CROFTY ON PITSTOP PODCAST! - Part 1

CROFTY ON PITSTOP, Pt 1... The F1 season may be over, but we're only just getting started! Today's episode is with Formula 1 legend David Croft, the voice of Formula 1. We met Crofty out in Vegas and knew straight away how much of a great guy he was. So glad we got this podcast done with him AND WE WENT TO HIS HOUSE!!!! Massive thank you to Sky Sports for making this happen, we really appreciate the opportunity and can't wait to see what the future holds. Sky will always be special to us after our first ever grand prix at Imola when we ended up on Teds Notebook haha... Amazing memories! Also... Alex, you're the best! David, thank you for having us at Chez Crofty... Enjoy the little time off that you get and keep smashing it. Absolute legend with a voice that will echo in history forever. Thanks mate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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**Navigating the World of Formula One Commentary with David Croft**

**Introduction:**

In this captivating podcast episode, we delve into the world of Formula One commentary alongside the esteemed David Croft. As a renowned commentator and a true aficionado of the sport, Croft offers a wealth of insights and anecdotes, providing a comprehensive and engaging overview of his illustrious career.

**Discovering a Passion for Commentary:**

Croft's journey into the world of commentary had humble beginnings, stemming from his childhood fascination with sports broadcasting. Inspired by the captivating voices that brought excitement and wonder into his living room, he aspired to emulate their prowess. Despite not excelling at sports himself, his love for the games remained strong, leading him to pursue a career in commentary.

**The Path to Formula One Commentary:**

Croft's path to Formula One commentary was not without its challenges. Initially working for Five Live, he seized an opportunity to audition for the Formula One commentator position when the role became available. With minimal preparation, he recorded a commentary of the first lap at Monza, hoping to impress the producers.

**Breaking into the Formula One Commentary Team:**

To Croft's surprise, he received a call on Christmas Eve, informing him that he had secured the Formula One commentator position. However, the transition was not without its hurdles. As an independent contractor, he had to give up his full-time job at the BBC, taking a leap of faith into the unknown.

**The Demands of Formula One Commentary:**

Croft candidly discusses the demanding nature of Formula One commentary. The intense schedule, coupled with the need to process a vast amount of information during a race, can be mentally and physically taxing. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining instant recall and the ability to provide context and insights in real-time.

**The Art of Commentary:**

Croft sheds light on the technical and creative aspects of commentary. He reveals that commentators rely solely on the world feed and timing screens, with limited access to additional information. The ability to seamlessly integrate driver and team radio communications enhances the storytelling aspect of the commentary.

**Collaboration and Communication in the Commentary Box:**

Croft highlights the collaborative nature of commentary, working closely with co-commentators, producers, and technical personnel. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication and coordination to ensure a smooth and informative broadcast.

**Adapting to Technological Advancements:**

Croft acknowledges the impact of technological advancements on commentary. The introduction of remote production and enhanced communication tools has transformed the way commentators operate. He shares anecdotes about navigating technical glitches and the challenges of maintaining focus amidst various distractions in the commentary box.

**The Importance of Preparation and Research:**

Croft stresses the significance of preparation and research in delivering insightful commentary. He meticulously compiles notes and statistics for each race, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge and historical context. These notes serve as a reference point, allowing him to provide meaningful commentary that adds depth to the broadcast.

**Memorable Commentary Moments:**

Croft reflects on some of his most memorable commentary moments, including iconic race finishes and poignant driver farewells. He emphasizes the importance of capturing the emotion and significance of these moments, creating a lasting impression on viewers.

**Conclusion:**

David Croft's passion for Formula One and his dedication to delivering exceptional commentary shine through in this engaging podcast episode. His insights into the challenges, rewards, and intricacies of commentary provide a unique perspective on the world of Formula One broadcasting. Croft's enthusiasm and expertise leave listeners with a deeper appreciation for the art of commentary and the integral role it plays in enhancing the fan experience. **Dave "Crofty" Croft's Commentary Style and the Abu Dhabi 2021 Finale**

**Commentary Approach and Preparation:**

- Dave "Crofty" Croft emphasizes the significance of a commentator's role in Formula One, recognizing the global audience's reliance on their voices to enhance the viewing experience.

- He avoids preparing lines in advance to maintain authenticity and spontaneity, believing that genuine reactions capture the moment's essence.

- Croft focuses on delivering commentary that flows naturally, aiming to time his peak commentary with the driver crossing the finish line.

**Abu Dhabi 2021 Commentary:**

- Croft acknowledges the controversy surrounding the Abu Dhabi 2021 finale but emphasizes the need to set it aside during the race to focus on the unfolding drama.

- He highlights the challenge of balancing real-time commentary with the need to provide context and historical perspective.

- Croft describes the final lap as a moment of intense excitement, where he sought to encapsulate the shared championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

- He explains his choice of the phrase "champion of the world" over "is world champion," believing it sounds more impactful and befitting the occasion.

**Commentary Rhythm and Music Influence:**

- Croft credits his love for music as a contributing factor to his commentary rhythm, emphasizing the importance of timing and symmetry.

- He describes his practice of pretending to be a DJ in his car, using music tracks to hone his commentary skills.

- During the Abu Dhabi 2021 commentary, Croft spontaneously came up with the phrase "sharing, yeah, that's going Dutch," which he considers one of his most memorable lines.

**Viewership and Commentary Responsibility:**

- Croft acknowledges the large viewership for the Abu Dhabi 2021 finale, including many non-F1 fans who tuned in for the drama.

- He recognizes the responsibility of commentators to cater to a diverse audience, providing both excitement and context for the race.

- Croft explains his preference for the phrase "champion of the world" over "is world champion," believing it sounds more powerful and suitable for the occasion.

**Overall Takeaway:**

Dave "Crofty" Croft's commentary style is characterized by spontaneity, rhythm, and a deep understanding of the sport. His ability to capture the drama and excitement of Formula One races has made him a beloved figure among fans worldwide.

