NBC Sports Group announced today that Will Buxton will serve as reporter for its Formula One coverage. Buxton will join his former colleagues Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), David Hobbs (analyst) and Steve Matchett (analyst), who joined NBC Sports Group in November.
Buxton has been entrenched in F1 for nearly a decade, working as a print reporter, a communications executive and a television journalist. He is highly respected in the industry and a favorite among fans.
"Our F1 team is now complete," said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. "Will is relentless in the pits and his genuine passion for the sport is evident to viewers. We're very pleased to have him. Combined with Leigh, David and Steve, we are now ready for our first F1 season this March."
In October, it was announced that NBC Sports Group will televise all F1 races, as well as qualifying, practice sessions, studio shows and re-airs that amount to more than 100 hours of programming annually. NBC Sports Live Extra, available online at NBCSports.com, as well as on mobile and tablet apps, will serve as the Formula One live-stream platform.
Buxton celebrated a decade of involvement at the highest levels of international motor racing in 2012. His first step into motorsport journalism came in 2001 when he began writing for GrandPrix.com, moving on to become staff writer at Bernie Ecclestone's Official Formula 1 Magazine in late 2002. Buxton would remain with the magazine until the publication ended in 2004.
In 2005, Buxton was chosen as press officer for the new GP2 Series, F1's official feeder championship. Within a year he was working as the Director of Communications, a position he held until 2007 when he returned to journalism. He then became the Editor of GPWeek Magazine in January 2008. In 2009, Buxton made his on-air debut as lead announcer for the world feed on the GP2 and GP3 championships, and has done so each year since. His work came to the attention of SPEED and Buxton left his successful journalism career in order to become the network's F1 pit reporter in 2010. That same year Buxton conducted the first of many F1 post race top 3 driver interviews for the world television feed, and in 2012 conducted post-race podium interviews for the GP2 and GP3 championships.
Buxton is a full member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and in 2012 was appointed as the first and sole television representative on the FIA Media Communications Group (formerly known as The Press Council.) He is Editor at Large of GP International Magazine, voices the Official Formula 1 Season Review DVD and BluRay, and keeps a popular racing blog.
NBC Sports Group is one of the leading media companies for motorsports coverage in the U.S., providing more than 200 hours of programming annually across its broadcast, cable and digital platforms. Since 2009, NBC Sports Network has been the cable-television partner for the IZOD IndyCar Series, presenting as many as 10 races each year as well as qualifying, practice, Indy Lights and IndyCar 36 programming. Beginning in 2013, NBC Sports Group will be the exclusive U.S. media rights holder to all Formula 1 Grand Prix races, qualifying and practice sessions on all platforms and devices. Races will air on NBC and NBC Sports Network, and will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra. NBC Sports Group also airs Lucas Oil Motorsports, RacerTV and motocross events.
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