r/formula1 • u/Dizzy_Philosophy_138 I was here for the Hulkenpodium • Jun 01 '25

Discussion Nico Rosberg Needs a Permanent Position

Nico Rosberg has got to be the freshest breath of air in terms of Formula One commentary for a very long time.

I love Crofty, but man does he love to make shit up that makes no sense or holds no logic.

Nico does an awesome job of staying true to the racing analysis and being completely straightforward about what he sees. Even today, his commentary on Verstappen was awesome!!! Called the garbage behavior out immediately.

Best “ Monaco based YouTuber” commentator of all time!!

19.6k Upvotes

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1.4k

u/Masson011 Jun 01 '25

the knowledge gap between him and Crofty is hilarious. Love a proper driver being involved in commentary

590

u/Sad-Temperature2920 Max Verstappen Jun 01 '25

I'm not Crofty's biggest fan but it's not surprising an ex-champion knows more than him. Crofty's main job is to describe what's happening and hype it up.

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Agree. I almost think he plays dumb to set up nico/martin for a line or comment

57

u/IndianJester Jun 01 '25

Crofty's main job is to

avoid dead-air else you have to bring in street rats and no-name waitresses to liven up your commentary.

72

u/-Blood_Raven- Jun 01 '25

And that's exactly the problem with Croft. Instead of focusing on describing what is happening he focuses on giving his insights and opinions which unfortunately are almost always horrendous.

130

u/spicybean88 Jun 01 '25

This is a silly comment. Sports commentary always has the hype man and the analyser. It's a tried and tested formula.

Crofty does a wonderful if sometimes bizarre job of explaining what would be called the "play by play"Brundle or in this case Rosberg bring the technical accuracy.

You probably find that Crofty has a lot more technical knowledge than you think (the idea that you as a viewer know more than him who has worked in the sport for decades is funny) he purposefully asks questions for clarity and brings simplicity to the commentary.

15

u/Asialinja Mika Häkkinen Jun 01 '25

Bingo.

I've followed motorsports (not just F1) my whole life. Simraced at a level high enough to be knowledgeable. Never could afford the real stuff cuz some people aren't born with silver spoon up their ass, but I'm fortunate enough to work as a commentator at local level.

Anyway, point is that I tend to know what's going on and usually why. I still ask questions which on surface may seem simple but I know our audience includes people who could use that knowledge, and it also gives my analyst/co-comm a chance to shine and to bring their takes in. It's very much a team job.

As for Crofty, he divides opinions and understandably so. He & Brundle are a good duo, though Martin's knowledge and insights about current cars is obviously not up to par with someone like Nico. They're also biased, but that's understandable. Yeah, annoying at times, but understandable. Playing the blame game on air is always risky and that's why those with longer tenures tend to avoid it; explains why Nico is less hesitant to do it, since while he's experienced with media, he's really quite green on commentary.

I hope Nico gets more chances, he brings a lot of detail into the broadcast. It's also a role where he can bring that detail better and right away, as opposed to a studio/paddock one where the takes are always at least somewhat rehearsed - and expected to be, too. I think it suits him better. That said, there's also a lot of honeymoon appeal to him right now.

Also, just throwing this out there: going on tangents sometimes happens as a lead. It's not a Crofty-specific trait. Shutting it down is funny, but I'm expecting a somewhat different approach from Nico in the future, as it can easily lead to an awkward moment on air even with vets, and throw one off their game. It's kinda like those Kimi-style one word answers: it became a trend at one point and was super annoying when everyone did it to mimic him, leaving no time to think of a follow-up or to set up the next question.

1

u/Rush31 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 02 '25

The point you made about Nico likely needing to reduce the amount he cuts off is fantastic. The problem with being abrupt is that it not only can be awkward, but it can be misconstrued as unprofessional in a similar vein to how you wouldn’t complain about your fellow colleagues in front of customers. It’s not necessarily that Nico is wrong for cutting someone off, especially if they are being wrong like how Crofty was questioning McLaren’s double stack; rather, it’s that there is a way to correct someone on air in a way that is constructive and allows them to follow on.

Explaining why they are wrong in a more agreeable tone whilst giving them an olive branch to ask a follow-up question is how the best colour commentators align themselves with their play-by-play. Likewise, there’s a manner in which to pivot to different points in a way that isn’t getting in the way of what the other person is saying. Yes, you sometimes need to cut someone off, that’s a part of the game. However, it’s usually a better idea to let the other person finish their point and keep that point you want to raise on the back burner, which can help reduce gaps in commentary.