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[01:00.840 -> 01:07.000] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Pit Stop podcast. It's lights out and away we go!
[01:07.000 -> 01:08.000] Yes!
[01:08.000 -> 01:09.000] Let's go!
[01:09.000 -> 01:10.000] Good idea!
[01:10.000 -> 01:13.000] Mate, you smashed it, you smashed it.
[01:21.000 -> 01:25.000] If you didn't know already, we've got David Croft on the Pit Stop Podcast, ladies and
[01:25.000 -> 01:26.000] gents.
[01:26.000 -> 01:27.000] Let's go.
[01:27.000 -> 01:28.000] Well, welcome to Shea Crofty.
[01:28.000 -> 01:29.000] Thank you so much.
[01:29.000 -> 01:30.000] We're in your humble abode.
[01:30.000 -> 01:31.000] Yeah.
[01:31.000 -> 01:32.000] I've got a present for you as well.
[01:32.000 -> 01:33.000] You do?
[01:33.000 -> 01:35.920] I have got a present for you because you can't come around here without a present.
[01:35.920 -> 01:40.960] But I was told you guys wanted to be part of the Sky Sports community, so there you
[01:40.960 -> 01:41.960] are.
[01:41.960 -> 01:42.960] Oh my word.
[01:42.960 -> 01:43.960] Mate, thank you so much.
[01:43.960 -> 01:44.960] That is unreal.
[01:44.960 -> 01:58.280] Can we swap these out? I want to just use one of these. What an amazing start. Did you know I'm a fan of Sky Sports? so there you are. Alex our wonderful press and PR director said the boys are
[01:58.280 -> 02:02.000] after a Christmas present and you know as Christmas is coming. You sneaky man we
[02:02.000 -> 02:05.160] did not know this was happening. It's going straight in the background
[02:07.160 -> 02:07.800] Thank you so much
[02:11.920 -> 02:12.520] I got back from Abu Dhabi yesterday. Yeah, and I
[02:15.080 -> 02:20.280] Haven't got to write any notes out for a few weeks I haven't got to I'm gonna pack a suitcase and I don't have to get on an airplane for a while
[02:20.640 -> 02:26.560] Which I will miss in about a week's time. But this has been my life since March.
[02:26.560 -> 02:31.120] Kind of pack, unpack, get to a place, unpack, all of that.
[02:31.120 -> 02:33.920] It's quite a relentless schedule.
[02:33.920 -> 02:35.000] It's nice to be at home for a bit.
[02:35.000 -> 02:36.200] Oh, I should turn my phone off.
[02:36.200 -> 02:37.920] We've done four races this year
[02:37.920 -> 02:40.360] and like we feel blasted after it.
[02:40.360 -> 02:41.800] So, I mean, you do every single race.
[02:41.800 -> 02:43.680] You must be knackered like year round.
[02:43.680 -> 02:45.840] Yeah, you get used to it though, to be fair.
[02:45.840 -> 02:52.840] And I enjoy knowing at the start of the year what my schedule is.
[02:52.840 -> 02:56.160] And I can plan my other life around it, as it were.
[02:56.160 -> 02:58.800] I can plan my social time around that.
[02:58.800 -> 03:01.200] But I think as a commentator, you
[03:01.200 -> 03:03.600] need to have that instant recall.
[03:03.600 -> 03:06.320] So if something happens during the course of a race,
[03:06.320 -> 03:08.840] the fact that I've been talking about something similar,
[03:08.840 -> 03:11.960] maybe two races ago, it's there, it's in the brain.
[03:11.960 -> 03:13.640] And yes, if I missed a race,
[03:13.640 -> 03:16.360] I would be sat watching Sky's coverage of it,
[03:16.360 -> 03:18.620] but you don't necessarily have that instant recall
[03:18.620 -> 03:20.800] that you would have from having worked on it.
[03:20.800 -> 03:23.440] So continuity, I think, is always important.
[03:23.440 -> 03:24.280] Got it.
[03:24.280 -> 03:27.840] Unbelievable amount of questions I want to get into about you being a commentator.
[03:27.840 -> 03:31.840] But I feel like I want to take it straight away right back to the beginning. Because
[03:31.840 -> 03:36.800] one question I have, which I want to know is when, at what point in your life did you
[03:36.800 -> 03:40.000] discover you have a good voice? Was there like a moment when you're like eight years
[03:40.000 -> 03:42.800] old and you're like looking in the mirror and you say something and you're like, that's
[03:42.800 -> 03:44.720] a good voice? Or did someone say?
[03:44.720 -> 03:46.880] No, I don't know really. I think voice is important. I think you need like looking in the mirror and you say something and you're like, that's a good voice. Or did someone say? No, I don't know really.
[03:46.880 -> 03:48.080] I think voice is important.
[03:48.080 -> 03:51.840] I think you need to cut over the sound of Formula 1,
[03:51.840 -> 03:56.000] of the cars, the squealing of the tires, the crowd, et cetera.
[03:56.000 -> 03:58.920] It's taken me quite a while to get used to my voice,
[03:58.920 -> 04:01.440] to be honest, because obviously you have headphones on
[04:01.440 -> 04:04.800] and you listen very differently with the headphones on.
[04:04.800 -> 04:08.280] And I found it a bit weird, especially in the early days as well when my voice
[04:08.760 -> 04:14.600] when I was working for five live I'd be driving in the car and then suddenly there'd be a trailer for the next Grand Prix and
[04:15.160 -> 04:19.260] My voice had come out of the radio. It's like oh my lord that sounds a little bit weird
[04:19.260 -> 04:20.760] That's that's not me at all
[04:20.760 -> 04:22.880] That's someone else and and then you know
[04:22.880 -> 04:25.600] I'll be sat on the very sofa that you're sat on at the moment
[04:25.600 -> 04:27.880] and there'll be a trailer for the next Grand Prix on Sky.
[04:27.880 -> 04:30.840] And I'm like, oh, is that what I sound like?
[04:30.840 -> 04:32.400] But it's for other people to tell me
[04:32.400 -> 04:33.920] if I've got a good voice or not.
[04:33.920 -> 04:35.640] I think I project well.
[04:36.500 -> 04:38.160] I get accused of shouting sometimes.
[04:38.160 -> 04:39.760] I'm not a shouter.
[04:39.760 -> 04:41.440] Everything is projected.
[04:41.440 -> 04:44.440] And in the excitement, you know, it gets a bit loud.
[04:45.400 -> 04:48.320] I think we had a health and safety officer
[04:48.320 -> 04:50.760] came to one of the races this year
[04:50.760 -> 04:53.720] and he measured how loud it got in the commentary box.
[04:53.720 -> 04:57.480] And I think I'm 10 decibels quieter than a Formula One car,
[04:58.620 -> 05:01.240] which is actually quite loud really, isn't it?
[05:01.240 -> 05:03.480] I'm not quite sure how that would compare to, you know,
[05:03.480 -> 05:05.420] the V8s and the v10 era
[05:05.420 -> 05:09.360] but it's still fairly loud, but it's certainly not shouting but I am I
[05:09.960 -> 05:12.600] Always wanted to be a sports commentator
[05:12.680 -> 05:17.680] That was that was the job when I was 8 years old that I really wanted to do so I was captivated
[05:18.240 -> 05:20.240] by these guys that brought
[05:20.840 -> 05:26.440] Excitement and wonder into into my living room or into my radio set and my TV set.
[05:26.440 -> 05:28.880] And I thought, I don't want to be that person.
[05:28.880 -> 05:31.120] You know, I grew up in Stevenage,
[05:31.120 -> 05:32.280] small town in Hertfordshire.
[05:32.280 -> 05:33.120] You might've heard of it.
[05:33.120 -> 05:35.000] It's got a few things going for it.
[05:35.000 -> 05:38.080] Seven time world champion comes from there as well.
[05:38.080 -> 05:39.800] He walks the walk, I talk the talk.
[05:39.800 -> 05:42.440] And I wasn't great at sport, but I love sport.
