Who is Will Buxton, and how the heck did he get the host gig for FOM’s broadcast

[Scott]

I find him really annoying...can you tell?

[guest3164]

No, I need to know more to find out what you really think!

[lkjohnson1950]

He's been the pit reporter and has done the grid walk for NBC for several years. Wasn't too bad in the pits, but indeed very annoying on the grid and post race. The FIA has used him a couple years now, at least on US TV. He did post qually and post race interviews when they used to do them in the pressroom. On a side note, ESPN received a significant number of complaints about the quality of their first F1 broadcast in several years, including inopportune commercial breaks, poor lead-ins and lead-outs, and the announcing team. One Graham Rahal remarked "we've got to cet some commentators".

[Dare]

He's been the pit reporter and has done the grid walk for NBC for several years. Wasn't too bad in the pits, but indeed very annoying on the grid and post race. The FIA has used him a couple years now, at least on US TV. He did post qually and post race interviews when they used to do them in the pressroom. On a side note, ESPN received a significant number of complaints about the quality of their first F1 broadcast in several years, including inopportune commercial breaks, poor lead-ins and lead-outs, and the announcing team. One Graham Rahal remarked "we've got to cet some commentators".

I know where a few great announcers are with years of experience. Hint hint ESPN

[Scott]

Well, I hope it was just an experiment and they haven't signed him to a long contract. 

[cosworth151]

I got the feeling that they at set times for their commercial breaks, no matter what was going on in the race. The coverage was truly awful.

[Alianora La Canta]

Before (and partly during) the NBC gig, Will was commentator for the GP2 races. While not everyone warmed to his style, he was popular there. I'm surprised the transition to digital commentator work isn't working out so well.

[cosworth151]

I thought Will was the best part of an otherwise dismal coverage.

It looks like a lot of fans aren't happy about ESPN's mess:

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/fans-lambaste-espns-debut-f1-broadcast

[Scott]

I thought Will was the best part of an otherwise dismal coverage.

Probably relative to your race coverage - the Swiss put on a good show, just the post race I watched on YouTube with Buxton was a waste of time.

[John S]

I think Will also has been used a lot by FIA/FOM to conduct driver and other press conferences as well as some podium interviews.

 

[Calman]

Personally, I am not really for/or against Will.    However, the thing which feels really uncomfortable (or in simple terms "I just don't like it")... are the interviews out on track.  I absolutely hate them.  The drivers are "still in their zone" and the Interviewer waits around with useless filler, while the drivers get themselves together to answer really stupid and painfully obvious questions.

I preferred coverage of traditional press conferences and not all this "out on track" nonsense.

All the best,
Cal

[Scott]

I suppose that is exactly what I am complaining about.  His on-track interviews, be they before or after Q or the race bring no information.  The drivers  obviously don't like doing it and the Team Principals just spin or give curt replies to questions they don't want to answer (Arrivabene actually cringes when he is stopped and asked a question and then his face goes into total relief at being able to walk away afterward).

[Robem64]

Personally, I am not really for/or against Will.    However, the thing which feels really uncomfortable (or in simple terms "I just don't like it")... are the interviews out on track.  I absolutely hate them.  The drivers are "still in their zone" and the Interviewer waits around with useless filler, while the drivers get themselves together to answer really stupid and painfully obvious questions.

I preferred coverage of traditional press conferences and not all this "out on track" nonsense.

All the best,
Cal

Totally agree with this Cal...this on track stuff is too forced.