Up until recently, Formula 1 has been a really closed-up sport. Drivers never really showed who they really were outside the car. Even the ex-F1 ringmaster, Bernie Ecclestone, had once famously remarked that F1 lacked characters. That being said, with the advent of Netflix’s popular F1 docuseries ‘Drive to Survive’, all of this has changed dramatically. Not only has it given the fans an unfiltered insight into the personalities of the drivers, but it has also brought to the forefront many other paddock personalities we may have overlooked in the past.

F1 journalist Will Buxton is a prime example of this. Buxton has been a part of this sport for a long, long time. However, fans arguably got to know the man only after the series shot him into the spotlight. No doubt, people that religiously follow the sport know the wealth of knowledge and character Buxton brings to the broadcasts. However, on the show, he has a habit of saying the most obvious things in the most dramatic of ways. This has made him a ‘meme’ so to speak, in the F1 community. But as it turns out, Buxton isn’t to be blamed at all!

Buxton appeared on the BBC show Question of Sport recently. There, the British journalist was quizzed about how he felt about working on the show. He replied, “It’s great. It’s amazing. I do 25 hours of interviews over the period of the year and then they use the five seconds of me saying the most simplistic, basic things and all the genius I’ve said is left on the cutting room floor.”

Now we know the reason for the iconic qualifying interview. Yes, Will, if you’re on Pole, you have the other 19 cars behind you! However, he also delved into the massive impact the show has had on the sport’s global outreach. He continued, “No, it’s great. It’s great for what it’s done for the sport. Just walking down the street on a Monday morning and having people talk about Formula One again. It’s amazing.” 

Read More: “Funniest MF” Esteban Ocon Breaks the Internet With 2 Word Iconic Response to a Fan Asking for a Mere “Hey”

What really appeals to F1 fans about Will Buxton is the emotional, passionate and personal touch he brings to the sport. And irrespective of what he’s talking about, he isn’t afraid to hold anything back. And Max Verstappen will be grateful for that.

Will Buxton gives his thoughts on a young Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen is often vilified for his persona and approach on the track. Arguably, ever since he’s been on a path to potentially dominate this new era of the sport, there have been many detractors of the man. However, according to Buxton, this boils down to a different fact and isn’t anything new.

He told Formula 1 Magazine, “It soon became clear that Max could do things that others couldn’t” while talking about Verstappen’s stint at the 2014 Florida Winter Series.

“Max upset some guys,” he whittled this down to his aggressive on-track persona. “We had all heard of Max, seen the karting videos, knew the headlines of his karting successes. We already knew he was special.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Ocon Holds Off Hamilton for Maiden F1 win after Bottas’ Chaos

Netflix will drop Drive to Survive’s 5th season on the 24th of February. What storyline are you most excited to watch this time around?