[05:42.440 -> 05:43.880] And I love taking part,
[05:43.880 -> 05:47.760] but I love pretending to be a commentator as a kid as well.
[05:47.760 -> 05:48.600] That's where the fun started.
[05:48.600 -> 05:49.760] I used to do that when I was younger.
[05:49.760 -> 05:50.760] I'd run around the garden.
[05:50.760 -> 05:52.080] I'd run around the garden playing football.
[05:52.080 -> 05:53.760] And it'd be like, it's the Harry O'Brien.
[05:53.760 -> 05:56.400] It'd be me running, taking off my shirt, running around.
[05:56.400 -> 05:57.640] I'd give myself red cards.
[05:57.640 -> 05:58.920] I'd substitute myself.
[05:58.920 -> 06:01.240] But even now at 27 years old and we watch the F1
[06:01.240 -> 06:02.560] or we play the F1 game at home.
[06:02.560 -> 06:03.400] I'm 26.
[06:03.400 -> 06:05.640] 26, nearly 27.
[06:05.640 -> 06:08.560] And we'll be like screaming at the TV,
[06:08.560 -> 06:09.920] like trying to do what you do,
[06:09.920 -> 06:12.680] but we are literally shouting as loud as we can shout.
[06:12.680 -> 06:15.400] And I love it when I do stuff on stage
[06:15.400 -> 06:16.680] and we do some live stuff,
[06:16.680 -> 06:18.840] we'll have a bit of a commentary competition,
[06:18.840 -> 06:21.600] call some people up from the audience just to have a go.
[06:21.600 -> 06:24.160] And invariably people give it their best shot
[06:24.160 -> 06:26.640] and about 10 seconds in run out of things to say yeah
[06:26.640 -> 06:28.640] And then you find
[06:29.320 -> 06:32.500] You find normally actually it's it's the younger members
[06:32.500 -> 06:37.120] It's you know, there's some of the kids in the audience are much better at it than than their mums and dads
[06:37.640 -> 06:38.480] for instance
[06:38.480 -> 06:48.420] I remember I went to a school a few years ago and didn't assembly at a junior school. And we did a creative language kind of assembly
[06:48.420 -> 06:50.920] and got all the kids to come up and be commentators.
[06:50.920 -> 06:52.340] And they were fantastic.
[06:52.340 -> 06:54.200] There's some of the things the kids were saying.
[06:54.200 -> 06:56.760] I'm like, just describe, say what you see
[06:56.760 -> 06:58.860] and put it into exciting words.
[06:58.860 -> 07:01.020] And the kids were brilliant at it.
[07:01.020 -> 07:03.480] And I just think that we all love commentary.
[07:03.480 -> 07:04.360] We all love sport.
[07:04.360 -> 07:05.440] We all want to get excited.
[07:05.440 -> 07:07.840] And if you two are shouting at the TV, that's brilliant.
[07:07.840 -> 07:08.680] That's what I want.
[07:08.680 -> 07:10.900] That's the sort of passion we need to be watching
[07:10.900 -> 07:11.920] our sport with, I think.
[07:11.920 -> 07:14.000] Well, like you said, it is everything.
[07:14.000 -> 07:17.160] Like we started Pit Stop at the start of this year
[07:17.160 -> 07:19.800] and we were gripped obviously by Drive to Survive
[07:19.800 -> 07:22.560] to start with, but like just having your voice
[07:22.560 -> 07:24.720] like at the race, it makes it so much more exciting.
[07:24.720 -> 07:26.560] And it is a big reason why we started the pod
[07:26.560 -> 07:27.680] was because of what you do.
[07:27.680 -> 07:28.520] Well, thank you for that.
[07:28.520 -> 07:31.240] And I said that to you in a club in Vegas.
[07:31.240 -> 07:32.720] I was pissed out of my head.
[07:32.720 -> 07:36.240] I joked, apparently I was talking to you for an hour.
[07:36.240 -> 07:37.080] You were talking about it so long
[07:37.080 -> 07:38.400] and you say you don't remember anything you said.
[07:38.400 -> 07:39.240] Don't remember a word.
[07:39.240 -> 07:41.880] You weren't, I was on the verge of calling security.
[07:41.880 -> 07:44.920] But I realized I'd already given you my phone number.
[07:44.920 -> 07:47.600] So that wasn't gonna work, to be honest.
[07:47.600 -> 07:50.240] But Vegas, as we established that night,
[07:50.240 -> 07:53.040] Vegas is where it all started for me, Formula One wise.
[07:53.040 -> 07:55.440] Let's dive into it because Vegas is now has a special place
[07:55.440 -> 07:57.920] in my heart because it's where we did the F1 launch,
[07:57.920 -> 07:59.600] met you, obviously we're with gnomes and that,
[07:59.600 -> 08:01.720] but it's also very special for you as well.
[08:01.720 -> 08:02.560] Absolutely.
[08:02.560 -> 08:05.600] I was working for the BBC in 2005.
[08:05.800 -> 08:09.700] I've been with the beam for a few years and I wanted to specialize
[08:09.700 -> 08:12.400] that, you know, I'd done little bits, but I wanted to really get
[08:12.400 -> 08:16.700] stuck into a sport not knowing really how to go about that or
[08:16.700 -> 08:17.900] how to get stuck into a sport.
[08:17.900 -> 08:19.300] I was doing a bit of football commentary.
[08:19.400 -> 08:25.000] I was doing the darts for TV at the Lakeside, but I was in Vegas with a guy
[08:26.600 -> 08:28.560] who happened to be the producer for Formula One
[08:28.560 -> 08:30.140] for Five Live.
[08:30.140 -> 08:33.880] And one night, and we were a little bit tipsy at the time,
[08:33.880 -> 08:36.760] and he said, well, you need to be a Formula One commentator.
[08:36.760 -> 08:38.800] I'm like, yeah, shut up, Formula One commentator,
[08:38.800 -> 08:39.700] it never happened.
[08:39.700 -> 08:41.840] Well, no, seriously, we need a new commentator.
[08:41.840 -> 08:44.860] Why don't you come and audition, give it a go,
[08:44.860 -> 08:47.000] and see how you get on. I said, really? He said, well, yeah, we need a new commentator. Why don't you come and audition, give it a go and see how you get on.
[08:47.000 -> 08:47.840] I said, really?
[08:47.840 -> 08:49.120] He said, well, yeah, because it's gonna go
[08:49.120 -> 08:50.700] to an independent production company.
[08:50.700 -> 08:52.120] We're gonna change things around a bit.
[08:52.120 -> 08:54.840] I'm attached to one bid, come and give it a go.
[08:54.840 -> 08:59.520] So about three weeks later, I sat in a studio
[08:59.520 -> 09:02.560] and had to commentate on the first lap.
[09:02.560 -> 09:08.440] First lap at Monza, I think was the track we chose. And I made it up. It was like going back to being an eight-year-old again
[09:08.440 -> 09:11.800] I had to make the commentary up just just to fit this audition tape
[09:11.800 -> 09:15.260] Did you know the drivers and know the cars a little bit? I mean I was a fan
[09:15.260 -> 09:18.560] I mean, I wasn't wasn't the world's biggest f1 fan
[09:18.560 -> 09:18.760] Yeah
[09:18.760 -> 09:21.600] but I did watch it and I certainly liked it and
[09:22.080 -> 09:26.080] so I made up this commentary and then thought nothing of it for a few weeks.
[09:26.080 -> 09:29.320] And then on the 23rd of December, 2005,
[09:29.320 -> 09:32.560] I get called into the manager's office at Five Live
[09:32.560 -> 09:36.040] and I was told, yes, congratulations, you've got the job.
[09:36.040 -> 09:37.600] I'm like, really?
[09:37.600 -> 09:38.440] Seriously?
[09:38.440 -> 09:40.920] Yeah, you're our new Formula One commentator.
[09:40.920 -> 09:42.320] When do you wanna leave?
[09:42.320 -> 09:44.440] I said, what do you mean, when do you want me to leave?
[09:44.440 -> 09:46.920] I've got a job, I'm a commentator.
[09:46.920 -> 09:48.800] Well, no, it's an independent production company.
[09:48.800 -> 09:49.760] They're going to pay you now.
