure>
Keep intouch
Please!-keep those articles coming through-
Great fan Arthur
James, I just wanted to let you know that I am really miss ing your commentary this year. Your amazing knowledge of the sport really added so much to the races. Your almost boyish enthusiasm was totally infectious and absolutely genuine. You and Martin made such a great team it is such a shame that we have lost your contribution.
I have been re-playing the 2007 and 2008 races and comparing the commentary with what we have now and it’s depressing just how bad it is now. If you ever make it back to the mike – and I hope you do please promise never to say FROM ie it’s Vetel from Webber from Button from Barrichello.
I suppose that when you don’t have any knowledge of the sport you are commentating on you have no option but to continually describe the on-screen action and repeatedly list the driver positions like it’s radio.
It’s so distracting it spoils the race. Please come back James! Tell the BBC you’ll do it for nothing – I’ll send you a cheque each month!
James,
Absolutely fantastic blog, definitely now the authority on F1 thought leadership and certainly destined to become massively popular in an age where people want informed commentary but aren’t going to pay £4 for a glossy F1 magazine.
Cheers & thanks again for an amazing blog!
Mark.
Dear James,
Up to this date i am still amazed of you commentary when Hamilton passed Glock on the Brazlian GP “A hundred thousand local hearts sink on the grandstand…” in the heat of that moment to think and say those words was sublime.
As you certainly know Peter Windsor is beggining his adventure with USF1 and although nothing has been said, i think it will be difficult for him to keep commentating for Speed TV, i realy enjoyed the conversations, specially the technical ones between him and Steve Matchett. Have you been approched or will you like to be contacted by them???
Congratulations again on your blog, news are always fresh, without biass and written for every tipe of Formula 1 fan. Keep it Going!!
James,
Got the link to this site from Sally B. She said that it was really terrific and it is. I will keep an eye on this from now on. I really miss your commentating and hope you land a job doing that again. You are really one of the best there is out there. Take care.
James,
Now fairs fair I have been fairly critical of your commentating in the past so I won’t be a hypocrite and claim to have always been a fan. However, since your departure from F1 commentary, and the BBC’s introduction of Legard it has been somewhat of an awakening for most people as to the reality of the job you were doing. Your passion for F1, and in particular British drivers and teams was beautiful – I’m especially reminded of JB’s win at Hungary (get in there!) and the wonderful line ‘the minute a hundred thousand local hearts sink in the grandstand’ as LW became champion – wonderful!! I wonder now why so many of us overlooked this at the time but then I guess you really don’t know what you’ve got till its gone…
Well I’ve joined the campaign and signed the petition now lets please replace the appalling JL before the end of the season, and get you back where you belong, going nuts as Jenson becomes 2009 champion (please, please!!)
If the BBC refuse to see sensehow about an indepedent JA commentary on-line? I think you’d get a lot of interest I really do.
Regards,
Pete
James,
I’m a big fan of your blog – insightful, passionate and different from everything else online.
In the wake of all the public politics in F1 of late, I wonder if I could ask your thoughts about adjustable wings. There’s been a lot of talk of KERS, of slicks and diffusers, yet this was the technology that was meant to help drivers get closer to the car ahead this season and I wondered what the consensus is. Has it made any difference? What do the drivers think? And if there was one thing you could introduce / ban to encourage overtaking, what would it be?
Cheers,
Julian
I’ve not heard the drivers say much about adjustable wings. Last driver I spoke to on that was Alonso and he said it made no difference. The ultra effieciant diffusers have made it more difficult than before apparently, but there may be some politics in taking that view.
To improve overtaking you need slow corners onto long straights with slow, wide corners at the end. We always have passing at Bahrain, Shanghai etc
I believe that next year they can be operated independently of each other thus helping cornering or braking.
The range of movement is also doubled and with a little lateral reading of the rules they can be made into air brakes.
Hey James, I heard that you’ve started doing the press conferences in place of Peter Windsor. Is this true? 😀
Hi James,
Nice to see you back on our TV’s (well your voice that is). Shame the BBC didn’t leave the tv comentry alone as you and Brundle came across so fluidly… something we AREN’T seeing at the moment.
Keep it up and all of you ITV F1 featues they are really though prevoking and always an excelent read whether before or after a race weekend.
Ed.
by the way i ment to add now that you voice the press confrence… if lewis hamilton gets into it this year remeber there are 2 other drivers in there with him. LOL!
Hi James, Im liking the blogs here.
Your enthusiastic commentary has been missed.
Id like to ask if you have been a fan of the new regulations or if you think that they have done too much to change the cars.
I think they should have just brought in slick tyres and gotten rid of those extra wings all over the cars and thats all.
James,
I am desperately hoping you may be able to raise the following issue with those that count, despite it’s controversial nature.
I would like to register my strong disappointment at the unneccesarily rigorous way that the FOM chooses to pursue members of the F1 fan community who seek to watch historical footage of Grand Prix racing through video sharing sites such as YouTube. While I understand the logic in controlling the distribution of recent race vision, the removal of older telecasts is frustratingly short-sighted and appears to achieve nothing other than alienation of those who have highest level of passion for the sport.
Once again I find myself stunned at the archaic thinking by those who could harness the amazing technology available to reward those with an unquenchable thirst for this sport. It is the greatest of ironies that a sport that prides itself on a technological focus can be so trapped in an old-school approach.
Perhaps a day will soon dawn where this hopelessly outdated strategy will be consigned to the waste bin, and that the FOM will realise that the resources spent trying to remove twenty year old footage from the web is better spent delivering an improved product to the long suffering fans. Surely someone within the FOM, somewhere, can see the bigger picture.
Can you help?
It could be significant that one of the backers of USF1 team is a founder of You Tube. These things don’t usually happen by accident and as you say FOM find themselves asking You Tube to take things down on a regular basis. They are the rights holders and the Premier League is in the same boat. Maybe with You Tube now being on the inside of the F1 tent a new strategy for this will be developed.