Anthony Davidson - Keeping Sky F1 Credible

Anthony Davidson - Keeping Sky F1 Credible

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Discussion

Spevs

Original Poster:

403 posts

34 months

Friday 21st July 2023
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I am starting this discussion as I feel Ant doesn't get the recognition and credit for the informed comment and insight he brings to the SKY Team, not wishing to encroach onto other discussions on PH's he does seem to be surrounded by people who are much less qualified, informed, incapable, or are just incapable of looking past their own ego.

Roofless Toothless

6,017 posts

138 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Anthony is a nice lad, and always has been. He comes from a lovely family. My boys used to race Cadet Karts at the same time that he did, and we raced against him every month at Rye House for a few years.

He was always polite and pleasant, even to us no hopers, while other top drivers were markedly aloof. My lack of technical knowledge at setting up karts must have been apparent to everyone. One day Anthony’s father Dennis came up to me with a scrap of paper in his hand, and said try this. On it was written the set up he was using that day - axle lengths, tyre pressures, etc. I couldn’t believe it.

I told another of the Cadet dads what he had done, who of course said that will stop if you get near to the kid on the track! That’s probably true, but what a nice thing to do.

I last saw Ant and his dad at Martin Hines’ funeral in Waltham Abbey, and they were as pleasant as ever. Well done to the Davidsons for bringing up such a credit of a son to them.


Harry Flatters

164 posts

264 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Completely agree!

Ant's F1 and more recent WEC experience makes him a credible, knowledgeable and enjoyable commentator to listen to.

Always calm, never shouty, ego (if he even has one) is parked at the comm box door and importantly, knows when less is more. Moreover, he has no need of irrelevant, cascades of useless statistics to pad any lack of knowledge.

I'd take him as lead commentator any day.

DOT2015

45 posts

112 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Roofless Toothless said:
Anthony is a nice lad, and always has been. He comes from a lovely family. My boys used to race Cadet Karts at the same time that he did, and we raced against him every month at Rye House for a few years.

He was always polite and pleasant, even to us no hopers, while other top drivers were markedly aloof. My lack of technical knowledge at setting up karts must have been apparent to everyone. One day Anthony’s father Dennis came up to me with a scrap of paper in his hand, and said try this. On it was written the set up he was using that day - axle lengths, tyre pressures, etc. I couldn’t believe it.

I told another of the Cadet dads what he had done, who of course said that will stop if you get near to the kid on the track! That’s probably true, but what a nice thing to do.

I last saw Ant and his dad at Martin Hines’ funeral in Waltham Abbey, and they were as pleasant as ever. Well done to the Davidsons for bringing up such a credit of a son to them.
Great story, thanks for sharing, nice to hear some credit where it’s due.

LM240

4,824 posts

224 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Ant and Martin would be a class pairing for commentary.


Drooles

1,410 posts

62 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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LM240 said:
Ant and Martin would be a class pairing for commentary.
I totally agree with this!

Spevs

Original Poster:

403 posts

34 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
quotequote all
Drooles said:
LM240 said:
Ant and Martin would be a class pairing for commentary.
I totally agree with this!
And me too............bounce

Sandpit Steve

11,229 posts

80 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Another +1 for Davidson, and a lovely story above from his time in karts.

Recent F1 experience, current experience in being a development driver and competing in other high-level series. Intelligent, knowledgeable, and articulate.

In a perfect world, they’d have Davidson, Karun Chandhok, and Bernie Collins, as the three full-time analysts.

Pebbles167

3,720 posts

158 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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I remember watching him and Takuma Sato racing at Castle Combe in F3 when I was a kid. They were both flying and chatty in the paddock.

Ants technical knowledge is insightful and he comes across as friendly and likeable. His love of motorsport always shines through.

Hope he stays on Sky for a long while.

Kyp

95 posts

48 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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I have to agree with the sentiment here; AD deserves far more recognition on the Sky F1 platform. Let's hope someone at Sky is reading this forum!

generationx

7,329 posts

111 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Yes a lovely guy and excellent pundit. He’s great on the WEC/LM24 Eurosport coverage too.

Jasandjules

70,418 posts

235 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Yep him and Karun are the two I like the most these days.

Nickp82

3,357 posts

99 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Sandpit Steve said:
In a perfect world, they’d have Davidson, Karun Chandhok, and Bernie Collins, as the three full-time analysts.
Yes please.

Can only agree about Ant, he’s very good.

Blib

45,229 posts

203 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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I agree with all of the above.

He just didn't get the run of the green during his time in F1.

As for Le Mans. For the car to fail on the last lap must have been a tough pill to swallow. Still, he did win the WEC World title. The very least that his talent deserved.

500TORQUES

6,097 posts

21 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Ant is a super guy and knows his onions, he has become a great broadcaster, best of the Sky team by far.

cgt2

7,139 posts

194 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Another plus here. And he must have the patience of a saint to put up with all the inane drivel from his colleagues who collectively have less knowledge of F1 than he does in his little pinky finger.

entropy

5,565 posts

209 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Blib said:
I agree with all of the above.

He just didn't get the run of the green during his time in F1.

As for Le Mans. For the car to fail on the last lap must have been a tough pill to swallow. Still, he did win the WEC World title. The very least that his talent deserved.
He had a decent crack at F1 and never outright bested Sato.

I admire Ant for his commentating on WEC/LM taking precedence over F1. He massive enthusiasm and dedication for endurance racing continually shines through his commentary.

Blib

45,229 posts

203 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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entropy said:
Blib said:
I agree with all of the above.

He just didn't get the run of the green during his time in F1.

As for Le Mans. For the car to fail on the last lap must have been a tough pill to swallow. Still, he did win the WEC World title. The very least that his talent deserved.
He had a decent crack at F1 and never outright bested Sato.

I admire Ant for his commentating on WEC/LM taking precedence over F1. He massive enthusiasm and dedication for endurance racing continually shines through his commentary.
I remember feeling while watching him that he had very little luck during his F1 stint.

Nothing much seemed to go his way. Though, I suppose that one could say that you make your own luck.

Spevs

Original Poster:

403 posts

34 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Thanks everyone, it's lovely to see the love out there for Ant.........Great Bloke very much under appreciated.

500TORQUES

6,097 posts

21 months

Saturday 22nd July 2023
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Spevs said:
Thanks everyone, it's lovely to see the love out there for Ant.........Great Bloke very much under appreciated.
I very nearly bought some of his kit during the Super Aguri fire sale, then some git bought for the whole teams lot hours before the auction started.