[09:49.760 -> 09:51.640] So you're going to have to go freelance.
[09:51.640 -> 09:53.720] So I had to give up, you know,
[09:53.720 -> 09:56.340] what was a full-time job with the BBC to go freelance
[09:56.340 -> 09:59.520] on a one-year contract and try my hand
[09:59.520 -> 10:01.980] at something completely new with no guarantees
[10:01.980 -> 10:05.300] at the end of the season, if it didn't work out.
[10:05.300 -> 10:08.300] But compared to how I came into the BBC,
[10:08.300 -> 10:10.860] that was actually quite a luxury offer
[10:10.860 -> 10:15.140] because I was working kind of full-time
[10:15.140 -> 10:19.620] as a theater publicity officer back in 1995.
[10:19.620 -> 10:23.100] I was doing bits on the side for Three Counties Radio.
[10:23.100 -> 10:24.940] I was doing their breakfast sports bulletins.
[10:24.940 -> 10:31.880] I was working as a football commentator on a Saturday for West Country TV. And I got
[10:31.880 -> 10:36.980] asked, did you want to do the breakfast bulletins all the time? And I'm like, guys, I'm really
[10:36.980 -> 10:41.460] exhausted here. I'm not getting much time off. If you want to give me that full time,
[10:41.460 -> 10:46.620] give me a full time job. I think it's only fair. So I got offered a month's contract.
[10:46.620 -> 10:49.440] So I gave up my then full-time job in the theater
[10:49.440 -> 10:51.560] for one month with the BBC.
[10:51.560 -> 10:54.060] And it took me about three seconds to make that decision.
[10:54.060 -> 10:57.400] Cause as I say, it was what I always wanted to do.
[10:57.400 -> 11:00.220] So the moral of the story is back yourself,
[11:00.220 -> 11:02.660] take a risk and have a bit of fun on the way.
[11:02.660 -> 11:04.360] Did you know getting into Formula One,
[11:04.360 -> 11:05.920] how crazy your life would be?
[11:05.920 -> 11:08.080] Like you guys travel all the time, like you never home.
[11:08.080 -> 11:10.080] We're only 16 races back then of course.
[11:10.080 -> 11:10.920] Oh, okay.
[11:10.920 -> 11:13.680] So 2006 was my first season.
[11:13.680 -> 11:17.760] Did I realize how it would consume your life?
[11:17.760 -> 11:18.680] No.
[11:18.680 -> 11:21.320] Did I realize how much I needed to learn?
[11:21.320 -> 11:22.160] No.
[11:22.160 -> 11:24.600] I spent the, you know, I'm still learning now,
[11:24.600 -> 11:27.380] to be honest, I was 17 years on,
[11:27.380 -> 11:31.680] but I wasn't prepared for the sheer intensity
[11:31.680 -> 11:33.720] of the sport as a commentator
[11:33.720 -> 11:37.040] and the amount of information you have to process
[11:37.040 -> 11:40.600] during the course of a race to keep on top of things.
[11:40.600 -> 11:41.600] It's really interesting.
[11:41.600 -> 11:42.960] Jenson Button has been with us
[11:42.960 -> 11:44.680] in the commentary box a few times.
[11:44.680 -> 11:46.680] And Jenson and I have known each other, you know,
[11:46.680 -> 11:48.560] since 2006.
[11:48.560 -> 11:53.240] And I remember we had a conversation after his first race.
[11:53.240 -> 11:55.520] And I said, you remember that time a few years ago
[11:55.520 -> 11:58.040] where you had a go at me for not mentioning you much
[11:58.040 -> 11:59.640] during the course of a race?
[11:59.640 -> 12:00.720] He went, yeah, I do.
[12:00.720 -> 12:02.760] I said, you told me that, you know,
[12:02.760 -> 12:04.260] I had to keep on top of everything.
[12:04.260 -> 12:09.000] And you did a load of things that weren't picked up on the TV, but I should have known about it and I should have mentioned it.
[12:09.000 -> 12:13.000] And he went, yeah, yeah, I remember. I said, now, do you want to go back and revisit that conversation?
[12:13.000 -> 12:19.000] He went, Crofty, honestly, mate, I don't know how you do it. I mean, seriously, there's 20 drivers out there. How do we, how do we keep across everything?
[12:19.000 -> 12:26.240] And, you know, Jenson, having made that move from a driver now into the media and has been absolutely brilliant
[12:26.240 -> 12:27.080] with us at Sky.
[12:27.080 -> 12:27.900] He's been amazing.
[12:27.900 -> 12:28.740] We've loved it.
[12:28.740 -> 12:29.720] He's super.
[12:29.720 -> 12:32.480] And one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet.
[12:33.400 -> 12:35.880] Jenson and I have had a lot of laughs over the years.
[12:35.880 -> 12:38.680] But we, but it's that realisation
[12:38.680 -> 12:42.500] that it's not just about what one driver does.
[12:42.500 -> 12:45.320] You know, teams, my other half works for a team.
[12:45.320 -> 12:47.600] She doesn't care about what happens elsewhere in the race.
[12:47.600 -> 12:49.080] She just cares about that team.
[12:49.080 -> 12:50.960] And that's what happens when you go and work for a team.
[12:50.960 -> 12:54.440] But obviously we try and cover absolutely everybody.
[12:54.440 -> 12:56.040] So this is what I wanted to ask.
[12:56.040 -> 12:58.640] So they've shown shots on TV recently
[12:58.640 -> 12:59.760] of you actually in the commentary box.
[12:59.760 -> 13:01.240] I don't know if they did that in previous years,
[13:01.240 -> 13:02.600] but we only just joined this year.
[13:02.600 -> 13:04.660] So we kind of see your setup.
[13:04.660 -> 13:05.840] And I was under the impression
[13:05.840 -> 13:08.160] that you probably had 20 screens,
[13:08.160 -> 13:10.040] screen for each driver, you can see what's going on.
[13:10.040 -> 13:10.880] I have no idea.
[13:10.880 -> 13:12.200] So you're just following the broadcast.
[13:12.200 -> 13:14.460] Yeah, if we had a screen for each driver,
[13:14.460 -> 13:16.000] we get distracted.
[13:16.000 -> 13:18.840] Now we have the ability with Sky Race Control
[13:18.840 -> 13:22.160] for Karun or Paul or Anzhi, whoever's on it,
[13:22.160 -> 13:25.920] to keep across team radio and keep across some onboards
[13:25.920 -> 13:28.400] that aren't shown on the world feed.
[13:28.400 -> 13:31.240] And they can come in and tell us what's going on
[13:31.240 -> 13:33.080] for things we can't see.
[13:33.080 -> 13:37.320] But Martin and I, Jensen, Nico, or Paul,
[13:37.320 -> 13:39.040] whoever's doing the co-coms with us,
[13:39.040 -> 13:44.040] we basically, we have the world feed, which you guys see,
[13:44.120 -> 13:45.820] and then timing screens.
[13:45.820 -> 13:48.040] And the timing screens are the plus point
[13:48.040 -> 13:50.780] to enable us to tell the full story.
[13:50.780 -> 13:53.320] I mean, in theory, we could commentate
[13:53.320 -> 13:55.940] off a timing screen if we needed to.
[13:55.940 -> 13:58.060] And there have been times we've had to,
[13:58.060 -> 13:59.620] because we've lost the pictures.
[14:00.520 -> 14:03.320] You know, sometimes in this brilliant,
[14:03.320 -> 14:05.000] modern technological world
[14:07.880 -> 14:12.500] Things go wrong and and you know, we'll lose the pictures But we can commentate off a timing screen or the GPS tracker for instance, which is always really handy
[14:12.500 -> 14:16.280] Especially when it comes to pit stops, but invariably
[14:16.880 -> 14:22.220] You're sorry pit stop pit stop. Yeah, I like it when you mention it. Yeah, I'm not gonna put a tracker on you guys
[14:22.220 -> 14:25.960] I've been your parents and I don't really want to do that to be fair.
[14:25.960 -> 14:28.880] You know, you're old enough now to make your own mistakes.