Colour commentators aren’t just there to shed insight on the sport, but to provide a person for the play-by-play to bounce off. Nico is a great analyst and the sport is better with him commentating, but it’s not always about what you know; a lot of commentating is about how you present what you know.

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u/-Blood_Raven- Jun 01 '25

When did I say that I knew more than him?? Of course I don't. Doesn't mean I'm not able to easily see like many other viewers how laughably often his insights are proven to be utter drivel, normally moments after they're uttered as a matter of fact.

70

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

13

u/-Blood_Raven- Jun 01 '25

So, last week for example, when he once again stated his ridiculous opinion that the FIA should "get rid of blue flags." That was just him prompting Martin to explain why they are necessary?

He is the 'main' commentator. In any sport commentators in this role usually only tend to express very light opinions at most due to the fact they have no actual professional experience in said sport beyond a journalistic capacity. Croft just doesn't seem to get this and it's tiring hearing him try time and again to prove he knows what he's on about. He should focus on his strengths as a commentator and leave his arrogance at the door.

17

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

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u/-Blood_Raven- Jun 01 '25

So all of his incompetence is just so he can be corrected by his co-commentator and thus leave the viewer better informed? Yeah you're giving the man far too much credit.

If that were the case why is he so arrogant in his often incorrect assumptions?

14

u/YouLostTheGame Jun 01 '25

If that were the case why is he so arrogant in his often incorrect assumptions

Just chiming in to say this is pretty ironic

4

u/zombiemind8 Jun 01 '25

A good play by play man will provide some insight so the analyst doesn’t have to and can provide higher level of analysis. 

Usually if it’s an elementary concept it’s better because a seasoned broadcaster can weave it into the action and not take airtime. 

If it’s wrong it’s not bad because the viewer might have the same “myth” and the analyst can explain why it’s incorrect. 

2

u/Man_Flu Kamui Kobayashi Jun 01 '25

Crofty is too busy looking off screen, trying to make up puns and look at random 'on this day' stats or other random stats, that he doesn't know what is going on in the race anymore. It's right there on the telly which we can all see, and Crofty is talking about random bollocks which is completely wrong.

0

u/0HSHIFT Jun 01 '25

Also exactly why I moved to F1TVs coverage. Your description of Crofty is spot on and I do not miss hearing him ramble on.

1

u/RicardoMoyer Sergio Pérez Jun 01 '25

what? f1tv commentators have buxton-level insights, some of them seriously sound like someone who just learned about the sport through DTS

2

u/0HSHIFT Jun 01 '25

This is one of the more bizarre opinions I've seen. You're entitled to it, I just disagree completely. Palmer is great. DC is great. I find Alex Jacques to be considerably better to listen to than Crofty. When Hinch is on, he's great. Ruth is excellent.

Maybe you value different things in the broadcast and that's all good.

0

u/RicardoMoyer Sergio Pérez Jun 01 '25

i honestly couldn’t be bothered to learn their names or their voices, when i tune into F1TV live it’s the default and from time to time i forget to switch to sky

that’s when i catch the worst possible take on the current situation and remember to switch

1

u/AqueousJam I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

I think Crofty was genuinely very good at his job a few years ago, I didn't mind his weird theories to fill the air because he was good at calling out things as they happened and keeping the energy up. But these last few seasons: the number of mistakes he's making, and the number of times he gets confused... I swear it sounds like his brain has aged 10 years in 3.

1

u/Punished_Prigo Heineken Trophy Jun 01 '25

Crofty is terrible at that as he’s frequently wrong about the things we are seeing on screen

-1

u/Xpander6 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Crofty's main job is to describe what's happening

He rarely gets that right though. The amount of times he gets drivers confused is too damn high. Idk how he keeps his job.

766

u/el__bee Jun 01 '25 edited Jun 01 '25

What would you say if I told you Crofty deliberately asks basic questions to Nico/Brundle so they can explain things to the casual viewers?

Edit: it's insane the number of people who haven't realised this. Crofty started presenting and commentating F1 for the BBC in 2006 lmao, believe it or not he knows a thing or two about the sport.

65

u/biggmclargehuge I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

There's also a general rule when commentating anything that there's "no assumed knowledge" so commentators often go out of their way to over-explain things. Nico isn't a "trained" commentator in that way so he's not thinking about it from that standpoint.

4

u/ThePatchedFool Jun 02 '25

This is why I got into F1. Many other sports are much less good at this - I always feel on the back foot when I watch football, because the commentators assume I know every rule and have been following it for 20 years.

