MB + DC = Perfect Harmony?
by Craig Normansell with others, on Mar 30th, 2011Wednesday only means one thing in the Sett: it's Scrutineeting Bay time! Welcome to the first Bay of the 2011 season, and after Melbourne there were plenty of talking points raised. One thing that got our all of our attention during the race was not only the BBC coverage (which, once again, was top notch), but also the removal of one Jonathon Legard and the addition of in the commentary booth and how it affected our viewing.
This week, Jimmy Von Weeks, Adam Millenueve and myself, Craig Normansell will be disputing:
"Did Martin Brundle and David Coulthard click in Oz?"
The Badger who shall open preceding this week is Jimmy:
I don't really listen to the commentary all that much during the grand prix. I talk to myself - well, usually to other people, but for the early start of Oz myself - write things down and study the timing screens (when they work) and so don't really take what the two blokes chatting on the telly are saying in. In fact, I don't often remember anything they've said when I re-watch the highlights.
But naturally I was aware of Mr. Legard's unique approach to Formula One commentary, taking particular amusement at his description of Mark Webber's accident in Valencia last as the Aussie going 'right up there.' His departure was ultimately for the best and, in their new pairing, it does seem the BBC have traded up.
Coulthard was fine. He's an intelligent, well-spoken bloke with 246 grand prix starts to his name - more than capable of delivering insight and the odd bit of humour. He and Martin came across as just what they are - friends of over a decade - but never crossed the line in to full on matey-ness. I'm pretty sure I didn't hear any back slapping in the booth, anyway.
Brundle meanwhile sounded more relaxed with DC alongside him and more than coped with leading the commentary. To many modern day F1 fans he is the voice of the sport, and that he has now stepped up to the main role seems only natural. Though entirely different to Murray Walker he may one day be spoken of in the same breath.
So my verdict is that the new partnership was a success and one I hope the BBC stick with long-term. That said if the duo spent the whole of the next race commentating in French I'm not sure I’d notice until the highlights started to roll.
In Jimmy's opinion, even though it seems he doesn't pay much attention to the race commentary, the removal of Legard is a plus in his eyes.
Up next is Adam:
Brundle and Coulthard worked well - in fact it was better than expected. Brundle sounded completely at home with his leading role and managed to not feel the need to speak about everything on screen as a certain other person used to do, which was refreshing to say the least. As for Coulthard, he took a little while to warm up, but it was a great debut for him. No complaints here...
...except that, in a rather strange way, I missed having Legard there with his 'unique style' - it was always a talking point and point of amusement - though that said I don't want him back. The other flipside of this new line up though is that there may well be less people tuning into 5 Live F1, which would be a massive shame, as Crofty and co produce an amazing show. If you haven't already - listen to their podcasts!
More support for the team of Brundle and Coulthard from Adam there, but is right to point out that David Croft is doing a great job on the 5 Live show and shouldn't be forgotten about!
And finally, it's my turn to weigh in:
As much as I lambasted Legard last year, just like Vitaly Petrov and look what happened with him, there was an odd sense of calm that settled over the race chatter on Sunday morning. I usually struggle to stay awake with the early fly-away races and the silly times I have to get up, but Legard's ridiculous use of the word "decent" and the raises in voice at even more ridiculous times ("OUT OF TURN ONE, UP THE HILL!" er, it's the parade lap) kept me awake better than a gulp of that World Champion energy drinks company product.
My issue is just how comfortable MB and DC were. They were chatting like old mates in the early laps (probably to settle Coulthard's nerves) and missed Alonso moving ahead of Rosberg for eighth or ninth. And then, shock horror, Coulthard spends time lambasting Button for not giving up overtaking Massa and leaving the track but defends Vettel to the hilt when passing the Brit and leaving the track during the first round of stops. Aren't BBC employees meant to be unbiased?
I used to listen to the 5 Live commentary when Legard was involved and for all of his faults he was very good without pictures. When you can see what's happening the commentary can be a distraction, as you know what's happening as it's right in front of your very eyes. Legard used to go over the top in his role of describing the sport for neutrals, which is what ultimately cost him his job. The new team works, just don't expect Coulthard to go against the Red Bulls anytime soon.
Badger is sure that just like Jonathon Legard was for the past two seasons, the new commentary team will divide fans, only not as much. Just like the race itself, it promised much, but the jury is still out on whether they have delivered. What do you think?
Comments and Discussion
I think they did brilliantly, but the bad news is that I now have to choose between two awesome commentary teams... (5Live)
They just work together really well and having a more modern F1 driver giving input is brilliant, and it's only going to get better as they mature as commentators together.
I just wish Legard the best of luck in whatever he's doing next.
I think that they were very good indeed. Makes a change from everything else being "dumbed down" these days - they actually make it a richer more rewarding experience by adding to the thing as opposed to Mr Legard's "say what you see" approach. Did make me laugh when MB referred to the Team Lotus car as the Lotus Renault though. No-one else seems to have spotted it though which is ironic as that's what everyone was worried was going to happen at the end of last year
I may be lambasted for saying this but I wished BBC hired James Allen to commentate with Martin in the first place. They're commentary in the ITV days is the best I've heard (bar Murray of course). The commentary at the weekend was great and over time will be even better. I just don't like the BBC ignoring the contribution James brought to commentating and his sheer enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport is clearly evident which Legard lacked the last couple of years.
Lower league English football.....
I really enjoyed the technical input DC adds and the commentary was overall very good but I think we will be missing some of the enthusiasm that Leggard, Allen and Walker brought to telly.
I think Martin gets pretty worked up sometimes. He may ramp it up a bit now he's not having to compensate for Legard.