[14:28.880 -> 14:33.880] So yeah, so we can commentate off that world feed,
[14:35.240 -> 14:37.680] but we can also add to that world feed
[14:37.680 -> 14:40.760] by keeping across the timing screen, the GPS tracker,
[14:40.760 -> 14:43.580] and trying to tell the narrative
[14:43.580 -> 14:45.200] of what might be coming up.
[14:45.200 -> 14:47.580] We try not to tell you what's going to happen.
[14:47.580 -> 14:50.680] We try and tell you why something is happening
[14:50.680 -> 14:54.160] and how the race might unfold the way
[14:54.160 -> 14:55.280] that we see it at the time.
[14:55.280 -> 14:57.040] Now that could be right one lap
[14:57.040 -> 14:59.200] and it could be wrong five laps later.
[14:59.200 -> 15:01.160] You know, that's the beauty of live sport
[15:01.160 -> 15:03.320] without a tight rope on this one.
[15:03.320 -> 15:04.860] We're making calls in the moment.
[15:04.860 -> 15:07.060] And in hindsight, that might be the wrong call.
[15:07.060 -> 15:08.700] Or most of the time it is the right call.
[15:08.700 -> 15:11.580] You know, we tend to pick up on things, you know,
[15:11.580 -> 15:12.880] and get that right.
[15:12.880 -> 15:15.140] But there's an awful lot to try and cover.
[15:15.140 -> 15:18.060] So when you like, you send down to Ted in the pit lane,
[15:18.060 -> 15:18.940] how does that all work?
[15:18.940 -> 15:20.900] How is Ted ready?
[15:20.900 -> 15:22.060] How does he know?
[15:22.060 -> 15:24.060] Can he hear you the whole time in his headset?
[15:24.060 -> 15:27.520] Or does he get like a cue from someone or when he throws back to you how is that
[15:27.520 -> 15:32.920] all? Ted will have the commentary on and Ted will spot something he wants to
[15:32.920 -> 15:39.000] say he will tell the producer who's back in London at Osterley because it's we
[15:39.000 -> 15:44.080] have remote production now although if you listened to what's going on in the
[15:44.080 -> 15:45.000] producers headphones or
[15:45.000 -> 15:48.760] Ted's sounds like the next door the fiber optic cables have been yeah
[15:48.760 -> 15:53.560] amazing absolutely godsend. So Ted will say want to come in and say such and
[15:53.560 -> 15:59.120] such and the producer okay how urgent and Ted will say well 30 seconds or no
[15:59.120 -> 16:08.680] you need to come to me now. The producer will then tell me in my, my, my ears, Ted now or go to Ted or Karun now or go to Karun
[16:08.680 -> 16:13.000] or Nico wants to come in from Ibiza or whatever, you know?
[16:13.000 -> 16:14.800] So I'll get those sorts of instructions.
[16:14.800 -> 16:17.320] And that's, that's basically how it works.
[16:17.320 -> 16:19.600] You get used to listening to a lot
[16:19.600 -> 16:20.960] of different conversations.
[16:20.960 -> 16:23.440] You know, there are times,
[16:23.440 -> 16:25.220] there are times I've got the
[16:25.220 -> 16:30.020] director's assistant explaining to me how SkyMaid event is going to be coming
[16:30.020 -> 16:32.960] to us and they're going to give me a count and it's in three minutes time and
[16:32.960 -> 16:37.920] I need to take a pause and then carry on. Whilst Martin Brundle's having a chat
[16:37.920 -> 16:41.200] with me, whilst Doc Martens is having a chat with me, you just get used to listening to
[16:41.200 -> 16:47.760] lots of different conversations. It's a bit weird. The SkyMade event one happened in Brazil
[16:47.760 -> 16:50.440] and hopefully no one would have noticed
[16:50.440 -> 16:52.500] who was watching on the F1 feed
[16:52.500 -> 16:55.780] that we had to take a pause for the SkyMade event.
[16:55.780 -> 16:57.620] But it wasn't exactly the easiest
[16:57.620 -> 17:00.800] because as I was getting a countdown from 10,
[17:00.800 -> 17:03.380] we were on board and I forget who it was
[17:03.380 -> 17:04.520] going onto the main straight
[17:04.520 -> 17:08.560] and an overtake was about to happen. It might have been a Lewis overtake to be honest
[17:08.560 -> 17:15.320] and you basically, I was on the F1 channel teeing up the overtake. I had to
[17:15.320 -> 17:19.560] then pause for two seconds just so that the join is nice and clean but then pick
[17:19.560 -> 17:27.520] up nice and clean so that it sounded like a seamless commentary because obviously it's going to be replayed in highlights,
[17:27.520 -> 17:31.600] you know, programmes for years to come, or the race gets replayed.
[17:31.600 -> 17:34.560] So there's a lot of things to the commentary,
[17:34.560 -> 17:40.480] the technicalities of it, that you become adept to in time,
[17:40.480 -> 17:43.520] where you have to, it's a clean in, it's called, you know,
[17:43.520 -> 17:47.760] a clean pick up, and you make it easy for the editors,
[17:47.760 -> 17:50.400] or you know that if something dramatic's happened,
[17:50.400 -> 17:52.080] they're gonna want a soundbite
[17:52.080 -> 17:54.560] so that it can get replayed over and over again.
[17:54.560 -> 17:55.400] I noticed.
[17:55.400 -> 17:56.640] I noticed that in the last race.
[17:56.640 -> 17:59.360] We noticed, yeah, there's something that you say,
[17:59.360 -> 18:01.080] it was that, it was for the main event,
[18:01.080 -> 18:03.920] and you could tell that you had to say it.
[18:03.920 -> 18:06.800] Well, no, I like the way you got, here comes Sebastian Vettel in the last race.
[18:06.800 -> 18:07.800] Oh yeah, for one more time.
[18:07.800 -> 18:08.800] Yeah, because everyone wanted to hear that.
[18:08.800 -> 18:10.800] Well, that was a social media thing.
[18:10.800 -> 18:12.800] Someone had got in touch with me on Twitter to say,
[18:12.800 -> 18:15.800] oh, come on, can you give us a here comes Sebastian Vettel one more time?
[18:15.800 -> 18:17.800] And I'm like, yes, it will be churlish not to.
[18:17.800 -> 18:19.800] So if the opportunity arises, I'll do it.
[18:19.800 -> 18:20.800] And he did an overtake in the beginning.
[18:20.800 -> 18:22.800] And I thought, I was listening, I was watching,
[18:22.800 -> 18:23.800] and I was like, Crofty's going to do it.
[18:23.800 -> 18:25.520] And then on the first one you did it,
[18:25.520 -> 18:27.360] and then he cut, that was doing another overtaking,
[18:27.360 -> 18:29.840] you took the chance and straight in.
[18:29.840 -> 18:31.720] Do you have to know, like right at the beginning
[18:31.720 -> 18:33.200] of the race, obviously you know the grid now,
[18:33.200 -> 18:34.560] you know everything about the drivers,
[18:34.560 -> 18:36.480] you probably store so much information.
[18:36.480 -> 18:37.640] But there's no script, is there?
[18:37.640 -> 18:39.520] Like in front of you, you haven't got like a script.
[18:39.520 -> 18:44.160] No, so when they hand to us, actually I'll tell you what.
[18:44.160 -> 18:46.000] Oh here we go, he's off. Oh he's left us in his house. I am actually scared to us... Actually, I'll tell you what... Oh, here we go, he's off!
[18:46.000 -> 18:48.000] He's left us in his house!
[18:48.000 -> 18:50.000] I am actually scared to be honest, because he gave me a coffee
[18:50.000 -> 18:52.000] and he's got lovely carpets, and we know what we're like.
[18:52.000 -> 18:54.000] How many drinks did we spill?
[18:54.000 -> 18:56.000] I'm sat here in Crofty's house with my socks on.
[18:56.000 -> 18:58.000] Oh, he's got a lovely bag!
[18:58.000 -> 19:00.000] This was my birthday present from my other half,
