Matt Bishop 🏳️🌈 🏁
@thebishf1.bsky.social
Diagonal Comms MD; Racing Pride founding ambassador; MotorSport columnist; podcaster; novelist; petrolhead; snooker buff; Londoner; historian; politico; LGBTQ+
Extraordinary #UKChampionship match last night, in which Mark Allen, a fine player & the 2022 champion (pic), played so negatively that a commentating Stephen Hendry said, “This is a form of #Snooker I don’t understand.” It didn’t work, either: Allen lost 6-1. He needs a rethink.
December 2, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Extraordinary #UKChampionship match last night, in which Mark Allen, a fine player & the 2022 champion (pic), played so negatively that a commentating Stephen Hendry said, “This is a form of #Snooker I don’t understand.” It didn’t work, either: Allen lost 6-1. He needs a rethink.
Remembering Chris Bristow, born #OnThisDay in ’37. Pic: hard at work in a Cooper T51 at Spa in ’60, the #F1 GP in which he’d lose his life, killed when he went off at Malmedy on lap 20. He was 22.
December 2, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Remembering Chris Bristow, born #OnThisDay in ’37. Pic: hard at work in a Cooper T51 at Spa in ’60, the #F1 GP in which he’d lose his life, killed when he went off at Malmedy on lap 20. He was 22.
Remembering John Cobb, born #OnThisDay in 1899. Pic: Cobb’s famous & stunning Railton Special, in which he broke the #LandSpeedRecord many times, touching 403mph (649km/h) in ’47. He died in ’52, while attempting to break the #WaterSpeedRecord on Loch Ness.
December 2, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Remembering John Cobb, born #OnThisDay in 1899. Pic: Cobb’s famous & stunning Railton Special, in which he broke the #LandSpeedRecord many times, touching 403mph (649km/h) in ’47. He died in ’52, while attempting to break the #WaterSpeedRecord on Loch Ness.
Remembering Guy Tunmer, born #OnThisDay in ’48. He drove one #F1 GP, Kyalami ’75, in one of 2 Gunston Lotus 72s (pic), the other driven by fellow South African Eddie Keizan. But the 72 was past its prime, the 2 aces in the works Lotuses in the midfield with the Gunston cars.
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Remembering Guy Tunmer, born #OnThisDay in ’48. He drove one #F1 GP, Kyalami ’75, in one of 2 Gunston Lotus 72s (pic), the other driven by fellow South African Eddie Keizan. But the 72 was past its prime, the 2 aces in the works Lotuses in the midfield with the Gunston cars.
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
#HappyBirthday Mika Salo, 59. Pic: scoring Tyrrell’s final #F1 points - 5th, Monaco, ’97 - coolly delivering on Mike Gascoyne’s bold zero-pitstop strategy, the last in F1 history, hatched out of the realisation that a wet #MonacoGP would be time-limited, not distance-limited.
November 30, 2025 at 7:20 AM
#HappyBirthday Mika Salo, 59. Pic: scoring Tyrrell’s final #F1 points - 5th, Monaco, ’97 - coolly delivering on Mike Gascoyne’s bold zero-pitstop strategy, the last in F1 history, hatched out of the realisation that a wet #MonacoGP would be time-limited, not distance-limited.
Remembering Trevor Blokdyk, born #OnThisDay in ’35. A ’50s speedway ace in the UK, he gave it up for cars, starting one #F1 GP, the ’63 #SouthAfricanGP, in a Cooper fitted with a 4-pot Maserati engine (pic). He raced for a bit more then returned to Transvaal & became a farmer.
November 30, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Remembering Trevor Blokdyk, born #OnThisDay in ’35. A ’50s speedway ace in the UK, he gave it up for cars, starting one #F1 GP, the ’63 #SouthAfricanGP, in a Cooper fitted with a 4-pot Maserati engine (pic). He raced for a bit more then returned to Transvaal & became a farmer.
Remembering Chuck Daigh, born in Long Beach #OnThisDay in 1923, an engineer/racer who started 3 #F1 GPs, one in a Cooper & 2 in a Scarab, Lance Reventlow’s F1 car whose front-engined layout rendered it obsolete at birth. But what a beauty it was (pic)!
November 29, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Remembering Chuck Daigh, born in Long Beach #OnThisDay in 1923, an engineer/racer who started 3 #F1 GPs, one in a Cooper & 2 in a Scarab, Lance Reventlow’s F1 car whose front-engined layout rendered it obsolete at birth. But what a beauty it was (pic)!
Remembering Helmut Niedermayr, born #OnThisDay in 1915, 9th in his sole GP, Nürburgring ’52, in an AFM (pic). A high point? Le Mans ’52, 2nd with Theo Helfrich in a Merc 300SL. A low point? Shunting a Veritas into the Grenzlandring crowd 10 weeks later, killing 13 & injuring 42.
