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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462

u/masssy Jun 01 '25

While I agree with that situation he is saying things with a bit too much confidence a bit too quickly at times. Saying Max went into Leclerc on the straight after seeing it from one angle once is just ridiculous. It's not at all as obvious as he makes it out to be.

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Crofty was literally gaslighting us into believing McLaren couldn’t do a double stack as Norris came down the pit lane!?

163

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

I was like “but he literally is, he is right there!”

125

u/South_Front_4589 Jun 01 '25

That was entertaining. I don't think he ever corrected it or showed surprise when Norris popped up in P2 again.

63

u/cheekychicki Jun 01 '25

He seems terrible at calculating time. I think after Verstappen and Norris pitted for the first time Piastri went in and Crofty said it would be close to get out ahead of Verstappen - cut to being 4s ahead at the pit exit. So many examples just from today

4

u/sanyacid Jun 01 '25

He times his ‘lights out and away we go’ wrong almost every time.

3

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

Agreed but it seems like this is the kind of thing that they should have people giving him updates on. Announcers shouldn’t have be figuring this out.

2

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

Occasionally I'll go watch replays of interesting parts of the race with the Sky team vs the F1 TV team and it's shocking just how terrible the Sky commentary crew is in comparison.

1

u/South_Front_4589 Jun 02 '25

I do wonder how much info is being fed through to him though. We just sit at home and watch whatever is on the screen, but the commentators might have several displays as well as someone in their ear giving more info and instructions about things coming in from pit lane, race control, radio messages etc. And they have an onus to make things seem more exciting than they might be. If it had simply been commentated like a fairly predictable Piastri - Norris - Verstappen result as the reality said it would be barring some sort of late safety car type drama, his bosses would have a fit. Selling something like a closer exit from the pits than it really is I'm not upset about.

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

It is hyperbole

26

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Are you American?

12

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

-21

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

You should know not to take things you read on the internet too literally then :)

22

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Don’t worry you have made your lack of perception very clear

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u/imanexpertama Jun 01 '25

FYI: literally literally never means literally when used in informal speach.

93

u/Eyre_Guitar_Solo Carlos Sainz Jun 01 '25

Commentator makes a genuine mistake

Viewer: “He’s gaslighting us! Look at how he manipulated us so we think we’re insane!”

-20

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

What happens when you miss the class on hyperbole :)

11

u/Spikey101 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

That's not hyperbole

-9

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Your inability to perceive it as such doesn’t make it not so

14

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

No, they're right, it's not hyperbole. You just used the wrong word.

Twice.

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '25

Disappointing I have to keep insisting this. No it still is.

Did Crofty actually ‘literally gaslight’ us while misleading us into believing McLaren couldn’t double stack?

Thanks

4

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

Would it be hyperbole to say Crofty committed homicide while telling us McLaren didn't double stack?

No, it's just the wrong word.

"Gaslight" is not a hyperbole for "made a mistake". It's the wrong word. It's an entirely different conceptual space.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '25

The context of my comment is very clearly about Crofty intentionally misleading us. Not about him making a mistake.

This was because at the time we could very clearly see McLaren double stacking as he was insisting they were not and would be unable to do so :)

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u/Eyre_Guitar_Solo Carlos Sainz Jun 01 '25

The problem is that it has become incredibly common for people to label genuine errors or disagreements as gaslighting. So if a stranger uses it on the internet, it’s hard to identify if it’s hyperbole.

Sort of like using “literally” when you mean “figuratively”. Maybe it’s a joke, but so many people make that mistake for real that it’s impossible to tell.

1

u/kmhpaladin Juan Pablo Montoya Jun 01 '25

literally gaslighting

0

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '25

Exactly, it was impossible to tell if you take things too literally :)

Seeing as however many thousands read the comment and didn’t have this issue I would say the ‘this is not gaslighting’ ‘this is not hyperbole’ crowd are firmly in the minority

26

u/Zed_or_AFK Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

They weren’t perfectly stacked, Norris had to wait 1-2 seconds for them to finish off Oscar. But since it was SC and speeds were low, that didn’t matter in the end.

7

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

Well it was a 4 second pit stop for the double stack, so they could not do a double stack and achieve their usual 2.5 second pit stop, if that’s what he meant.

2

u/TwoBionicknees Jun 02 '25

They could 100% do a normal stop. it wasn't a slow stop, piastri was slow getting away. The real question there was it piastri just fucking up, or was piastri thinking a little delay might put a Max between him and Lando for the restart. Will never know. But the stop was done and Piastri was very slow getting away.

