Formula One: Building a broadcast team for ESPN

By Alex Herbst | Nov 20, 2017

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 12: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 lead the field toward turn one at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

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Ken Anderson

A bit of a blast from the past, Ken Anderson’s name has not been tossed around in Formula One circles since the failed and aborted USF1 effort to join the grid in 2010. Since then, the former race engineer has kept quiet and out of the spotlight, but could reemerge as an analyst for F1’s new American home.

Unlike current Formula One analyst Steve Matchett, Anderson would bring to the table even more engineering experience from around the world of motorsports. He has served as an engineer in NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One, Supercross, and Champ Car, meaning he may be able to equate more technical features of the world championship to more relevant automotive comparisons. This could be huge in bridging the gap between the technical details of Formula One racing and the casual fans ESPN hopes to bring in.

The one downside to Ken Anderson in the broadcast booth could be his relative anonymity in the modern motorsports landscape. His failed USF1 effort with Peter Windsor would likely be the back-end of many jokes, at least initially, on social media. Perhaps other race managers or engineers could be considered from around the paddock, but Anderson appears the most available target for the mothership.

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