November 29, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Remembering Helmut Niedermayr, born #OnThisDay in 1915, 9th in his sole GP, Nürburgring ’52, in an AFM (pic). A high point? Le Mans ’52, 2nd with Theo Helfrich in a Merc 300SL. A low point? Shunting a Veritas into the Grenzlandring crowd 10 weeks later, killing 13 & injuring 42.
Paco Godia died #OnThisDay 35 years ago, aged 69. He drove 13 GPs from ’51 to ’58, & he finished 4th twice (Germany & Italy, ’56). #AnorakFact: he was an art collector, he founded a museum in his native Barcelona, so here’s an arty pic of him: privateer Maserati 250F, Monza, ’57.
November 28, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Paco Godia died #OnThisDay 35 years ago, aged 69. He drove 13 GPs from ’51 to ’58, & he finished 4th twice (Germany & Italy, ’56). #AnorakFact: he was an art collector, he founded a museum in his native Barcelona, so here’s an arty pic of him: privateer Maserati 250F, Monza, ’57.
Remembering Giancarlo Baghetti, who died #OnThisDay 30 years ago, aged 60. He holds a record that may never be equalled: he won the first #F1 GP he started, the ’61 French, his Ferrari 0.1sec ahead of Dan Gurney’s Porsche at the end, as shown in this superb Bernard Cahier pic.
November 27, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Remembering Giancarlo Baghetti, who died #OnThisDay 30 years ago, aged 60. He holds a record that may never be equalled: he won the first #F1 GP he started, the ’61 French, his Ferrari 0.1sec ahead of Dan Gurney’s Porsche at the end, as shown in this superb Bernard Cahier pic.
#HappyBirthday Kenny Acheson, 68. A sensation in #FFord, a winner in #F3, #TopFormula & #WEC, & a podiumer in #F2, he started 3 #F1 GPs, one in a RAM-Cosworth in ’83 (pic taken by Cosmo Aletto) & 2 in a RAM-Hart in ’85. Given a go in better F1 cars, he’d have shone: a quick man.
November 27, 2025 at 6:39 AM
#HappyBirthday Kenny Acheson, 68. A sensation in #FFord, a winner in #F3, #TopFormula & #WEC, & a podiumer in #F2, he started 3 #F1 GPs, one in a RAM-Cosworth in ’83 (pic taken by Cosmo Aletto) & 2 in a RAM-Hart in ’85. Given a go in better F1 cars, he’d have shone: a quick man.
#HappyBirthday Desiré Wilson, 72, who never raced in a world championship-status #F1 GP even though she was damn’ quick & in ’80 she won an #AuroraAFX (British F1) race at Brands Hatch in an ex-Jody Scheckter Wolf F1 car.
November 26, 2025 at 7:12 AM
#HappyBirthday Desiré Wilson, 72, who never raced in a world championship-status #F1 GP even though she was damn’ quick & in ’80 she won an #AuroraAFX (British F1) race at Brands Hatch in an ex-Jody Scheckter Wolf F1 car.
#OnThisDay in 2018 Lewis Hamilton won the #AbuDhabiGP for Merc - &, keen to show off his #StillIRise back tattoo, he appeared in an unconventional state of undress on the podium. Some people probably didn’t like it, but I thought it was brave, cool & fun.
November 25, 2025 at 7:54 AM
#OnThisDay in 2018 Lewis Hamilton won the #AbuDhabiGP for Merc - &, keen to show off his #StillIRise back tattoo, he appeared in an unconventional state of undress on the podium. Some people probably didn’t like it, but I thought it was brave, cool & fun.
#OnThisDay in 2012, at Interlagos, McLaren won an #F1 GP for the 182nd time. The 2012 #BrazilGP was also the 15th & last F1 GP win for Jenson Button (pic) - #AnorakFact.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 AM
#OnThisDay in 2012, at Interlagos, McLaren won an #F1 GP for the 182nd time. The 2012 #BrazilGP was also the 15th & last F1 GP win for Jenson Button (pic) - #AnorakFact.
Remembering Karl Ed Tommy ‘Slim’ Borgudd, born #OnThisDay in ’46, one-time jazz drummer, mate of Björn Ulvæus, & therefore sponsored by Abba in #F1 (pic: ’81 ATS HGS1). The winner takes it all, sang Abba, but Borgudd started only 10 #F1 GPs, best result 6th, Silverstone, ’81.
