F1With BBC An Uneasy Partnership JohnWatson


"When I domybroadcasting, I still approach it the same way I would have done if I was a racing driver. I still realise I have an opportunity, which is not dangerous, but there are dangers, and the dangers come from doing a poor job or being unprepared, or being casual or dismissive about it. "When James Hunt joined the commentary team, I know that Murray was very


concerned and thought this was the slippery slope. For the BBC anybody over 40 was old and Murray was considerably over 40. But I think Murray realised very quickly, and I'm sure the BBC did as well, that James did not have the same appreciation of having the opportunity to broadcast around the worldonGrandsPrix. "James had a totally contradictory attitude, as well as approach, to the job. I know


that irked Murray considerably because he didn't respect that kind of attitude to the job that he was doing. There were occasions when James turned up at the commentary booth and he wasn't as coherent as he ought to have been.”


"I've shown similar shots of two very different cars here to demonstrate that one team's wind tunnel results in a given year will be much the same as another's. At the top, Alain Prost's Driver's Championship-winning McLaren TAG with below Keke Rosberg's race-winning Williams Honda, but Alain achieved nearly double Rosberg's points. Look at Keke's glowing carbon fibre brake discs." (Chris Willows)


MurrayismMurrayismMurrayism


There is nothing wrong with the car except that it is on fire.


Start AsYou MeanTo Go On Mike Doodson


"James regularly pushed the producer to the limit, though. I have dined out several times off the following exchange at Monaco in 1983, the year that Keke Rosberg's Williams-Cosworth beat all the turbos because he gambled on slicks on a damp track (the turbos with their huge power would have gone off the road) and didn't have to change tyreswhenthe track dried. "The Scene: James arrives at commentary point, moments before transmission


Stirring Jenson's Blood John Button


"Jenson was born in 1980 so he grew up with Murray as a Formula One commentator. Jenson started watching the Grands Prix when he was really tiny. He would be handed tomewhenI was watching!Sohe grewupwith it and it's in his blood."


starts, scattering other commentary teams aside as he staggers past, clearly the worse for wear. "Me (nervously): 'I saw you crossing the grid to get here, James. Did you noticewho


wasonslicks and wets?' "JH: 'No, I've been having lunch.' "Me: 'So, not toomuchto drink, obviously...' "JH: 'Doods, I've never reported this race sober, and I have no intention of starting


todosonow.'”


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MurrayWalker Scrapbook


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