My two main gripes are that SPEED has three commentators, which is too many, and that they have David Hobbs, who sucks.
So I guess just one gripe, really.
David Hobbs is usually completely out-of-touch with what is going on during the race. He can't relate to modern driving at all (only six starts 1967-74), so he's completely worthless in his role as the insight man. Not only does he fill up airtime babbling on about something silly, but SPEED has the resultant poor race analysis. Compare this to Martin Brundle, who often sees things before the director or cameraman does. Brundle's also driven modern cars and so has a much better idea of what its like behind the wheel.
Bob Varsha does a pretty good job, and Steve Matchett is knowledgeable about technical stuff related to the car, so that pair should handle it.
They have a tendency though just to shout "OOOHHHHHHHHH!" into their mikes at the same time when something big happens during the race instead of talking about what is happening. They need to get over that. Dropping Hobbes would at least cut the annoyingness of that by a third though, so its a start.
i bet ITV are gutted now as they only got the rights to stream F1 action on their website from 2008 season and now there is no point really as BBC is taking it over again
Tbh. I don't think Murray could be any better than Allen. They both have this "loud way" of commentating and I think it is the worst way to comment on something on tv.
That's the reason I liked speedTV's F1 commentary on the first race, they don't start shouting contest when something goes wrong on the track. The best part of the speedTV is that they have some fun while doing it too, like the "Honda pants"-comments last time. At times you could even hear the other commentator laughing his ass off and it was just great . The commentaru does not need to be fully serious, some good humour can make it lot better (good humour drom american channel :tilt.
They (speed) manage to keep cool unlike people on our finnish tv broadcasts when the commentators go for breaking the sound barrier as soon as there is somehing on the track. Especially few years ago when the finnish tv had this professional rally co-driver as the main commentator - I just have to take my imaginery hat off and give him a special prize for being involved in motorsports and not learning a single thing about anything in the process. He was godly awful! And he knew how to break that barrier.
Brundle is quite good from what I've seen and heard but that's about all. Allen is abysmal to listen and Murray wasn't much better. Hope BBC make good choises as they probably won't change the commentators during the season...
Murray was a brilliant commentator because he made even the dullest race exciting. The fact half the time he was spurting complete nonsense didn't matter
On March 20th 2008, while being interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live, Walker was asked if he'd consider a return to the TV commentary box when Formula 1 returns to the BBC in 2009. He answered "Never say never".
That sounds like the man who commentated on the car wars videos, though been soo long since I watched them I could be wrong.
Also Murray Walker back would be excellent. He was a 'shouty' commentator but he has passion and love for F1 and made every race exciting. Also how can anyone forget his murrayisms
Jeremy clarkson and martin brundle doing the commentating, keep louise goodman and ted kravitz, they are actually very good at what they do. clarkson would be absolutely amazing. He properly knows his stuff about F1 aswell.