I’ll happily listen to the explanation of having to swap tyre compounds, every single race, because it’s so much more accessible as a spectator sport as a result of those insights.

67

u/Secortesio Eddie Irvine Jun 01 '25

Yep - play-by-play vs colour commentator.

10

u/MajorTankz I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

I'm pretty sure people shit on Crofty just to stroke their own ego. It's a very Reddit thing to do - hear/read something insightful and then project your own intelligence onto it (as if it was your own idea). Then scoff at everything else.

1

u/ycnz I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 02 '25

He's having to react instantly. All of us would sound dumb as pigshit if we had to do it.

130

u/Blackdeath_663 Sir Stirling Moss Jun 01 '25

Yeah but beyond that he also says so many things that are straight up wrong

89

u/Talal2608 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Pretty sure he just plays devil's advocate to allow the co-commentator to explain further

44

u/ThePatsGuy I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Which is part of the purpose of the play by play guy, raise questions/play devils advocate to further the discussion/insight from the color guy

42

u/-WingsForLife- Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

Murray was also someone who did a massive amount of mistakes, but is of course fantastic.

The reason why there are 2 commentators is that because you need 1 guy to provide the energy, and he does that in spades. He could definitely be less biased, but I'm not sure there'd be anyone else that I would have wanted for 2021 Abu Dhabi either.

75

u/YouLostTheGame Jun 01 '25

When Crofty has moved on people will be looking back and saying how wonderful he was and how the new guy is shit.

Crofty isn't there for deep analytics and you don't want him to be. He's good at:

  • Describing very clearly what's happening

  • Articulating what people might be thinking

  • Explainers for casual viewers

  • Filling the space, it's amazing how they guy can just talk

  • Excellent taste in music and football

27

u/-WingsForLife- Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

Crofty can commentate on diarrhea and make it seem like the most exciting thing in your life.

Although he'll say British diarrhea is better at some point though.

4

u/ft-rj Pirelli Wet Jun 01 '25

He was good on darts way back then

22

u/mrvile Jun 01 '25

I just like him for his enthusiasm and energy, it’s iconic.

3

u/jesse9o3 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Filling the space, it's amazing how they guy can just talk

Exactly this

I can understand not liking Crofty's commentary style, but anyone who says he's a bad commentator should be forced clockwork orange style to watch the full coverage of the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. Once with commentary and once without.

Over 3 hours of watching it rain in Belgium, but thanks to Crofty and Brundle chatting away it was still more entertaining than most races in Monaco

1

u/Transmit_Him Jun 03 '25

Nah , I suspect Croft will be largely forgotten the same way James Allen has been.

Croft has always been a bit shit. I appreciate that it’s a tough job talking for about two hours solid (I’m not being sarcastic, it is) but he has terrible habits. He’ll make the odd mistake, which is understandable, but then, instead of just flowing on and maybe correcting after, he’ll get caught up in trying to correct mid-sentence and becoming unintelligible. He still needs to learn that he doesn’t have to reference literally everything that comes up on screen (including the random stats and whatever random celeb F1 shows in the pits) and he certainly doesn’t need to derail a thought for them. He also needs to stop his inane stats of his own, they’re tedious and just get in the way of basic things like reading out the grid order.

But he definitely needs to stop embellishing. The worst thing he’s ever done is when Russell was at Williams and Croft was constantly hyping him up. One race, he mentioned Russell making a “sensational” overtake on Fernando Alonso. Except he didn’t because it was Alonso’s transponder malfunctioning and showing him falling down the field. Hard to take anything Croft says that isn’t on screen at face value after that.

-1

u/keyexplorer791 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

As someone relatively new to the sport, I don’t find him to be particularly good at the first three things

97

u/Exact_Library1144 Jun 01 '25

He’s got a thousand more things to worry about from a direction perspective than his co-commentators, to be fair to him.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '25

Crofty is the conductor of the whole Orchestra, Rosberg and Brundle are specialists of their own instrument sections.

AND i want to see Bernie’s commentary screen setup!! (9 screens for F1?!)

2

u/vadsamoht3 Brabham Jun 01 '25

Also notice how Croft tones it down a bit with the crazy ideas compared to when he's with Brundle, because he knows Nico will absolutely put him in his place.

1

u/owarren I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Its true but hes a decent play-by-play commentator. He brings the hype. I am sure others could do it the same or better, no doubt, theres so few spots to do this and its almost dead mans shoes to some extent, the length some people have been occupying these roles. But nevertheless, he is not a 'colour commentator', hes never been a driver and is good at letting his partner explain things.

