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) /

5 of 5

Will Buxton

If it isn’t broken, why fix it? Will Buxton has been a breath of fresh air from the pit lane on F1 on NBC Sports, but could he move over the ESPN’s coverage in 2018? It would be a welcome move for many who have grown to enjoy his interviewing style on the grid before, during, and after the races.

Over the years, Buxton has built up a reputation as a venerable reporter and journalist in the field of Grand Prix racing. He has worked closely with the feeder GP2 and GP3 Series, before moving into the F1 pit reporter role at Speed and Fox Sports in 2010. He then joined the NBC Sports crew when they began covering the sport, adding to his responsibilities play-by-play for GP2 and GP3 Series races. But with much of his responsibilities at the peacock network disappearing at the end of 2017, could it be time to move with F1 to ESPN?

Buxton has certainly built up quite a positive reputation with key members of the F1 paddock. From former owner Bernie Ecclestone to race engineers like Christian Horner, he is able to get just about anyone’s attention during his grid walks and give the American viewers an inside look at what they are thinking before the race. And after the race, Buxton provides an in-depth post-race commentary with the drivers who competed in the race.

Next: Standings Positions Up for Grabs in Abu Dhabi

Who do you think should be covering Formula One for ESPN and ABC in 2018? Will they have a separate team from the world feed, or solely rely on the production of the FOM group?

Home/Formula One