Peerless Murray in no hurry to retire as BBC prepare to resume coverage

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Enthusiasm: infectious. Style: unique. Experience: unrivalled. Murray Walker, peerless master of motor racing's spoken word, was back at Silverstone on Friday, 60 years after his first visit to watch Italian Luigi Villoresi win the inaugural British Grand Prix of 1948.

Now a sprightly 84, he is keen to return to our TV screens - although even he admits that the lead commentator's role, travelling to 19 races around the globe, might stretch his constitution.

Looking for work: Murray Walker

Walker's broadcasting experience dates back to 1949, the second running of this national institution. 'I was at Stowe corner, as No 2 commentator to Max Robertson, the BBC's famous tennis commentator.

And he hated motorracing, and said so. During that race, John Bolster had - the - most - colossal - crash. I said in a massive piece of understatement: 'Bolster's gone off.'

'I actually thought he was dead. They carted him off to hospital and put him back together.'

Does Walker, who has a new book out, Murray Walker Scrapbook, and is back on 5 Live's 606 on Friday night, think it is good for fans that F1 is returning to BBC?

'I don't know, ITV have actually done a better job than the BBC did. The BBC have a big challenge to live up to, but the good news is viewers will get uninterrupted coverage'.

With his avuncular air, Walker makes every allowance for Lewis Hamilton after the British driver's two problematic races.

'My advice to Lewis, as if he needs it from me, is: do what Nelson Piquet did - never read anything about himself,' said Walker.

'All drivers have their ups and downs. After a quite incredible first year in F1, what is happening to him this year is not untypical.'