It will be interesting to see how ESPN will handle the coverage now that they are broadcasting it this season.
They are simply picking up the F1 world feed. No David Hobbs, Leigh Diffey and Steve Matchett in the studio or Will Buxton on track.
It sounds like it's going to suck, honestly. Quote from Hobbs:
"It's a bit galling that my last show is not me retiring, but me being retired," he added. "If ESPN or anybody had come along and outbid NBC in a rights war, and we were pushed out by a clearly superior team and deal, that would be one thing. You could say, 'OK, I guess the best guy's won.' But the deal they've got is horrible.
"They're not paying any rights fees, they aren't having any studio shows so there aren't any production costs. It's meant to be a generic [broadcast] team from across the ocean. That is irritating, that we're being ousted by what will be an inferior show. To be pushed out by a pathetic deal, including for the viewer, is sad."