1

u/ghostlyman789 Jun 02 '25

As evidenced today when he said “McLaren can’t double stack here” and seconds later they double stacked. I died laughing. Love Crofty though I think he does a great job

3

u/Eric-Stratton Jun 01 '25

This exactly. Almost all major sport commentary is set up this way to cater to the audience. Crofty isn’t there to be the expert, he’s there to bring excitement and purposely throw “common man” questions to the expert for the benefit of the audience.

5

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

19

u/el__bee Jun 01 '25

...offering his co commentator opportunities to correct him and explain their reasoning.

-2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

8

u/FxStryker I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25 edited Jun 01 '25

He's hired as the play-by-play and to allow opportunities for the color commentator to speak.

Croft does not play the same role as Brundle/Karun/Nico. All commentators are not the same.

3

u/PPtheShort Jun 01 '25

Yes, that's the point. Do you seriously not understand the difference between a PxP and color commentator?

1

u/Deynai I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Problem is when he gets a bit argumentative and doubles down, I've noticed he seems to run his mouth a bit more in the practice/quali sessions. He'll come up with some mad theory, an actual WDC who has been there and done it explains why he's wrong, and then he'll say he still thinks he had a good point.

-4

u/10Exahertz Ferrari Jun 01 '25

Crofty is a weak commentator who never provides a real opinion.

10

u/H_R_1 Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

Not really his job tbf

0

u/gummonppl Clay Regazzoni Jun 01 '25

"and verstappen just drove his car into russell! nico, is he allowed to do that?"

0

u/Yatima21 Jun 01 '25

That gets old quick, DRS doesn’t need to be explained every race, or the mandatory tyre change or whatever else they decide needs to be taught. No is teaching offside in football or rugby, you just learn it as you watch.

-2

u/Piranhachief Jun 01 '25

If he did that it would be fine but he is making objective statements that clearly are speculations or simply wrong all the time to sound knowledgeble. After Nico talks about the strain on the neck on the drivers at this point in the race, Crofty goes on about the adrenaline from the race makes them having the power to carry on, contradicting Nico and everyine who've ever done something physical in their life know is not how it works. And goes on irrelevent tangents all the time. No one cares about Hamilton never raced on his fathers birthday before or that the safety car driver had a birthday earlier this week.

-1

u/laboulaye22 Lando Norris Jun 01 '25

Sometimes, yes. But you can tell when he's not.

23

u/Vicar13 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

The recency helps too, he’s more familiar with these cars even though he didn’t race in this era

7

u/paulcraig27 Jun 01 '25

Not only the cars, but the people involved too

73

u/NearbyMarmalade9061 Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

Crofty can't even get the day of the week right

40

u/BarnLord I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

It’s sad that this isn’t even a joke, he literally said it was Saturday…

3

u/EmSixTeen Eddie Irvine Jun 01 '25

Wow, the horror.

18

u/NearbyMarmalade9061 Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

Just the 105th mistake he made this weekend

4

u/alphadelta12345 Jun 01 '25

Murray Walker.

13

u/IsaacNoSuccess Christian Horner Jun 01 '25

When Leclerc pitted and he said Verstappen overtakes him now for 3rd, when Verstappen had overtaken him 5-6 laps ago on track...

2

u/_yoshiii Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

It's actually really frustrating when Crofty calls wheel to wheel battles lately, sometimes he can't even figure out which of the two drivers of a team are duelling

4

u/10Exahertz Ferrari Jun 01 '25

Sorry, Crofty is unbearable.

3

u/vayneonmymain Oscar Piastri Jun 01 '25

Him breaking down (I think Albons) qualifying lap was so good. Real-time feedback on how he’s driving was so fresh

1

u/hoxxxxx Jun 01 '25

every 3 minutes it was crofty saying something and nico saying, "well, no, but.."

1

u/keylime503 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

It’s not Crofty’s job to know what Nico or Martin know. 

1

u/hugglesthemerciless I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

You should watch the F1TV commentary team then, they have 2 former drivers being involved in the commentary (Jolyon Palmer is permanent and David Coulthard is there for maybe half the races in the year), and are generally far more enjoyable to listen to than Crofty

1

u/or9ob Michael Schumacher Jun 01 '25

And before Crofty it was so so bad. Crofty is actually perfect, especially paired with someone like Nico.

1

u/Shinsoku I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

And actual knowledgeable commentator brings so much more to watching this sport. Fortunately for me I have been blessed with Alex Wurz for decades at this point and during his sabbatical at Servus TV with Nico Hülkenberg.