November 25, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Remembering Karl Ed Tommy ‘Slim’ Borgudd, born #OnThisDay in ’46, one-time jazz drummer, mate of Björn Ulvæus, & therefore sponsored by Abba in #F1 (pic: ’81 ATS HGS1). The winner takes it all, sang Abba, but Borgudd started only 10 #F1 GPs, best result 6th, Silverstone, ’81.
I’ve written a big interview in the brand-new issue of #MotorSport with Guenther Steiner, the famously outspoken ex-boss of the Haas #F1 team. As you might expect, he’s brutally honest about everything & he pulls no punches at all. (1/2)
November 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I’ve written a big interview in the brand-new issue of #MotorSport with Guenther Steiner, the famously outspoken ex-boss of the Haas #F1 team. As you might expect, he’s brutally honest about everything & he pulls no punches at all. (1/2)
#OnThisDay in 2006 McLaren announced Lewis Hamilton as a 2007 #F1 driver. “Lewis is going to find it tough in the first few races,” said Ron Dennis. “This will be a challenge & I know there’ll be a lot of attention on me,” said Hamilton. I think you came through OK, champ. 👏👍
November 24, 2025 at 8:54 AM
#OnThisDay in 2006 McLaren announced Lewis Hamilton as a 2007 #F1 driver. “Lewis is going to find it tough in the first few races,” said Ron Dennis. “This will be a challenge & I know there’ll be a lot of attention on me,” said Hamilton. I think you came through OK, champ. 👏👍
Pic: #OnThisDay 12 years ago, in São Paulo, Seb Vettel scored a then-record 9th consecutive #F1 GP win, his 13th F1 GP win of the 2013 season, equalling Michael Schumacher’s then-record tally in 2004. Both records were beaten by Max Verstappen in 2023.
November 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Pic: #OnThisDay 12 years ago, in São Paulo, Seb Vettel scored a then-record 9th consecutive #F1 GP win, his 13th F1 GP win of the 2013 season, equalling Michael Schumacher’s then-record tally in 2004. Both records were beaten by Max Verstappen in 2023.
I’m 62. I’ve voted Labour all my life. I even canvassed for Foot’s Labour Party in ’83 - leaning on a manifesto (in)famously dubbed “the longest suicide note in history”. But I’ve had enough. Starmer, a Tory in bad disguise, was the last straw. Today I joined the Green Party. 💚
November 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I’m 62. I’ve voted Labour all my life. I even canvassed for Foot’s Labour Party in ’83 - leaning on a manifesto (in)famously dubbed “the longest suicide note in history”. But I’ve had enough. Starmer, a Tory in bad disguise, was the last straw. Today I joined the Green Party. 💚
Juan Jover, born #OnThisDay in 1903, was 2nd at Le Mans in ’49, partnering Henri Louveau in a Delage, & qualified for one #F1 GP, at Pedralbes, in ’51; but his Maserati’s engine wouldn’t start on race day. Pic: Jover in his Maserati, in ’48, with Paco Godia and Salvador Fábregas.
November 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Juan Jover, born #OnThisDay in 1903, was 2nd at Le Mans in ’49, partnering Henri Louveau in a Delage, & qualified for one #F1 GP, at Pedralbes, in ’51; but his Maserati’s engine wouldn’t start on race day. Pic: Jover in his Maserati, in ’48, with Paco Godia and Salvador Fábregas.
“Simply lovely”? Well, simply brilliant, anyway. #F1 #LasVegasGP
November 23, 2025 at 8:13 AM
“Simply lovely”? Well, simply brilliant, anyway. #F1 #LasVegasGP
Jackie Pretorius, born #OnThisDay in ’34, raced 3 #F1 GPs in South Africa, in ’68, ’71 & ’73, making his F1 GP debut in a privateer Brabham BT11 fitted with a Climax straight-4. Later in ’68 he won 2 #SAF1 races in an #F5000 Lola (shown here at Kyalami in ’69), beating F1 cars.
November 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Jackie Pretorius, born #OnThisDay in ’34, raced 3 #F1 GPs in South Africa, in ’68, ’71 & ’73, making his F1 GP debut in a privateer Brabham BT11 fitted with a Climax straight-4. Later in ’68 he won 2 #SAF1 races in an #F5000 Lola (shown here at Kyalami in ’69), beating F1 cars.
Why not put yourself forward for the FIA presidency in 2029, Max? OK, I’m not serious, because I know you’re too rich to need to take on such an arduous role, but I agree with every word you’ve said about the future of #F1 here, & you’d be a lot better than the current president.
November 20, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Why not put yourself forward for the FIA presidency in 2029, Max? OK, I’m not serious, because I know you’re too rich to need to take on such an arduous role, but I agree with every word you’ve said about the future of #F1 here, & you’d be a lot better than the current president.