On the eve of the 2011 Formula 1 season, I feel somewhat aged at the realisation this is my 21st consectutive season of being utterly gripped by the speed, power, colour, drama, characters and glamour it generates. I spent some time this afternoon trawling through YouTube and finding the F1 programme introductions shared below. Each of them, for different reasons, make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as at the time, they were portents of the race to come. Enjoy.
BBC from 1991
EuroSport from 1994
ITV from 1997
ITV from 2000
ITV from 2003
ITV from 2008
BBC from 2009
Official FIA Formula 1 Introductions
With thanks to the posters of the videos on YouTube
Petroleum Vitae 
Each time Formula 1 rolls onto my screen in a dazzle of tyre smoke and exhaust noise, it feels like I’m saying hello to an old friend. Like the nights growing colder or lambs in the fields, the Formula 1 season each year is a sign that summer is well and truly on it’s way.
And it’s become even better since coming back to the BBC, no longer will we have to miss out on one of the Toro Rosso cars lunging headfirst into the gravel trap because of an advert parading hair conditioner.
Yes, with you on all scores Darren, although I do feel I’m missing out having not yet seen Jenson’s Head and Shoulders advert. On a serious note, briefly, the adverts certainly spoiled the flow and thus the enjoyment reduced. The BBC do a great job and the Red Button Forum’s the icing on the cake.
I love the FIA official intros, my favourite being the ‘super’ FIA intro with the guitar riffs. I don’t know why but I get a similar feeling when I see movie company intros (my favourite being Paramount & United Artists) I think it’s because you know this is it…the main event.
Yes, I know exactly what you mean Matt. That early one’s special for me too being the one that was in use when I was first truly hooked by F1. They sometimes used to give it added gravitas by saying something along the lines of “and we’ll now join the world feed for the Grand Prix” with that FIA logo heralding the transition. Great stuff.