[19:00.000 -> 19:02.000] Laura, who said,
[19:02.000 -> 19:04.000] Crofty, for heaven's sake, you walk around with a tatty
[19:04.000 -> 19:10.160] computer bag, put your notes in something decent so here's my notes. Are we gonna have a look at
[19:10.160 -> 19:16.820] Crofty's notebook? So first of all this is my Bible yeah this is the Deschanel
[19:16.820 -> 19:23.080] Grand Prix guide. Jesus, it's weighty. It does look heavy. It is a weighty toke. Wow I didn't expect that to be heavy.
[19:23.080 -> 19:25.200] It has a lot to it. Baggage allowance.
[19:25.200 -> 19:26.040] Have you read all of this?
[19:26.040 -> 19:27.720] Uh, what is it?
[19:27.720 -> 19:28.560] Over the years.
[19:28.560 -> 19:29.400] What on earth is it?
[19:29.400 -> 19:30.240] So it's basically,
[19:30.240 -> 19:33.280] so the white pages are every single race
[19:33.280 -> 19:35.040] in the Formula One World Championship
[19:35.040 -> 19:37.240] up until the end of last season.
[19:37.240 -> 19:38.080] So when I buy-
[19:38.080 -> 19:39.320] It's basically a Wikipedia.
[19:39.320 -> 19:40.520] Yeah, well it's more than that.
[19:40.520 -> 19:41.640] It's like a wisdom.
[19:41.640 -> 19:42.480] Ah.
[19:42.480 -> 19:44.720] Because it's got statistical records
[19:44.720 -> 19:49.880] for drivers, teams, engines. Then it's got it's got statistical records for drivers teams engines then it's got stats you know champions youngest
[19:49.880 -> 19:53.440] pole-sitters all that's almost like an alien sort of object I've not held a
[19:53.440 -> 19:58.240] book since I was at school yeah but you know what books are good yeah and books
[19:58.240 -> 20:01.380] are very handy in commentary boxes even though I do have a laptop up there as
[20:01.380 -> 20:05.320] well because you can find things really, really quickly. So it's got all the books.
[20:05.320 -> 20:07.840] And they update this every year.
[20:07.840 -> 20:10.600] Yeah, Jacques Deschanot, fine man,
[20:10.600 -> 20:12.400] fine journalist of many years experience,
[20:12.400 -> 20:13.360] will update that every year.
[20:13.360 -> 20:14.760] So when I get next year's,
[20:14.760 -> 20:18.960] it will have 1,079 races worth of info in there.
[20:18.960 -> 20:19.800] That is crazy.
[20:19.800 -> 20:22.760] Do you like how I know there are 1,079 races
[20:22.760 -> 20:24.240] in the F1 World Championship?
[20:24.240 -> 20:28.000] Well, the only reason I do know that is because, and I've got it written down here,
[20:28.000 -> 20:31.000] they introduced medals in Abu Dhabi.
[20:31.000 -> 20:33.000] You saw Max had the winner's medal?
[20:33.000 -> 20:34.000] Yeah, yeah.
[20:34.000 -> 20:35.000] So this is brand new.
[20:35.000 -> 20:40.000] And in the FIA press release, it said, and they will be engraved with the number race that it is.
[20:40.000 -> 20:43.000] And this is 1079th F1 World Championship event.
[20:43.000 -> 20:46.280] Can't call them all Grand Prixs because there was the Indy 500 in there.
[20:46.280 -> 20:48.200] And then I wrote it down on my notes.
[20:48.200 -> 20:49.600] So I thought, well, that'd be a really good stat
[20:49.600 -> 20:50.560] just to give out, wouldn't it?
[20:50.560 -> 20:53.040] 1079 sounds like I've been up all night.
[20:53.040 -> 20:56.040] So you basically, you get information from everywhere.
[20:56.040 -> 20:58.120] So when they come to us,
[20:59.040 -> 21:01.280] I'll have this page first in my hand.
[21:01.280 -> 21:02.480] That's the track map.
[21:02.480 -> 21:03.320] Well.
[21:03.320 -> 21:04.960] And wait, do you do this before the race?
[21:04.960 -> 21:06.960] You work on this like days before?
[21:06.960 -> 21:07.920] A few days before.
[21:07.920 -> 21:08.640] Why is it in red?
[21:08.640 -> 21:10.720] And do you wear like 3D glasses when you read it?
[21:10.720 -> 21:12.160] And it just pops out into me.
[21:12.160 -> 21:13.520] No, because I think it looks neater.
[21:13.520 -> 21:14.280] It does look nice.
[21:14.280 -> 21:15.560] You've got a nice handwriting.
[21:15.560 -> 21:17.040] I do. I've got really small handwriting.
[21:17.040 -> 21:19.160] Martin Brundle says he can't read my writing.
[21:19.160 -> 21:20.680] And actually, without my glasses on,
[21:20.680 -> 21:22.880] I can't read my writing at the moment either.
[21:22.880 -> 21:28.160] But it will just tell you things like lap distance at full throttle.
[21:28.160 -> 21:30.720] It will tell you what round we're at.
[21:30.720 -> 21:32.520] It will tell you a few things about the Grand Prix,
[21:32.520 -> 21:35.480] the speeds at each corner and the gear
[21:35.480 -> 21:37.120] that they're in as well.
[21:37.120 -> 21:39.560] There's a stupid stat about Ferrari World on this one.
[21:39.560 -> 21:42.360] So, but that's the one over the track map
[21:43.640 -> 21:44.720] that I will have in my hand,
[21:44.720 -> 21:46.320] just to kind of reference
[21:46.320 -> 21:47.880] a few things on there.
[21:47.880 -> 21:52.480] And none of it is scripted because it's my job to watch the pictures and to react to
[21:52.480 -> 21:53.480] them.
[21:53.480 -> 21:56.480] And if I was scripting it, I'd be like doing this all the time and I wouldn't see what
[21:56.480 -> 21:57.480] was going on.
[21:57.480 -> 21:58.480] Yeah.
[21:58.480 -> 21:59.640] And I have no idea what's coming at me.
[21:59.640 -> 22:00.640] Can I have a look at one of them?
[22:00.640 -> 22:01.640] Yeah, of course you can.
[22:01.640 -> 22:02.640] You can just read some of the stuff that you've read.
[22:02.640 -> 22:05.480] I have absolutely no idea what is coming at me in terms of the pictures.
[22:05.480 -> 22:06.300] Oh, you have got a nice handwriting.
[22:06.300 -> 22:07.140] Thank you very much.
[22:07.140 -> 22:07.980] In terms of the pictures, because-
[22:07.980 -> 22:09.320] It's very small.
[22:09.320 -> 22:10.160] It's very small.
[22:10.160 -> 22:11.000] I told you I need my glasses.
[22:11.000 -> 22:12.080] In a commissary box like this,
[22:12.080 -> 22:13.520] we're right up to a pair of glasses.
[22:13.520 -> 22:14.360] Yes.
[22:14.360 -> 22:15.180] It's very small.
[22:15.180 -> 22:16.020] You wait for the next one.
[22:16.020 -> 22:17.480] And then, so I have my grid as well.
[22:17.480 -> 22:19.160] So when we do the grid countdown,
[22:19.160 -> 22:21.280] there's my handwritten grid,
[22:21.280 -> 22:23.440] because I think if you handwrite it out,
[22:23.440 -> 22:25.640] you remember it more easily so when
[22:25.640 -> 22:31.020] I chuck in things like it's the seventh time Lando Norris has started seventh or
[22:31.020 -> 22:33.880] whatever that's that's where that'll come.
[22:33.880 -> 22:35.880] Paul Max Verstappen tenth time he's taken
[22:35.880 -> 22:39.120] pole at the same venue for three years in a row aiming for a win.
[22:39.120 -> 22:42.220] First time he's taken pole at the same venue.
[22:42.220 -> 22:43.480] Oh is that first time?
[22:43.480 -> 22:45.020] Yeah that's my handwriting again isn't it? Oh yeah well it wouldn't pole at the same venue. Is that first time? Yeah, that's my handwriting again, isn't it?
[22:45.020 -> 22:47.060] Oh yeah, well it wouldn't have been the 10th time.
[22:47.060 -> 22:49.100] It's unbelievable that we hold these
[22:49.100 -> 22:50.820] and this is your notes.
[22:50.820 -> 22:55.300] And these are the notes that I have on every driver
[22:55.300 -> 22:57.220] and every team for each race.