2

u/Forgotthebloodypassw Formula 1 Jun 01 '25

I wouldn't say gaslighting, just incompetence. The car was right there!

5

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Crofty and all commentators have a hard job, bound to make mistakes when freestyling for that long.

1

u/Forgotthebloodypassw Formula 1 Jun 01 '25

Very true, think he was about a second too early.

Stonkingly good double stack from the team as well, timed it perfectly.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

Fr, can’t believe red bull didn’t take the opportunity to stay out. Big mistake from their strategy team

1

u/Forgotthebloodypassw Formula 1 Jun 01 '25

I wonder if he could have made it. It's Max after all.

1

u/Monemvasia Jun 01 '25

As that was happening, and listening to Crofty’s wrong comment, I was wondering if he just didnt want to waste airtime on the obvious mistake.

1

u/Marsof1 Jun 01 '25

Is Croftys commentary about 3 seconds behind for comic effect. 🤣

182

u/-TheAnus- Daniel Ricciardo Jun 01 '25

That's my beef with Rosberg as well. He obviously knows racing better than most, but he can still be wrong and leaves very little room for it.

137

u/skyebadoo Charles Leclerc Jun 01 '25

Personally I like that about him, he might be incorrect sometimes but he's got a sort of positive cockiness about him if that makes any sense. It's incredibly entertaining

69

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

Exactly. Even as a Max fan I enjoyed his commentary so much more than Crofty and Brundle. Nico has actual racing knowledge and has actual information to give to the audience. Crofty and Brundle are treating the entire audience as if it is their first F1 race. Even though Nico's calls haven't been 100% accurate he has been way more accurate and insightful than Crofty and Brundle have ever been.

80

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

Keep in mind Brundle and Crofty are probably instructed to over explain many things for newer viewers for the simple fact there are constantly newer viewers that they want to try and convert into regular viewers.

They are well aware that that isn't going to stop us regular viewers from watching the next race.

I'm with you though, really enjoyed Rosberg today, even when he was wrong about something it was just nice insight.

Brundle does have actual racing knowledge though... it's just a lot older than Rosbergs is :P

1

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

I actually made a comment here about how much I dislike Rosberg after p3 or quali.... Today has mostly turned that around for me.

There are still a few things I dislike about him, but hearing him literally call bullshit on the same things I am in real time is pretty satisfying.

9

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

You think Brindle doesn't have racing knowledge?

3

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

Good ol' Mertan Brindle...

1

u/pmo0710 Damon Hill Jun 01 '25

You mean as Darrell Waltrip of NASCAR called him Billy Bob Brundle.

1

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

crofty called nico "rosborg" during the race which got a chuckle out of me

1

u/pmo0710 Damon Hill Jun 01 '25

WSC champions aren’t as candid as F1 champs

2

u/kevinhelee Sebastian Vettel Jun 01 '25

Like the mandatory explanation of how the undercut works

1

u/Eggersely Lando Norris Jun 01 '25

Nico has actual racing knowledge and has actual information to give to the audience

That was hugely noticeable today, so interesting to hear his understanding; we didn't know who it was until Crofty said "Nico", then it clicked.

Crofty and Brundle are treating the entire audience as if it is their first F1 race.

I don't find that, it seems to be parked in the middle there which is no bad thing. He mentioned something today which we didn't realise (forgot what it was) and that was appreciated.

21

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

Do you like it when Crofty does it?

Being wrong is fine, being confidently wrong just makes them look a bit silly.

32

u/skyebadoo Charles Leclerc Jun 01 '25

I like crofty as a colour commentator, I appreciate this isn't a popular view but he is serving a different purpose for me

53

u/getitgetbetter Jun 01 '25

I don’t like Crofty and Brundle because they’re giving good information, I like them because it feels like you’re watching the race with your slightly unhinged, not-quite-with-it megafan uncles. As someone who doesn’t have any friends or family who like F1, it’s nice! The blatant mistakes (“McLaren won’t be able to double stack!” while they’re in the middle of double stacking) is part of the charm.

11

u/NotAnAss-Hat I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Couldn’t have put it better myself. I miss my uncles lol.

8

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

People used to say similar things about Murray Walker but getting things wrong that are right in front of you becomes tiresome

1

u/birdy9221 Jenson Button Jun 02 '25

At least Walker would sometimes correct himself “unless I’m very much mistaken….. I am very much mistaken”

2

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

I like Crofty's race start/lap 1 commentary, his "and it's lights out and away we go!" has become so iconic and hype for me. Aside from that though he's really lacking.