Do what I did and what the race twice! I had the radio commentary on early in the morning cos I had a feeling my eyes would close periodically. Excellent as always, I was impressed at how early Karun spotted Perez' evolving one stop strategy. And Crofty has saved my sanity over the last two years by being an alternative to Legard so I will never abandon him.
I then watched a replay on iplayer later in the day (as a build up to watching a highly entertaining Forum). Was so relieved not to have winced once throughout the whole thing, not having to listen to utterly nonsensical comments from the lead commentator and growing frustration from his cohort. It was interesting that, while both Brundle and DC totally missed what Perez was up to, they picked up that Button had caught up to Massa again (I noticed it on the excellent driver position option on the Beeb website). The radio guys missed this and I was mentally screaming at them to spot the inevitable overtaking manouver that was on it's way.
So while I jest about watching the GP twice, it actually was quite interesting. I certainly liked the technical stuff from the BBC1 guys. Please, please, please don't dumn it down. If you don't understand, you can still just watch the action... and maybe pick up something along the way. I did think they concentrated on the first 5 drivers, or so, a bit too much. Awareness of the whole field is important when it comes to pitstops etc and anyway, fans of lower teams still want to know what they're up to.
In the long term, both guys proved their ability and can only get better. I won't be poached from my guys David and Ant though. I won't. I won't...
I thought it was a good debut for the pairing. While i wasn't anti-Legard like the majority of Badger-readers, i did wish Brundle had a more prominent role in previous years.
Now that he's got that i can say F1 has never had a better lead-commentator. Including Walker.
Coulthard was wobbly during qualifying understandably but was definitely more on the case during the race. The pair were entertaining and informative for the most part, though they could have placed more emphasis on gaps between cars and who was running where at stages of the race, but that was more to do with the web Live Timing being broken which obviously they weren't to know. In this regard Legard would've had it covered! (just saying)
Give it a couple more race weekends and it'll be like DC + MB have been doing it for years.
I am a massive fan of both dc and mb and i am looking forward to them working together. But was i the only who noticed when the race was handed over to mb to introduce at the start. The bbc show video of mechanics grandstands and scenery whilst flashing the old "round one, melbourn, track distance, temperature" there seemed to be something missing, I can't put my finger on it. It might have been mb's largely monotone voice or the way that he trailed off after each sentance I genuinly don't know. It just didn't seem to flow as much as when legard was talking. Considering thats the only thing i can even think of to mention though they did do a good job, it was the first race so bring on the next!
I think they did a great job, I've always been a fan of MB's punditry and DC could be the perfect accompaniment when he becomes a little less biased. On the whole the BBC coverage is a million miles away from the dark days of ITV.
Don't forget you can get the very good 5 Live podcasts if you choose the TV coverage!
But don't you think Coulthard is a little bit biased towards Red Bull, considering they emply him also?
Yes, but that was to be expected. It's better that an ex-driver be blinded by loyalty to a team than be devoutly anti' some drivers (James Hunt).
It's not really any different to pointless patriotism which BBC were guilty of many many times in 2009.
I don't have any complaints about any of it, anyone who commentates will find themselves being slightly biased at times to their favourite teams or drivers. No matter how neutral they believe themselves to be.
Legard gone feels like the moment you stop hitting your head against a brick wall.
Whatever Brundle did, he couldn't possibly be worse than the previous berk.
Luckily Brundle was very good. He sounded a little cheesy at first, but soon got into the swing of things. Coulthard is dull as ever, but happily he didn't say much.
I'll be alternating between Brundle and Crofty, so I'm now spoilt by having two brilliant commentators to choose from. The only way to improve would be Brundle+Chandhok, and Crofty+Davidson. Both of these are much better than DC as co-comms.
You are joking right? James Allen was a good pitlane reporter and is a very good journalist (his blog is one of the best F1 blogs on the net) but as a TV commentator I have to say he was rubbish. No, much worse than that.
Between his Schuie worship and his self santimonious proclamations if he guessed something right, he really was too much. I still shudder when I think of his "I TOLD YOU SO!!! I TOLD YOU HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED!!!!" screams when Kimi's tyre exploded at the Nurburgring.
I didn't mind Leggard - yes, some of his... deliveries... there... were rather... on a mission... there... but his downfall was really more than he was used to describing everything on radio whereas on tv we can see it so need more opinion and discussion than description.
I like Brundle's commentary but DC needs to be a bit more lively but it's hard to think of any other people that would be suitable. My dream ticket would have been Croft and Brundle but alas not to be.
On another matter, is it possible to get 5live audio on BBC1 HD on Freesat?
I think Legard leaving was all for the best. I always got the feeling that he didn't quite know what he was saying and was overpowering Brundle when Brundle clearly knew more about what was going on.
Now with Coulthard and Brundle there is that harmony returned that was never really there with Legard and Brundle. The main thing is they have both raced before and know exactly what is going on.
Now with Coulthard gaining experience every race I can only see the commentry team going from strength to strength.
To be honest, I don't like David Coulthard in the commentary box he has a very boring voice and is in danger of being a Human version of Nytol and considering his background and the BBC's current sucking up to anything Red Bull I'm seeing a lot of bias in the future. Back to Crofty and Ant for me I think
Did you heard how excited he got for Petrov's crash though? "Steering column, steering column, Martin!" he cried excitedly. I enjoyed that.
I really enjoy MB and DC as a team. They both have a great knowledge of the sport and i love the technical stuff, helps me understand more about the cars which just makes the race even better. The only way it could get better now would be Murray doing some guest commentating, you forgive the odd mistake from someone who just loves the sport he is talking about.
They are beginning to gel very well, the reaction shot of them watching Button drive into the Red Bull box was quite cool. The camera angle shot to them in the booth both pointing at the events was hilarious!
I struggled to find fault with the pair in China. They were as good as commentators could possibly be.