[22:57.220 -> 22:58.680] Look at that.
[22:58.680 -> 22:59.620] Oh my word.
[22:59.620 -> 23:04.620] So they are the stats that I work off for the weekend.
[23:04.940 -> 23:05.780] It's quite funny, yeah,
[23:05.780 -> 23:08.660] because we're in the same world now,
[23:08.660 -> 23:10.460] us two and you, which is quite cool.
[23:11.580 -> 23:13.100] But we don't do shit like this, all right?
[23:13.100 -> 23:15.900] You're clearly, you have a skillset.
[23:15.900 -> 23:16.740] You're a very skilled person.
[23:16.740 -> 23:17.560] We could not go live.
[23:17.560 -> 23:18.820] If we were live, we'd be cancelling for 10 minutes.
[23:18.820 -> 23:20.100] We get imposter syndrome
[23:20.100 -> 23:21.780] because we don't actually do anything.
[23:21.780 -> 23:22.620] Just talk to people.
[23:22.620 -> 23:23.460] No, but you've got to be there.
[23:23.460 -> 23:24.780] But no, no, no, no, no.
[23:24.780 -> 23:28.240] Your skillset is not just talking to people,
[23:28.240 -> 23:29.920] it's listening to people as well.
[23:29.920 -> 23:33.320] So, so far you've had no notes in front of you whatsoever
[23:33.320 -> 23:35.440] and you've just picked up on what I've been saying.
[23:35.440 -> 23:37.800] It's a conversation, that's what a podcast is.
[23:37.800 -> 23:38.960] Yeah, I'm sure you've got an idea
[23:38.960 -> 23:40.720] of where you want to go with a podcast,
[23:40.720 -> 23:43.680] but interviews are about listening.
[23:43.680 -> 23:47.000] Yeah, it's not about going with a load of bullet points.
[23:47.000 -> 23:51.000] Now, a commentary is, there's no script.
[23:51.000 -> 23:53.000] I go in there with a fresh mind.
[23:53.000 -> 23:56.000] And one of the few people who can honestly say,
[23:56.000 -> 23:59.000] I go to work every day and I have no idea what's going to happen next.
[23:59.000 -> 24:00.000] And that is brilliant.
[24:00.000 -> 24:02.000] And I love that part of my job.
[24:02.000 -> 24:06.200] But it's my job to react and put things into context.
[24:06.200 -> 24:08.680] So to do that, I make notes.
[24:08.680 -> 24:10.680] It's a little comfort blanket almost,
[24:10.680 -> 24:13.880] so that when something does happen, I can add context to it.
[24:13.880 -> 24:14.800] Yeah.
[24:14.800 -> 24:17.320] You know, it's Daniel Ricciardo's last race for McLaren,
[24:17.320 -> 24:20.520] but it's also his 232nd consecutive start.
[24:20.520 -> 24:24.600] He hasn't missed one since his first race for HRT
[24:24.600 -> 24:26.000] at Silverstone in 2011,
[24:26.000 -> 24:29.000] and it's the longest continuous run of races on the grid.
[24:29.000 -> 24:31.000] It's not the record, Lewis Hamilton holds that,
[24:31.000 -> 24:34.000] but of course he missed the Sakhir Grand Prix when he got COVID.
[24:34.000 -> 24:35.000] It's those...
[24:35.000 -> 24:37.000] Of course, all this information is like...
[24:37.000 -> 24:39.000] But it's that sort of information that puts a bit of context
[24:39.000 -> 24:43.000] into what a momentous moment it is for Daniel Ricciardo
[24:43.000 -> 24:44.000] to have his final race with McLaren.
[24:44.000 -> 24:47.040] It's bringing to an end quite a run of races.
[24:47.040 -> 24:47.880] Yeah.
[24:47.880 -> 24:49.480] Do you think in your head, like, I think,
[24:49.480 -> 24:51.240] cause when you are announcing big things
[24:51.240 -> 24:52.880] like the last race championship,
[24:52.880 -> 24:54.960] it's almost so poetic when you do the final bit
[24:54.960 -> 24:56.960] and you read it out, cause that's the moment in history.
[24:56.960 -> 24:57.800] Yeah.
[24:57.800 -> 25:00.680] They are the moments that made us fall in love with the sport.
[25:00.680 -> 25:01.520] Poetry.
[25:01.520 -> 25:03.040] Like I think back to last year specifically,
[25:03.040 -> 25:08.960] right at the end, the way you commentate, that grips the viewer. We're in your home and this is where you live and you
[25:08.960 -> 25:12.820] may not think about it, but millions of people around the world that love Formula One, you
[25:12.820 -> 25:17.920] are so key to them. Because if you take your voice out of that, it's a completely different
[25:17.920 -> 25:21.840] thing. I think about it with football, I think back to some old football commentators from
[25:21.840 -> 25:27.400] when I first started watching the World Cup, Champions League, as they change it, there's good commentators, bad commentators,
[25:27.400 -> 25:31.400] but you've stabilised yourself in F1, you do an amazing job at it.
[25:31.400 -> 25:38.000] Do you have to think before? Are you like days before in your head thinking of like poetic lines or things that would rhyme off for like,
[25:38.000 -> 25:45.940] you are world champion, or is it just coming to you with all the emotion. Well no because if you if you prepare a line in
[25:45.940 -> 25:51.560] advance it's gonna sound prepared. It's gonna sound like you've been thinking
[25:51.560 -> 25:56.540] about this for a few days and quite frankly nothing could have prepared me
[25:56.540 -> 26:02.200] for Habitabi 2021 in advance. Because you know even in you know the wildest
[26:02.200 -> 26:06.120] dreams of the most fanciful fanciful script writer on the planet,
[26:06.120 -> 26:08.480] no one's gonna write a script like that, you know?
[26:08.480 -> 26:12.400] So you say what you feel is right in the moment
[26:12.400 -> 26:15.480] and you basically call it how it is.
[26:15.480 -> 26:17.600] So that last lap in Abu Dhabi, I was aware,
[26:17.600 -> 26:19.300] obviously a lot of controversy,
[26:19.300 -> 26:22.440] but you've got to park that for three and a half miles
[26:22.440 -> 26:25.000] because still Max needs to get an
[26:25.000 -> 26:28.200] overtake done if he's going to be champion, still Lewis could hold him off.
[26:28.700 -> 26:32.540] Um, and still we're going to have something quite dramatic, uh, for
[26:32.540 -> 26:33.920] the, for the next couple of minutes.
[26:33.920 -> 26:40.180] So you park all the controversy, but then as the laps unfolded, you, you can bring
[26:40.180 -> 26:45.460] it references back into the commentary because you can't ignore it completely.
[26:45.460 -> 26:47.560] You have to put things into context.
[26:47.560 -> 26:49.920] But you know in Abu Dhabi, through experience,
[26:49.920 -> 26:51.520] that once they've gone through turn nine
[26:51.520 -> 26:52.800] and they're into that final sector,
[26:52.800 -> 26:55.000] chances are, unless someone makes a mistake,
[26:55.000 -> 26:57.000] that's the way it's gonna stay until the line.
[26:57.000 -> 26:59.400] The overtaking situations have gone.
[27:00.560 -> 27:03.360] And then you're thinking about how do you tee this up then
[27:03.360 -> 27:06.280] for the moment when he crosses the line,
[27:06.280 -> 27:10.280] whoever, you know, Max it looks like, or it could be Lewis.
[27:10.280 -> 27:12.700] And I've still, I've no idea what I would have said
[27:12.700 -> 27:14.660] had Lewis got the championship.
[27:14.660 -> 27:16.620] We'll wait until hopefully he's got the chance
[27:16.620 -> 27:20.100] to be an eighth world champion in the future.
[27:20.100 -> 27:23.080] But your time, it's like a DJ,
[27:23.980 -> 27:26.140] it's like a DJ not wanting to crash the vocals.
[27:26.140 -> 27:29.560] You wanna hit your peak, your peak bit,
[27:29.560 -> 27:31.180] just as he gets to the line.
