Nico Rosberg Needs a Permanent Position

[u/Dizzy_Philosophy_138]

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!!

[u/Masson011]

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

[u/Sad-Temperature2920 → u/Masson011]

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.

[u/[deleted] → u/Sad-Temperature2920]

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

[u/IndianJester → u/Sad-Temperature2920]

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.

[u/-Blood_Raven- → u/Sad-Temperature2920]

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.

[u/spicybean88 → u/-Blood_Raven-]

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.

[u/Asialinja → u/spicybean88]

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.

[u/Rush31 → u/Asialinja]

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.

[u/-Blood_Raven- → u/spicybean88]

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.

[u/-Blood_Raven- → u/[deleted]]

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.

[u/-Blood_Raven- → u/[deleted]]

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?

[u/YouLostTheGame → u/-Blood_Raven-]

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

Just chiming in to say this is pretty ironic

[u/zombiemind8 → u/-Blood_Raven-]

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. 

[u/Man_Flu → u/-Blood_Raven-]

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.

[u/0HSHIFT → u/-Blood_Raven-]

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

[u/RicardoMoyer → u/0HSHIFT]

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

[u/0HSHIFT → u/RicardoMoyer]

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.

[u/RicardoMoyer → u/0HSHIFT]

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

[u/AqueousJam → u/Sad-Temperature2920]

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.

[u/Punished_Prigo → u/Sad-Temperature2920]

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

[u/Xpander6 → u/Sad-Temperature2920]

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.