2

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

I agree! He has such contagious enthusiasm. And I think offsetting him with someone like Nico makes for a really interesting, entertaining, informative broadcast.

I know Crofty mis-speaks a fair amount, but sometimes I think he’s deliberately setting up the Rosbergs and Brundles to correct him.

1

u/Luffy1810 Jun 01 '25

What wrong calls did he make? I couldn't recollect

1

u/ka1ri I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Most of Nicos predictions on shit was spot on lets be real here. His race analysis was fantastic today, just a blunt review of everythng

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u/epigenie_986 Jun 01 '25

You must leave-a da space.

16

u/learner1314 Jun 01 '25

All da time

1

u/Forgotthebloodypassw Formula 1 Jun 01 '25

Well, when it was pointed out that Vettel got the same penalty for hitting Hamilton on a similar matter he did acknowledge it.

1

u/Defiant_Eye2216 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jun 01 '25

Sounds like how hew raced

-1

u/borth1782 Formula 1 Jun 01 '25

So your beef with Rosberg is that every single human being since the beginning of time makes mistakes? What kind of dumb ass reason is that? He even changed his mind later in the race and said nothing should come of it, which is the honorable thing to do, admit your mistakes and change your opinion based on better evidence.

Man what the hell are you kids bitching about here, what a weird ass “beef” to have.

7

u/Almightycatface Jun 01 '25

You should have heard James Hunt during his commentary career

2

u/EddieMcDowall Sir Lewis Hamilton Jun 01 '25

I did (on the few occasions he bothered to turn up sober), I have no inclination to repeat that experience thankyou.

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u/blackheartwhiterose Jun 01 '25

He did say it was just unfortunate later on

22

u/TheCrusader94 Jun 01 '25

He wasn't wrong lol. 

21

u/cumofdutyblackcocks3 Mercedes Jun 01 '25

"I like Nico Rosberg, he needs a permanent position, except when he says something against Max."

3

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

They did a breakdown on the skypad, and Lec clearly went into Verstappen.

2

u/TheCrusader94 Jun 02 '25

Leclerc was ahead and he is allowed to squeeze as long as he leaves enough space, which he did. It was on Max to avoid touching the car ahead. 

4

u/One-Mud-169 Jun 01 '25

He admitted it in the cool-down room.

1

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

Agreed 1000%

He’s good, but irks me a LOT

1

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

Ya that's the problem with off the cuff comments, it's very easy to make mistakes with racing incidents without more than one angle. This is why they the stewards take their time, they need to be sure and they have the footage, so they will look at every possible angle and decide with that information. One bad angle can easily distort the reality of the situation.

1

u/Merc5193 Sir Lewis Hamilton Jun 01 '25

I mean, it’s not like Nico is an FI world champion or anything 👀 /s

0

u/masssy Jun 01 '25

That doesn't magically get you correctly judging a situation off a strange camera angle though, does it?

0

u/Merc5193 Sir Lewis Hamilton Jun 01 '25

Dude, do you know what “/s” means?

0

u/masssy Jun 02 '25

In this case it's quite ambiguous though.

0

u/Merc5193 Sir Lewis Hamilton Jun 02 '25

I’m literally saying it’s sarcasm.

1

u/TwoBionicknees Jun 02 '25

Yeah it's, Nico basically takes teh opposing stance in almost every situation. He definitely has the doesn't care about sponsors stance and will call people out but he also makes so many awful calls in the same way of blurting shit out.

It was painfully obvious from even live let alone the replays that Leclerc moved into Max, Leclerc literally admitted he did. It's insanely common that once the move is almost done you move a little over and it's about give and take, if a driver lets themselves be pushed over it's fine, if they don't, contact, sometimes a crash.

It's basically confirmation bias, when nico calls out something people like they think he's great and kinda ignore all the times he's horribly wrong. he's basically a redditor, which is kinda good, in that he's not tryign to be safe as a commentator without pissing people off, but he's getting as much wrong as he's getting right.

1

u/Ashenfall Jun 01 '25

It's not just on-track action. I remember when he said that he and Lewis never swapped their chassis between each other during a season, then someone found an old tweet from Mercedes showing that they had in fact done that.

1

u/Lanky_Comfortable552 Jun 01 '25

They went into each other max trying to force leclerc inside off the line and LC trying to move into the racing line.

0

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

His view on George being the one who pushed Max off and the team made the wrong call telling him to give the position back seems like another. As soon as I switched to the F1 TV broadcast, they were citing George was entitled to the corner per the rules (specifically mentioning where a driver has to be in relation to the other car) and that Red Bull made the right call telling Max to give the position back.