[27:31.180 -> 27:33.600] And if you can do that, then it's job well done,
[27:33.600 -> 27:35.180] because it all ties in really nicely.
[27:35.180 -> 27:36.980] You always do, you always time it fucking perfect.
[27:36.980 -> 27:38.360] Yeah, that's the idea.
[27:38.360 -> 27:39.520] You love music.
[27:39.520 -> 27:40.360] Yeah.
[27:40.360 -> 27:41.660] Do you think your love for music
[27:41.660 -> 27:44.100] might in some way have helped you?
[27:44.100 -> 27:45.520] I think it gives you a rhythm.
[27:45.520 -> 27:49.000] Yeah, because you do have such a rhythm.
[27:49.000 -> 27:52.480] We jokingly commentate and we've done videos where we play an F1 game, we commentate over
[27:52.480 -> 27:54.560] it and we think we sound slick or whatever.
[27:54.560 -> 28:00.020] We might have one good line or two good lines, but to continuously do it for a whole race
[28:00.020 -> 28:03.480] and not make any mistakes, that's pretty...
[28:03.480 -> 28:05.000] Well, has there been mistakes?
[28:05.000 -> 28:07.080] There's sometimes a few.
[28:07.080 -> 28:09.080] They're honest mistakes.
[28:10.320 -> 28:13.320] My first year at Sky, I got really excited one year.
[28:13.320 -> 28:16.160] In Monaco, when I was commentating,
[28:16.160 -> 28:18.920] I think it was Jenson and Sergio,
[28:18.920 -> 28:21.840] kind of going wheel to wheel through the chicane,
[28:21.840 -> 28:23.520] I was getting really animated about it.
[28:23.520 -> 28:25.880] And Martin's giving me some really strange looks
[28:25.880 -> 28:26.720] while I'm doing it.
[28:26.720 -> 28:28.080] I'm saying, what's wrong with you, mate?
[28:28.080 -> 28:29.760] Come on, look at it, it's really exciting.
[28:29.760 -> 28:31.320] And he's just giving me, he's staring at me,
[28:31.320 -> 28:33.000] giving me a really weird look
[28:33.000 -> 28:34.400] and started shaking his head a bit.
[28:34.400 -> 28:36.320] And I'm like, what have I done now?
[28:36.320 -> 28:37.760] Then he points to the screen.
[28:37.760 -> 28:40.920] And then I look at the screen and it says replay at the top.
[28:40.920 -> 28:42.320] And I'm doing this live.
[28:42.320 -> 28:45.080] And we're doing it over a replay
[28:45.080 -> 28:46.760] because I was so into the race
[28:46.760 -> 28:48.600] that I actually hadn't seen the replay bit.
[28:48.600 -> 28:50.400] And I'd forgotten about it.
[28:50.400 -> 28:53.720] Because it had happened about five or six laps previous.
[28:53.720 -> 28:56.840] So yeah, it's broadcasting without a tightrope.
[28:56.840 -> 28:59.280] Those sort of things are going to happen from time to time.
[28:59.280 -> 29:00.800] You just got to shrug it off and go,
[29:00.800 -> 29:02.720] what I'll do for, I'll get on with it.
[29:02.720 -> 29:04.520] But yeah, Laura and my other half will tell you,
[29:04.520 -> 29:08.560] we'll go and we'll be driving in the car and I'll pretend to be a DJ in the car
[29:08.680 -> 29:14.520] You know the track will come on and I'll do my yeah, you're listening to Dave double-drex
[29:17.160 -> 29:22.360] My cheesy DJ bit I know and then when I don't crash the vocals like yeah still got it
[29:24.080 -> 29:26.440] Because and I'm sure that lots of other people
[29:26.440 -> 29:27.340] try and do that as well,
[29:27.340 -> 29:29.080] but it's a rhythm and it's a symmetry.
[29:29.080 -> 29:32.020] And with Abi Dabi,
[29:34.320 -> 29:36.440] I'm talking and I'm trying to think
[29:36.440 -> 29:40.400] of how this is gonna end as I'm delivering lines.
[29:40.400 -> 29:41.680] And it suddenly occurred to me,
[29:41.680 -> 29:43.800] yeah, they've shared a great championship battle.
[29:43.800 -> 29:45.120] Oh yeah, sharing. And this is all happening in a split second, trust me to me, yeah, they've shared a great championship battle. Oh yeah, sharing.
[29:45.120 -> 29:47.080] And this is all happening in a split second, trust me.
[29:47.080 -> 29:48.560] Sharing, yeah.
[29:48.560 -> 29:50.200] Well, that's going Dutch, isn't it?
[29:50.200 -> 29:51.160] Oh, I could use that.
[29:51.160 -> 29:53.560] Yeah, that will stick with me forever.
[29:53.560 -> 29:55.240] That's so clever, but so.
[29:55.240 -> 29:58.880] And I just wanted to give it the big one
[29:58.880 -> 30:02.560] because in that moment, I was massively excited
[30:02.560 -> 30:04.480] that the adrenaline was running
[30:04.480 -> 30:05.340] through much of the mind's veins. We are gonna be really lucky In that moment, I was massively excited that the adrenaline was running through, through
[30:05.340 -> 30:08.340] Martin and mine's veins.
[30:08.340 -> 30:13.720] We are going to be really lucky if we ever get a lap like that to commentate on again.
[30:13.720 -> 30:18.620] That's going to take some beating in terms of the sheer drama, but also aware, you know,
[30:18.620 -> 30:23.560] we're not just on Sky, we're on channel four because Sky have allowed channel four to show
[30:23.560 -> 30:24.560] it live too.
[30:24.560 -> 30:27.580] So that as many people as possible can watch that.
[30:27.580 -> 30:30.580] And, you know, in the end, 44% of the viewing public
[30:30.580 -> 30:34.240] at that time in the UK were watching that lap.
[30:34.240 -> 30:36.660] So there was a lot more people watching the normal.
[30:36.660 -> 30:38.000] So you think, well,
[30:38.000 -> 30:39.720] they're not all going to be massive F1 fans.
[30:39.720 -> 30:42.460] They just want to hear and see the drama.
[30:42.460 -> 30:44.360] And then, you know, as he crosses the line,
[30:44.360 -> 30:45.280] you know, for the first time,
[30:45.280 -> 30:47.880] Max Verstappen is champion of the world,
[30:47.880 -> 30:50.920] which I think sounds better than is world champion.
[30:50.920 -> 30:51.800] And that's why I do it.
[30:51.800 -> 30:54.160] Only because I think champion of the world
[30:54.160 -> 30:55.000] just sounds better.
[30:55.000 -> 30:55.840] It does sound better.
[30:55.840 -> 30:56.680] It does sound better.
[30:56.680 -> 30:58.400] All right, I'm going to give it a go.
[30:58.400 -> 31:01.240] Like, I feel like I could commentate that line.
[31:01.240 -> 31:02.680] Yeah, are you going to do it?
[31:02.680 -> 31:04.720] I'm just going to shout it as loud as I can.
[31:04.720 -> 31:12.560] Okay, go on. Okay, you're gonna do it? I'm just gonna shout it as loud as I can. Okay, go on. Okay, you ready? Max Verstappen, you are champion of the world! Wow, that's
[31:12.560 -> 31:16.400] actually pretty good. Crofty, what do you think? Oh, hang on, Crofty's not here.
[31:16.400 -> 31:21.520] Crofty's not here. Guys, you need to come back for part two because this guy and
[31:21.520 -> 31:25.280] the stories he has, they're just unbelievable part two is sick I
[31:25.280 -> 31:28.240] can't believe we went to his house Sky Sports thank you so much for sorting
[31:28.240 -> 31:32.380] this out for us my favorite podcast we've done Alex you're a legend yeah
[31:32.380 -> 31:36.000] this is an amazing episode I hope you guys enjoy part two when you're on your
[31:36.000 -> 31:39.500] way there please do hit the follow button subscribe to the podcast rate of
[31:39.500 -> 31:42.720] five stars really helps us out and enjoy part two
[31:42.720 -> 31:45.840] Crofty thank you so much really helps us out. And enjoy part two.
[31:42.480 -> 31:45.840] Crofty, thank you so much.
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